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

If you're looking for the perfect date night or elevated drinks spot, Bar Arsa hits every note --…read moremoody vibes, creative cocktails, and seriously impressive plates. Ideal for intimate conversations, celebrations, or a classy night out Cocktails first (because they're THAT good): * Truffle Ya Feathers ($23) - Smooth, aromatic, and subtly indulgent with earthy truffle notes that feel luxe without being overpowering. * You Smoky Thing ($25) - Bold, smoky, and dramatic. A must-order if you love mezcal-forward cocktails. * Takin' the Pisco ($21) - Bright, refreshing, and perfectly balanced with a citrusy kick. * The Devil Drinks Margaritas ($19) - Spicy, zesty, and dangerously drinkable with just the right heat. * Black Garlic Chicken Skewers ($23) - Juicy, tender, and packed with deep umami flavor. * NY Strip Loin Steak ($49) - Perfectly cooked, rich and hearty. Adding foraged mushrooms (+$7) and charred broccolini (+$7) takes it to the next level. * West Coast Crab Cake ($27) - Crispy on the outside, delicate and flavorful inside, loaded with real crab. * Sweet & Sour Pork Belly ($21) - Crispy, sticky, and melt-in-your-mouth with the perfect sweet-tangy balance. * Pacific Cod with Coconut Velouté ($35) - Light, buttery cod paired beautifully with the creamy coconut sauce. Add garlic butter prawns (+$7) for extra indulgence. * Dubai Chocolate Bars ($19) - Rich, decadent, and the perfect sweet ending to an unforgettable meal. * Final thoughts: Bar Arsa is a total vibe -- ideal for date night, cocktail hopping, or a stylish night out with food and drinks. One of those places you'll want to come back to again and again

Very disappointing dining experience. We came here after a show at Granville Island. The restaurant…read moreonly had 3-4 occupied tables, yet the atmosphere was uncomfortably hot. Four of us ordered one dish when we arrived, and then placed another order about 10 minutes later. After waiting for an hour, both food orders were completely missed by the staff. The kitchen was closed by the time we follow up on the orders. They waived the $20 bill but that didn't make us feel better. My friend at least received a drink, but I ended up sitting there drinking water for over an hour and left with an empty stomach. This restaurant charges $20+ for one dessert and $40+ for one main dish. The service quality is not okay for this price range.

Fabulous business in Vancouver! I signed up for a cocktail making class and our instructor Aaron…read morewas amazing! I've always wanted to do something like this but have been a bit nervous to do so but he made the class fun, funny, and so easy! You have the chance to make 3 bespoke artisan cocktails during this 3 hour class, 2 of their signatures and then the 3rd Aaron let us pick! He made it so easy and explained each step well, also how to use the tools properly along with sharing some great tips on shaking, measuring and also the importance of balance in your cocktail. I enjoyed every minute as well as consuming the cocktails after... each so delicious made with their in house liquors. If I had room I would have bought several bottles with me to take home!

Aaron was absolutely fantastic. We came by and were so disappointed because there was a sign out…read moresaying they were closed for a private event. Aaron came out as we were looking for Plan B and let us know the event had just ended and they were open again. (5 loud cheers on the street for sure!) I tried both the Kyoto and Wet Work, enjoying them both. They would even work as a blend of one another. My dad accidentally ordered a chocolate martini instead of an espresso martini, and Aaron made it happen. (The entire table loved it! Take that poured over some ice cream and I'd be far too content!) My brother had the gin martini, and while not a fan of gin straight up, it had a nice smooth finish that I could appreciate.

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.

Another French bistro we recently tried. Didn't realize how we missed this place for so long but…read moreglad we dropped by. The dishes were simple and classic but I think they were nicely executed. Mussels were fresh and the cream sauce was not oily. Duck confit with lentils are classic pairing but done well. Duck was not salty. French fries seasoned well. The star was the pomme dauphine, hot, rich, cheesy but not heavy. French cooking done well. Treated ourselves with a lemon tart but it was not what we imagined. This was more of a family style tart with great pastry, set cream, and poached pears. The flavours and textures were amazing and balanced. Glad we splurged on the dessert.

We came on a weekday for a quick lunch. Service was fast and friendly…read more Croque Monsieur - sandwich was crispy and addicting. Very cheesy and decadent Mussels - decent portion of mussels. Cooked to just right Steak tartare - loved the flavours on the steak tartare. Interestingly the steak tartare was in chunks and not grinded which was welcome for me Chocolate nousse- okay but I would pass next time Fries and salad came with each dish. The fried are so addicting and morrish. A bit of old oil flavour which is understandable considering the amount they are frying. It's not crispy but instead very potatoey. The sauce that it comes with (like mayo) went so well with it. Could eats lots of it. Salad was also a welcome addition to make it feel a bit healthier Overall great little French lunch spot

Caught up with a friend recently and we chose Parker Rooftop…read more The oysters were a definite improvement -- 95% shell-free, a huge step up from previous visits. We ordered earlier in the day, and the shucker was clearly alert, taking the extra steps to ensure a clean finish. Truffle fries were indulgent and perfectly crisp, though the garlic aioli was milder than I prefer -- almost like straight mayo without a punch. I skipped the sushi wrap, sticking to my traditionalist ways, but my friend enjoyed it. Brownie bites, complimentary as they were, were a disappointment. Lacking enough fat and possibly stored improperly, they tasted a bit stale -- a shame, because how does a brownie not taste good? Our server was attentive and charming, swooping in at just the right moments for round twos and top-offs, which made the experience that much smoother.

Gosh, we wanted to love this hotels food options so much after discovering the hotel itself…read morerecently. Sadly after visiting the rooftop twice for happy hour and once for dinner with an announced significant birthday number shared, and two breakfast's a three is all we can muster. It should be so much more, but the food lets down the entire experience. Our service was good, with delightful people helping our experience. That said service is slow, with details that should be spot on, not even evident. Water glasses left empty forever, promises made, not even brought up again. When the reservation was made a question was asked of an event for the dinner out. A 60th birthday was mentioned, acknowledged, and when sat by our server and nothing further. To be fair K would rather it all go by unannounced, but when it's all over the paperwork a small recognition should be there. The space itself, is not on a rooftop at all, but it's a beautiful high ceilings restaurant that deserves a far better kitchen. Our price fixe menu for two at $155 or so was definitely not worth the price at all. The steak was uniformly medium when med rare was the ask. There was a tiny bit of medium rare at one end, but the vast majority was medium or more. The torch of the butter on the steak, looked good from afar prior to our serving, but right in front of you looks almost comical. Our breakfasts were average at best, again service was ok, but the food was not where it should be, in fact not even close. We'd ponder staying at the hotel again due to location, but we'd not eat here.

Cool bar in the hotel lobby. Interesting drinks. Live music…read more Hotel was pretty busy and a bit noisy but a cool place.

Located in the lobby of the Rosewood Hotel this bar was the perfect pit stop, before and after…read moreevents. They truffle fries were crispy and delicious, ketchup not needed. The margaritas were consistently good, I have no complaints. The only downfall is the flimsy bar chairs. Although they are beautiful, I was nervous sitting in them and kept praying I didn't fall.

Only updating this to include the newer cocktail menu :) I've gotten sober since our last visit and…read morewas pleased to see some mocktail options. The earl grey sour was great!!! They also have 2 non-alcoholic beers - an IPA & Heineken 0

This place is pretty good. I like how they do their Caesars, and I also like that they grind their…read moreburger meat in-house, so you can ask for it cooked different than well-done. Their "brunch burger" is a major missed opportunity though... this really should have a fried egg on it. You could possibly add an egg from the ala carte section of the menu, but those cost $3, so you'd be looking at $27 for a burger and a half a cup of fried potatoes. That's insanely expensive. Currently the brunch burger has two small patties which have a tendency to overcook and become dry. My patties were well-done despite me asking for medium - don't even ask if the kitchen can't deliver. Not sure what makes that a brunch burger, but it would be much better if those two patties were combined into one, and a fried egg was added, while staying below a $24 price point expensive burgers in Vancouver. Other restaurants can do it.... Oh, the other disappointing thing is that the card reader defaults to tips at 18, 25, and 28%. Not cool - we already pay servers high wages in BC, tipping should be 10% if not eliminated altogether. 28%? No thanks!

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

Oh my god this was amazing. I was greeted by one of the kindest people I have ever interacted with…read moreand was shown to a lovely patio table. I ordered a hibiscus tea while I waited for my friend. It was incredibly refreshing and flavorful, the best I have ever had. For food, we shared a bunch of stuff. We got a dip sampler with labneh, hummus, and an eggplant dip. All were fantastic and came out beautifully. They brought gluten free crackers out for me as well. The shrimp was divine. Garlicky, flavorful, so good. Will be thinking about this for a while. Definitely order sides, as the proteins just come with the protein listed unless you do a lunch special. The halloumi fries were incredible and came with an amazing sauce. Fried in a dedicated gluten free frier- amazing. The food was paired with a lovely aperol spritz, a lovely patio, and a kind and attentive server. Would go back every week if I could.

I visited this Lebanese restaurant for the first time, mainly because I wanted to find a place that…read moreserves halal meat for a friend. We went fairly late and found out that their last call was at 8:30 PM--something to keep in mind if you're planning a visit. Overall, I enjoyed the food profile, though the service could definitely be improved. It was challenging to get the server's attention, and some cutlery was missing until we asked for it. My friend and I shared the Mezza Sampler - Hot ($32), which included 2 falafel, 2 kibbeh, cauliflower, and halloumi fries. Each dish was quite good, but the highlight for me was definitely the fried cauliflower. It was served with tahini, tzatziki, and pita bread. I'd recommend this more for sharing, as it can get a bit greasy. Our other friends ordered the Lentil Soup (small - $5), served with bread crisps, and the Batata Narra ($10), which are potatoes in a tomato chilli sauce. They said both dishes were good, though the Batata Narra wasn't spicy at all.