West End is a part of Edmonton. It is probably most known for West Edmonton Mall, which is the largest mall in North America. It is a largely suburban area built mostly in the 1970s, with the exclusion of the west central, inner suburbs like Crestwood and Glenora.
The West End can be easily accessed by both of Edmonton's major east-west expressways, Yellowhead Trail (Hwy 16) and Whitemud Drive, as well as Anthony Henday Drive (Hwy 216), Edmonton's ring road. Stony Plain Road and 107 Avenue are the major connections to downtown. 170 Street is the major north-south thoroughfare through the west end, with most commercial and retail development being focused between Stony Plain Road and Whitemud Drive.
More recent development like Lewis Estates and La Perle are much harder to navigate, like most suburban areas in North America. They use windy roads and you may feel like you are in a maze. A roadmap would be suggested.
Using bus in the area is relatively simple. Only recent developments do not have bus connections. Bus waits are usually between 7 (peak)-45 (night)minutes. Check ETS for times and routes. Information on the bus system, including wait times, is available at 780-496-1600 or online. The West Edmonton Mall Transit Centre serves most West End routes, and offers express service to downtown.
Edmonton Valley Zoo53.509553-113.5529321Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park (Laurier Park). It's on the river valley and is a nice park to sit and enjoy.
53.5114-113.5542Valley Zoo, 13315 Buena Vista Rd, ☏ +1 780 496-6924. 350 animals on 110 acres, including (according to its critics) "the northernmost captive elephant in the world". A nice small mix of animals and a quiet experience.
53.535-113.5693Candy Cane Lane, 148 St. NW between 100 and 92 Avenue NW (December). For three weeks in December, 8 blocks of residential get transformed into a big Christmas light display. Houses bring out their best lights and decorations. Many people drive the street, but you can also walk as an alternative way to enjoy an Edmonton tradition. It is best to view after dark (Sunset is around 5PM in December) so everything can be seen in action. Visitors are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food donation to place in boxes set up along the lane for the Edmonton Food Bank, a charity that helps families in need.
53.521699-113.6805931Lewis Estates Golf Club, 260 Suder Greens Drive, ☏ +1 780 489-4653. (Public: 6220 yards, par 72) This course is embedded in the Lewis Estates housing development, and most of the fairways snake between rows of homes. Some "wild" fairways cut through the natural forest that still exists in the middle of the first nine holes, and they are a welcome respite from the fences, yards, and all-too-vulnerable windows of the remaining holes.
53.52263-113.628183Scotiabank Theatre, #3030, 8882-170 Street (located in West Edmonton Mall, phase 4 (near 178 St)), ☏ +1 780 444-2400. Well kept theatre, at busy times expect to wait in lines (especially concession). The picture of the screen is very good. Shows the standard of regular Blockbuster movies. (updated Mar 2019)
A view down one of the wings of the West Edmonton Mall
53.522222-113.6227781West Edmonton Mall (WEM), 8882 170 St NW, ☏ +1 780-444-5321. vary by day/season, usually open from at least Noon-6PM. Largest mall in North America with an indoor amusement park, waterpark, ice-rink, minigolf, and bowling. The main shopping part of the mall has all the standard multi-national brands in a typical mall setting. It has a newer "Bourbon St" indoor eat-street and food court. The additional space to make it the "largest" is mostly to accommodate the recreational features. Otherwise it's easy to negotiate, and looking perhaps just a little tired. It's a very much a mix of locals and tourists here - it's not about premium brands and you can do value shopping here. (updated Sep 2018)
53.543662-113.6123062Mayfield Common (170 St / Stony Plain Rd / Mayfield Rd). Power centre, suburban shopping. (updated Mar 2019)
53.535714-113.6186513Depot 170 / Terra Losa Shopping Centre (170 St between 95 Ave and 95). Power centres, suburban shopping. The two power centres are separated by 99 Ave.
53.539927-113.6250024Westpoint Centre (178 St between 100 Ave and Stony Plain Rd). Power centre, suburban shopping.
53.5243-113.61891Cactus Club Cafe, 2715 8882 170 St NW (North Side of West Edmonton Mall), ☏ +1 780 489-1002. Good American food, with a modern atmosphere. Accessible directly from the WEM parking lot.
53.5405-113.62612Chop, 17635 Stony Plain Rd NW (Behind a Best Buy), ☏ +1 780 487-2467. M 11AM-11PM, Tu-Th 11AM-midnight, F 11AM-1AM, Sa 4PM-1AM, Su 4PM-11PM. A steakhouse and seafood palace. It keeps its modern style clean and yet, casual. The prices are generally high.
53.53435-113.56613Delux Burger Bar, 9682 142 St NW (In a tiny modern retail strip), ☏ +1 780 420-0101. Open at 11AM everyday. This cool, contemporary room serves urban comfort food. Gourmet burgers of every kind dominate the menu, but there's room for trendy treatments of favourites like the grilled cheese sandwich and macaroni and cheese dish. Try the shopping cart of fries, a unique experience. Moderate item prices, but everything is a la carte and it adds up.
Jungle Jim's, #1648 8882 170 St. NW, ☏ +1 780 444-3555. A cool little restaurant in West Edmonton Mall gives a somewhat tropical interior along with Caribbean inspired foods to the area. It is kind of tacky, but neat nonetheless.
Tasty Tomato, 14233 Stony Plain Road NW, ☏ +1 780 452-3594. An owner is almost always present, and the homy atmosphere combined with friendly service make this a neighbourhood favourite. There are more sophisticated Italian restaurants in the area, but simple, pleasing dishes delivered in hearty servings win out over refinement for many. The room is informal and small, so line-ups out the door are common on busy nights. Low-mid prices.
53.571642-113.6145356Super 8 by Wyndham Edmonton/West, 16818 118 Avenue (near Yellowhead Trail & 170 Street), ☏ +1 780-455-1111, toll-free: +1-800-454-3213. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Popular with truckers or people just staying the night. Good quality, and good highway access and awesome prices.
53.525502-113.62414416West Edmonton Mall Inn, 17504 90 Avenue NW, ☏ +1 780 444-9378, toll-free: +1-800-737-3783, fax: +1 780 489-7899, rooms@weminn.com. Separate from the mall but part of the mall property. An excellent alternative if the Fantasyland Hotel is too much for your budget.
River Cree Resort and Casino, 300 East Lapotac Boulevard, ☏ +1 780 484-2121, toll-free: +1-800-960-4913. The hotel features 4 restaurants, an on-site casino, 2 NHL-sized hockey rinks, indoor pool, and state-of-the-art fitness centre. From $139.
53.522228-113.62770118Fantasyland Hotel, 17700 87 Avenue NW (in West Edmonton Mall), ☏ +1 780 444-3000, toll-free: +1-800-737-3783, fax: +1 780 444-3294, rooms@fantasylandhotel.com. Perhaps the one of the most unusual hotels in Canada, featuring exotically themed rooms such as Hollywood, African Safari, Polynesian, Trucks, Trains, and so on. It is convenient if you plan to spend several days inside the enormous shopping center.
53.555611-113.60715420DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel West Edmonton (formerly Mayfield Inn), 16615 109 Ave, ☏ +1-780-484-0821, fax: +1-780-486-1634. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. Quality rooms, consistent with the best of this brand. A few surrounding eateries. No practical public transport or shuttles, but a large, free parking lot. Attached to a theatre, with a bar and restaurant in the foyer. (updated May 2019)
Edmonton's West End is relatively safe, but normal precautions should be followed. If out at after dark, it is advisable to have company. Jasper Place area can be an area of concern, yet West Edmonton Mall (WEM) is the biggest area to be wary of. After closing hours, leave quickly to avoid mugging or assault. If parking at WEM, be wary to keep valuables out of sight and preferably with you as theft from cars is higher than average here than in many other places in Edmonton.
This district travel guide to West End is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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