The Heights is where I send people who tell me Burnaby has no character. The stretch of Hastings Street running through north Burnaby holds roughly 330 shops and services across about 12 blocks from Boundary to Gamma, and it has kept its personality while a lot of Burnaby has gone vertical. The local merchants association even runs Hats Off Day, billed as Burnaby's largest single-day event, on June 6, 2026.
I am going to walk you through a Saturday here the way I actually spend one, because the texture of a neighbourhood tells you more than any price chart. Then I will get to the part that matters if you are thinking about buying: who the Heights is for, and why it holds value the way it does.
Morning: coffee and the food shops
Start with coffee on Hastings. The Heights has a real cluster of independent cafes, the kind that roast their own beans and care what ends up in the cup. Grab something and walk the strip before it gets busy, because by late morning the sidewalks fill up and the good window tables go.
The independent delis, butchers, and bakeries are the draw I keep coming back to. The Heights kept the kind of specialty food shops that mostly disappeared elsewhere once grocery chains took over, and that is half the reason to come. There is real range here, the legacy of decades of European and Asian family businesses settling along this stretch. Pick up something to take home before you forget, because you will, and you will regret driving back for it.
Midday: lunch and browsing
For lunch you have range, from old-school sit-down rooms to newer spots that have opened in the last few years as younger operators discovered the rents are saner here than on the Vancouver side of Boundary. The move is to take your time and lean into the walkability. You do not need to drive between any of this, which is rarer in Burnaby than it should be.
After lunch, browse. The Heights still has the kind of independent retail that mostly vanished when everything moved into malls: a proper hardware store, gift shops, florists, and family businesses that have held the same storefronts for decades. It feels like a main street because it is one, not a manufactured "town centre" built to look like one. That distinction matters to the people who choose to live here.
Afternoon: the ridge and the views
Walk north off Hastings toward the water and the reason this neighbourhood holds value comes into view. The Heights sits on a ridge, so on a clear day you get the North Shore mountains and Burrard Inlet laid out in front of you. That topography is not a nice-to-have. It is a big part of why homes here have held their value so consistently. Views and elevation do not go out of style, and they cannot be manufactured by a developer.
It is worth just wandering the residential streets for a while. The housing mix is older and more characterful than the towers a few kilometres south: character houses, well-kept post-war homes, and a scattering of newer builds and infill. The blocks feel settled in a way newer areas take decades to earn. You can tell people have lived here a long time, and that stability is itself part of the product.
Evening: dinner and the slow wind-down
The Heights does not have Brentwood's nightlife, and the people who live here count that as a feature. Dinner is an unhurried affair at a neighbourhood restaurant where the staff might recognize you by your second visit. The pace is the point. By mid-evening the strip quiets down, and you are reminded that this is fundamentally a residential community with a great main street attached, not an entertainment district with apartments bolted on.
That rhythm, busy and social by day, calm by night, is exactly what a certain kind of buyer is looking for and cannot find in a tower node.
Why this matters for buyers
The Heights is one of the few Burnaby neighbourhoods where you are buying character, walkability, and community rather than just proximity to a SkyTrain platform. That combination is genuinely rare in this city, and the buyers who value it tend to stay for a long time, which keeps turnover low and demand steady. Low turnover plus steady demand is a recipe for resilient prices.
The buyer pool here is emotional but disciplined. People fall in love with the neighbourhood, then get practical fast about condition, parking, suite potential, school catchments, views, and renovation cost. The homes that sell best capture both sides: the everyday appeal of the area and the specific, unglamorous details buyers actually scrutinize. If you are selling here, leaning only on charm and ignoring the practical questions leaves money on the table.
How the Heights compares to the rest of Burnaby
Hastings is not trying to be Brentwood, and if you have read how Brentwood densified you will understand why that is the whole point. Brentwood and Metrotown are bets on density, transit, and constant change. The Heights is a bet on stability and street life. Deer Lake offers privacy and large lots but without the main street. Each pocket attracts a different buyer, and none of them is the "right" answer in the abstract.
The job, when I work with a buyer, is matching the person to the pocket. Someone who would thrive in the Heights would feel restless in a tower, and vice versa. Knowing how each neighbourhood actually feels on a Saturday is how I make that match, and it is why I spend so much time on the ground rather than just in the data.
Key Takeaways
- The Heights centres on Hastings Street, with roughly 330 independent shops and services across about 12 walkable blocks from Boundary to Gamma.
- Specialty delis, butchers, bakeries, and genuine main-street retail give it character that manufactured town centres cannot copy.
- Its ridge location delivers North Shore and inlet views and helps homes hold value through cycles.
- Buyers here pay for character, walkability, and community rather than transit proximity, which keeps turnover low and demand steady.
- The buyer pool is emotional but disciplined, so listings must capture both the area's appeal and the practical details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Heights neighbourhood in Burnaby known for?
The Heights, along Hastings Street in north Burnaby, is known for its concentration of roughly 330 independent businesses, specialty delis and bakeries, a walkable main-street feel, and ridge-top views of the North Shore mountains and inlet. It hosts Hats Off Day, billed as Burnaby's largest single-day event, each June.
Is the Heights a good place to live in Burnaby?
The Heights suits buyers who want character, walkability, and an established community over new construction and transit proximity. Its older housing stock, views, and steady demand make it appealing for long-term owners, though it trades less frequently than denser areas like Brentwood or Metrotown.
Why do homes in the Heights hold their value?
The Heights sits on a ridge with North Shore and inlet views, has a desirable walkable main street, and sees low turnover because owners stay long term. Limited supply plus steady demand from buyers who value character supports prices through market cycles better than commodity housing.
Where is the Heights in Burnaby?
The Heights runs along Hastings Street in north Burnaby, spanning roughly 12 blocks from Boundary Road on the Vancouver side to Gamma Avenue. The commercial strip sits on a ridge above Burrard Inlet, with residential streets stepping down toward the water on the north side.
What is Hats Off Day in the Heights?
Hats Off Day is the Heights' signature street festival, billed by the merchants association as Burnaby's largest single-day event, held each June with a parade and street party. The 2026 edition is scheduled for June 6. It draws large crowds and showcases the district's independent businesses.
Is the Heights walkable without a car?
Yes, the commercial strip is one of Burnaby's most walkable. Roughly 330 shops, restaurants, and services line about 12 blocks of Hastings, so daily errands, dining, and groceries are doable on foot. The surrounding residential streets feed directly into the strip, which is a real draw for buyers.
What kind of homes are in the Heights?
The Heights has a mixed older housing stock: character houses, well-kept post-war homes, and a scattering of newer builds and infill. Lots and styles vary block to block. Buyers should weigh condition, parking, suite potential, and renovation cost, since many homes carry age and character rather than turn-key finishes.
Does the Heights have good views?
Many properties do. The neighbourhood sits on a ridge above Burrard Inlet, so north-facing streets and upper floors often capture North Shore mountain and water views. Those views are a major reason the area holds value, since elevation and outlook are scarce and cannot be added by new construction.
How does the Heights compare to Brentwood for buyers?
They suit different buyers. Brentwood is a bet on density, transit, and constant change. The Heights is a bet on stability, character, and street-level community without a SkyTrain at the door. Neither is objectively better; the right pick depends on how you want to live.
How do I find the right home or neighbourhood in Burnaby?
Start by being honest about how you want to live, then match that to the pocket: the Heights for character and walkability, Brentwood or Metrotown for density and transit, Deer Lake for privacy. I spend real time on the ground across Burnaby to match buyers to the right fit.
Sources
Neighbourhood details sourced May 2026. Business listings and events change. Confirm hours and dates before you go.
Related Guides
- Where to Buy in Burnaby — Neighbourhood Guide for Buyers: All six Burnaby neighbourhoods framed as buyer decisions — who each area is for, 2026 price movements, and the investment angle including the Heights.
- Moving to Burnaby — Neighbourhood, Cost of Living, and Lifestyle Guide: Which neighbourhood fits your lifestyle, what cost of living looks like, and what the 2026 market means for buyers new to the city.
Work With Jersey Li
Knowing a neighbourhood means knowing how it actually feels on a Saturday, not just the price per square foot. I spend real time in the Heights and across Burnaby, and that texture is part of how I read an area for the buyers I work with.
Call or text Jersey Li at 604.942.7211, explore the Heights in more detail, or get in touch to start your search.
Sutton Group — 1st West Realty · Medallion Club Member (Top 10%)
Burnaby real estate advisor and multiplex strategist. Licensed REALTOR® with Sutton Group — 1st West Realty, specializing in residential, multiplex, and redevelopment transactions across Burnaby and Metro Vancouver.
