Chic, mysterious, and just a little mischievous, The Good Thief is the kind of spot that feels like…read morea secret you are almost reluctant to share. The entrance is completely unmarked, with darkened windows and no signage; you literally have to decide whether to push or pull your way into the gloom, which fits the "thief" theme perfectly once you step inside. Inside, the space leans into a **chic** speakeasy ambience, only slightly undercut by 90s chillout tunes that are a touch loud but still on-brand for a laid-back late-night hideout. The food is where things really land. Frog legs arrive as the star curiosity and end up tasting strikingly familiar--so much so they echo the famed chicken wings from Anh and Chi in both comfort and flavour. The beef tartare is properly seasoned and genuinely delicious, rich but balanced enough that it never feels heavy. Ox tail is a unique inclusion on the menu and it follows through, offering deep, slow-cooked flavour that stands out even among the stronger dishes. Duck breast is cooked to a textbook pink, tender and juicy, an easy "order again" plate. Dessert keeps the momentum going. An oolong peach creation acts as the perfect finishing touch: fragrant, slightly floral, and just sweet enough to close the meal without tipping into cloying territory. Service and atmosphere reinforce the sense of a discreet drinking den--this is the place you duck into for a properly made drink and a series of small plates, not a high-traffic scene bar. With nothing to complain about--from food to vibe--The Good Thief feels like a well-executed concept: a hidden, unmarked bolthole where you slip in from the dark, linger over excellent plates, and slip back out just as quietly.

Modern vietnamese/fusion restaurant. Clearly some vietnamese…read moreflavours but otherwise it's not your traditional vietnamese dishes. The menu has lots of interesting cocktails, some unusual and other more classic. We tried the tasting menu which has almost every dishes from the menu. Everything was very tasty and delicious. I would say it was too much food for me and a bit too rich but still worth the price. Our favorites were the bone marrow, the dungeness crab garlic noodles, the wagyu beef tartare and duck breast. Service was fast and the waiter was very helpful making sure what we liked and what we didn't.

The Drinks are AMAZING!! You will not be disappointed in the…read moredrinks here. The food was wonderful too we got the Ouija Board charcuterie, so good. Highly recommended stopping in of you are in the area, make a reservation though, busy place.

Arcana Spirit Lounge is one of the most interesting bars I have been to in Vancouver. It is tucked…read moreaway behind a storefront that looks like a pet psychic, which makes the entrance fun and unassuming. Inside, the atmosphere is spooky and gothic with really striking decor that fits the theme perfectly. I had the warm olives along with The Temperance and The Judgement. Both cocktails were incredible and really well made. The menu is on the pricier side, but the experience and ambience feel worth it. It was pretty crowded when I went, probably because it was close to Halloween, but the service was still good and the staff were attentive. A very memorable spot for anyone who enjoys creative drinks and a dramatic atmosphere.

I ordered the lamb and it was excellent. The servers were very kind, we accidentally dropped one of…read moreour drinks and they brought out a new drink in no time. Our server also gave us a round of champagne out of their own kindness. Loved the moody atmosphere, it felt like I was in Europe

We came for happy hour and got the Watson cocktail ($11) which was not bad. Tasted similar to a…read moreNegroni. Margherita ($11) was the better of the two. The lamb tostadas ($8 each) were SO SALTY. Crispy taco shell on the bottom was nice and crispy but the lamb was just so salty. We couldn't finish one of them. They either need to add some kind of sweet chutney to balance it off or really reduce the salt content in it. There was a good amount of lamb flavour from the dish though The carrots were okay. Could have been a bit softer. I felt like the dish was missing to tie the hummus and the carrots together. It felt like a puzzle with a missing piece. Service was fine and the atmosphere was nice and laid back

Whilst on Vacation during an unpredictable squall which derailed our plans. We pivoted looked for a…read morecool place to have some apps and chill. Answer: The Shameful Tiki room, tried to call, rookie mistake then followed instructions and emailed them. As a hopeful walk in they were very gracious and seated us within the estimated 1/2 hour. Total Tiki immersion enjoying vibe and ambience. Poo Poo platter was a no brainer and Mai Tai night yes please. Thanks for the unexpected adventure to TikiLand.immersion.

This is a fantastic spot to unwind with friends after a long day at work. To really enjoy their…read morelarge fish bowl drinks, it's best to visit in a group of three or four. Also, it's a good idea to come after a hearty meal to fully appreciate the alcohol. As you step into this bar from the bustling streets of Vancouver, you're instantly transported to a humid, tropical paradise. The theme is all around you, and you're suddenly in Hawaii, ready to order a mai tai. We began with the mystery bowl, and each bowl comes with its own unique song and flair, making it a fun experience. Whether it's the fire, the smoke show, or the lights flashing in the background as everyone turns to see what you've ordered, it's all part of the show. Besides the bowls, be sure to order your own drinks, as they have something for everyone. Their menu is easy to read, so you can already picture the drink you're about to enjoy. Overall, this is a wonderful place to celebrate a special occasion with their whimsical drinks.

Nice vibe in this bar, went for the Happy Hour and some music. Staff here were great, friendly and…read morehelpful, attentive where needed. This space shares the kitchen with Havana's, we had the Tuna Tataki Tostadas, Shrimp Ceviche, Chorizo Empanadas, Spanish Shrimp and Croquetas with Ham & Cheese, all tasty. We had a bottle of Red Wine, small selection more mixed drinks available, special menu of Rum based ones that week. Phil Bo was performing, guitar with looping, enjoyable and perfect for background. Note that if you come for Happy Hour, it'll be a 2 hour window before they need the table again. I was surprised how early this place filled up, doing something right.

Found the perfect spot for a girls' night or a fun date night!…read more The Flamingo Room on Commercial Drive brings Miami vibes right to Vancouver! Sip on fun and delicious cocktails in this vibrant, tropical-inspired space that'll transport you straight to the tropics. Perfect Whether you're in the mood to sip something tropical or just enjoy the lively atmosphere, this place has it all! Address: 1214 Commercial Drive, Vancouver BC V5L 2T4 Open: Wednesday-Sunday Food (portions are pretty small and they didn't have a few of the items we wanted to order. It can be a pricey spot so I recommend going during happy hour) Service 4.5/5 Parking 3/5 Ambiance 5/5

Finally tried out Mnimes Restaurant & Bar for a weekday dinner. They're in the same plaza as Thai…read moreSon Restaurant and Prinkle Chicken. Menu is a simple one pager with a couple of chalkboard specials. Entrees are $21.00 to $46.00. Service was very friendly and hospitable. - Greek salad ($19.00) - simple - Kalamari ($18.00) - beet garlic dip was tasty. Calamari was excellent - Lamb chops ($24.00 for 2) - plenty of lemon potatoes. Chops (requested medium) were perfect - Mousaka ($21.00) - homey bechamel sauce - Roasted lamb shoulder ($31.00) - opted for the rice pilaf. Lamb shoulder was huge, tender - Seafood spaghetti ($29.00) - al dente. Good portion with prawns, octopus and calamari - Flourless chocolate cake ($17.00) - coconut sorbet scoop was refreshing. Small slice but tasty - Loukoumades - fresh, doughy donuts Great portions at Mnimes. Will be back to try more.

Been missing Greek food after our honeymoon a month ago and was delighted to find Mnimes. The…read moreMoussaka was great. We've had their loukoumades twice, once as takeout and once at the restaurant. It was pretty good as takeout but so good eating it immediately at the restaurant. Also tried their lamb shoulder. I'm chasing the high of this one leg of lamb we had in Athens, and this one wasn't bad at all (my husband loved it)! But I usually am not one for lamb. Still was good though! And the lemony potatoes were lovely. Can't wait to come back next time!

We went here on a Saturday night and made a reservation on OpenTable. It was a bit strange that…read morewhen we called the restaurant, they claimed they can't accommodate us until 9:30pm, but OpenTable shows availability well before then - starting at 8pm, so it was a strange experience with the inconsistency. We sat indoors with the option to be seated outdoors with heated lamps but we didn't want to smell the smoke from people smoking outside. We ordered the Dark Spell Latte, Albedo Spritz, and Final Word. The Dark Spell Latte is like an espresso martini with chocolate syrup added, which is pretty solid. The Albedo Spritz is a red wine cocktail with hard liquor, and stood out to me as they had 5oz of alcohol so this was fairly strong, but I would imagine most of the ounces came from the wine itself. I liked the gold dusted blackberry. The Final Word is fruity and smoky, which I enjoyed, but not warrant a hefty price tag compared to the other drinks. Service is decent and in line with other restaurant bars. Overall, solid drinks at okay prices that I can see myself recommending this spot. Given the name, it would be great to see more alchemy themed cocktails or decor as what draws me as a frequent bar goer is themed and unique drinks.

We got the diavola pizza and it was amazing. Best crunch to the meat on the pizza which made it…read moreamazing to eat. We also got an old fashion and a whiskey sour and they were also delicious. You can the tell the owner takes great pride in this establishment as he was always making sure we were ok with our order. Beautiful inside and atmosphere was great. Hope to visit again soon. PS... we didn't take a pic of food bc we devoured it fast

Went here for a friend's birthday and we all were blown away by the food and service. We pretty…read moremuch ordered one of everything except just 1 dessert and shared it among 6 people. Most dishes were small bites but needless to say we were very full at the end. The stand out plates were the ceviche (a daily feature), hokkaido scallops, tiger prawns, sablefish, shishito peppers and olives. The olives were warm and spicy, a definite must try if you like olives. The only dish I wasn't a fan of was the beet gnocchi as it had too much of a musky taste for my palette but my friends enjoyed it. Big shout out to Shandy for her hospitality. The restaurant was busy and she made sure service was smooth for us. My girlfriends and I don't usually repeat restaurants for our birthday celebrations but we will have to make an exception for this one!

Went to Bar Bravo for my friend and I's birthday. We managed to go early enough to catch the later…read morepart of happy hour (~5pm), and we were actually the first table there (granted, we went on a Wednesday evening haha)! They limited dining to 1.5 hours, which makes sense because the restaurant started to fill out towards the end of our meal. Even though its not a big space, it didn't get too loud even with 70-80% capacity. We were immediately served by the owner, Louis, himself. He was super welcoming and explained the entire menu to us. Off the HH menu, we got the oysters ($15) and vermouth spritz ($12). We also ordered Tofino King Salmon ($29), Spanish Octopus ($35), Tiger Shrimp ($32), Seared Scallops ($47), and Apple Tiramisu ($14) to end. I really appreciate that he didn't try to upsell us on the dishes, but instead told us how many dishes he thinks would get us full. In the end, we ended up ordering one more (tiger shrimp) and we were stuffed after. All the seafood was done well; however, I think the sauce(s) and "accessories" to the seafood can be improved. They're pretty innovative with the type of dressing, and I feel like it was a hit or miss with the both of us. I did really like their avocado dressing though, and seemed to go well with everything! My favourite was the salmon - super prominent fish taste, and was a bit tougher (because it was "dry aged") than what you would expect from sashimi. I would recommend getting that, and it's also one of their most ordered item on the menu. The apple tiramisu was also really good! And because it was a birthday, he gave us a shot of their espresso vodka, which was the BEST vodka-infused drink I've ever had. It was similar to if cold brew was infused with vodka and a little hint of vanilla. Super delicious. Would recommend coming here for HH; their regular dishes are a bit pricy, but some of them are worth it (for the right occasion).

Mixed feelings about this place . There are things I liked ( ambience , prices ,…read morebartender/mixologist currently working's personal flair ) when I visited , however I didn't have the best experience overall . Two stars ( instead of one ) for the bartender trying to make it right by offering me a free shot with my happy hour beverage but honestly I would have rather just been treated better (with a little more consideration) . In the states at "fancy" restaurants and or really popular places ( in general places that take reservations) , a single person would never really be allowed to sit at a larger table or booth, unless extreme circumstances warranted it like they were disabled / had a wheelchair ( which I am ) due to the fact that most likely a larger party who would obviously want to sit together, would need that limited space and it would be awkward to have someone move tables when they were already enjoying their drink or meal to accommodate a larger party. This rule, however doesn't really exist at places like dive bars . In general as most dive bars tended to be sparsely populated ...sitting wherever is not really an issues . In general first come first serve and every man for himself ...is usually the vibe . I arrived here, basically at opening and was there for about 40 minutes when a party of four arrived . All four of them kept looking at my table where I was sitting (the only booth in the small bar) as they were initially forced to sit together at one of the single tables with four chairs . Next thing, I know the bartender comes over to me and apologizes, saying he has to bug me and request that I move to a smaller table because they need the one booth . As I gathered my belongings to move, members of the larger party avoided making eye contact as they some thanked me for moving . Obvious that they were feeling guilt and yet it didn't stop them from claiming the booth I was using as a disabled person . Quite an unpleasant experience . To be fair I get the need to accommodate a larger party but honestly they could've literally just pushed three tables together and arranged the chairs to be three on each side. It would've been a little bit more work, but I think it would have been the fairest solution ..and would have been my solution as the employee working there or if I was a member of the party . It's the entitlement that really bothered me . I think I just come from a place where in certain instances people wouldn't even dare ask .

I was expecting more...the music was punk rock and loud. Definitely not the music I was expecting…read moreat a "speakeasy" type of bar. Cocktails weren't all that amazing. I don't know. Nothing memorable about this place other than the 2 minutes of excitement trying to find it...

This speakeasy is a solid crowd-pleaser. The ambiance is lovely, the drinks are good, and the food…read moremenu features playful Asian-inspired flavours. I'd return for the atmosphere and the drinks alone. Service was okay, but it did take a while to get our bill.

This the speakeasy behind the dumpling house. To get in is very fun when the front person play…read moretheir role. This depends on the person. I had a great experience and an experience that didn't play their role which was disappointing. Well thought out menu. It would have been 5 stars except that the seats are not the most comfortable or luxurious. The seating arrangement doesn't convey the feeling of exclusivity. Also, this is the highest priced bar for what they are serving, and some are very small glasses.