Port Moody has a particular self-assurance for a city of 35,000 people. It knows what it is — craft beer capital of the Lower Mainland, inlet-side trail city, the Tri-Cities spot that’s done the neighbourhood-identity thing properly — and it leans into that without apology. For visitors, this makes it one of the easier cities in Metro Vancouver to have a satisfying day in.
Brewers Row: The Non-Negotiable
Murray Street is where Brewers Row lives: Moody Ales, Yellow Dog Brewing, Twin Sails Brewing, Parkside Brewery, and Northpaw Brew Co. within a short walk of each other, all within a 10-minute walk from Moody Centre SkyTrain. You can do a flight at each, eat at the ones with food programs, and spend an entire afternoon on this single street without running out of options.
Each brewery has a different personality. Yellow Dog leans toward accessible styles that pull the larger crowd; Twin Sails focuses on Belgian-influenced and experimental; Moody Ales has the longer history and the more traditional pub atmosphere. The easiest approach is to start at one end, follow your interests, and work down the street. Weekends get busy in the afternoon — if crowds aren’t your thing, a Friday lunch or a weekday is the better call.
Rocky Point Park: The Other Half of the Equation
Rocky Point Park at the east end of Burrard Inlet is where Port Moody’s outdoor identity lives. The park has a playground and splash pad, kayak rentals in summer, a pier, and an inlet-front walking path that connects to the Shoreline Trail. The views across to Belcarra and Indian Arm are the kind that make a clear day in the Lower Mainland feel like a privilege.
The Shoreline Trail from Rocky Point along the north shore of the inlet is the best trail in the Tri-Cities — it runs through forest above the waterline, drops back to the beach at several points, and connects to Old Orchard Park and eventually to Belcarra Regional Park. The section from Rocky Point to Old Orchard is about 5km one-way and takes 90 minutes at a comfortable pace.
Inlet Centre and the SkyTrain Neighbourhood
Inlet Centre SkyTrain station serves the middle section of Port Moody. The neighbourhood around it is primarily residential, but the proximity to both Brewers Row and Rocky Point means the station is a legitimate starting point for a day in Port Moody. Ioco Road toward the inlet has some commercial development; the refinery history of the area is visible in the industrial infrastructure along the water.
The Arts and Culture Side
Port Moody has invested in arts infrastructure disproportionate to its size. Port Moody Arts Centre has gallery space, classes, and community exhibitions year-round. The city’s commitment to public art is visible throughout — murals, sculpture, and installations in parks and along the trail system. It’s a city that cares about this stuff, and it shows.
Port Moody Station Museum is in the historic 1908 Canadian Pacific Railway station in the heart of the city. Free admission, covers the railway history and the city’s development from its CPR terminus origins. Worth 30 minutes if you’re interested in BC rail history.
Eating in Port Moody
Outside the breweries, Murray Street and the surrounding blocks have a growing restaurant scene. The SkyTrain access has accelerated development — the area around Moody Centre station has added cafés and restaurants as the residential towers around it fill. For a full day: lunch at one of the breweries (food programs vary — check current menus), afternoon trail or waterfront walk, return for a second brewery stop in the late afternoon.