Hoofing it or pedalling around to more than 78 artists’ studios spread across the East Side can make a person peckish.

Fortunately, the Eastside Culture Crawl ’hoods are packed with places to grab a bite and hoist a drink to fuel you on your journey.

In some places, the Crawl has made it even easier: check out all the food trucks in the parking lot of Parker Street Studios (1000 Parker Street), then head to the nearby Strange Fellows Brewing (1345 Clark Drive), which is hosting the Crawl’s beer garden.

Below, you’ll find some of the Georgia Straight’s picks for spots along the way.

Tamam

(2616 East Hastings Street)

At the risk of creating a never-ending lineup, this very modest, family-run operation on the outer fringe of the East Side provides a pretty solid argument that Palestinian is your new favourite cuisine. Served warm and drizzled with olive oil, Tamam’s hummus is the city’s best, hands down. You can probably say the same for other starters, including the sumac-infused mutabal (eggplant dip). Signature dish mujaddrah—rice, lentils, and caramelized onion—goes down best with a portion of slow-cooked chicken, to be enjoyed as you ponder why and how Tamam’s solarium never leaks.

Parallel 49

(1950 Triumph Street)

On the atmosphere front, the Parallel 49 tasting room isn’t going to make anyone forget the fantastically gilded A La Mort Subite in Brussels. But more than compensating for the cafeterialike setting is one of the greatest beer selections in the city, with regular on-tap offerings like Gypsy Tears Ruby Ale and Filthy Dirty IPA augmented by seasonal specialties. Need to make a quick pit stop between exploring the Vancouver Community Laboratory (1907 Triumph Street) and the Arc (1701 Powell Street)? Look no further than the winter-is-coming new rollouts Sahti Claws (think Finnish-style ale with juniper and pine notes) and Toques of Hazzard (an imperial IPA with Nelson Sauvin hops). Be warned, though: once you’ve settled in, getting back to the Crawl will take an epic display of willpower. When Salty Scot (sea-salted caramel Scotch ale) is on tap, leaving after one isn’t just hard, it’s next to impossible.

Jamjar Folk Lebanese Food

(2280 Commercial Drive)

The sense of community fostered throughout the Crawl extends comfortably to Jamjar—a comfy nook serving up home-style Lebanese dishes that’s a short distance from a number of artist studios dotted along the Drive. Communal tables seat an eclectic bunch of diners in the farmhouse-chic space, where you can dive family-style into a rotating list of mezze like chili- and walnut-stuffed eggplant; marinated Pacific cod tossed with garlic, tomatoes, and black pepper; and crispy, deep-fried cauliflower. If you like what’s on your plate, you can also take home a selection of the restaurant’s dips in recyclable Mason jars—bring them back for a refill and you’ll be rewarded with a discount in true East Van fashion.

The Mackenzie Room

(415 Powell Street)

Cozy up to the salvaged-wood bar or grab a table in this warm, retro-rustic cool eatery opposite Oppenheimer Park—conveniently located between the smattering of smaller Crawl studios in Railtown, the Downtown Eastside, and Strathcona. If you’ve got the time, order up locally sourced, fresh, and seasonal West Coast food from a chalkboard menu, or pair a quick plate with the daily cocktail or something from the Punchbowl.

The Union

(219 Union Street)

Here’s artfully served, Asian-inspired food for a break from nearby Strathcona studios. Chances are other Crawlers will be sharing the communal tables with you—and, presumably, their best art finds. We heartily recommend the Vietnamese subs (bánh mì), in flavours like Sweet & Sour Fish and Crispy Pork Belly, or the November-warming vermicelli bowls. The cocktails are inventive too, including the hibiscus-tea-and-Thai-basil-rocking Pham Fatale and the coconut-milk-and-lemongrass-spiked Tom Yum Collins. Don’t forget there’s a creative brunch if you want to fortify yourself early for a full day of art gawking: Breakfast Bánh Mì with double-smoked bacon and eggs, or Filipino Pankaplog: fried or scrambled eggs paired with sinangag (garlic fried rice), pickled papaya, pandesal (Filipino sweet bun), and curry-spiced hash browns.

Le Do

(2292 East Hastings Street)

About a soccer-field’s length outside the Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood on the Crawl side, this small (maybe a dozen tables) family-run eatery shares that ’hood with at least a half-dozen other Vietnamese restaurants within a few blocks. The food, though, is good enough and cheap enough that Red Wagon chef/owner Brad Miller lived on Le Do’s bánh mì and other staples while renovating an ancient greasy spoon for his nearby East Side landmark. Lots of veggie options round out the phở and spring- and salad-roll choices, and a house-special congee awaits blustery-weather refugees. A huge specialty-beverage/dessert menu beckons the adventurous. Green-bean shake, anyone? Note: cash only.

The Alibi Room

(157 Alexander Street)

It’s billed as a modern tavern, and there are likely more 21st-century craft beers on tap here than anywhere else on the East Side. But the century-old building overlooking the railroad tracks offers a reminder that you’re in one of the city’s oldest and most artistic neighbourhoods. The long tables create a lovely communal atmosphere in which to share conversation about the Crawl. The steel beams and wooden floors scream heritage, but the farm-to-table share plates offer a distinctly contemporary touch. And the fresh sheet offers reliable favourites like a grilled six-ounce flatiron steak and tasty house-made lamb meatballs in spicy tomato sauce. Here’s a little-known fact: the building was designed by legendary architect William M. Dodd, who’s also responsible for the building at 2799 Granville Street that was once home to Justin Trudeau.