I was so excited when I got the spot for 4 to this place because tiktok hypes it up, eventhough it was a very late dinner for us which is 20:15 on Valentines Day. We got into the hotel entrance, took the elevator to the 2nd floor and checked in with the lady for my reservation. She guided us to our spot which is downstairs. While walking downstair, I was so stunned with the decor so I got even more excited. But then she put us to a spot which was very close to the stairs where servers kept walking around and to the door which was very cold. I dont know if they don't have any other better spots but it was a crappy spot for 4 asians. All white people there expect for us. I didnt feel welcome. I didnt feel special. Another lady asked our reservation name again when we sat down. I was confuse why they asked again when the lady upstairs did already. We sat down. We noticed all the tables had candles lit expect ours. No cutleries prepared. No nothing! Sat there for 10mins noone noticed us. A guy gave a menu threw it on the table, just in case we need it. (They have scan menu too) Didnt even say his name. We asked to lit the candle, no apoligies heard for leaving letting us sit on a dark table. We wanted to try their valentines menu because of the obvious reason. Hello?! Its valentines. We then tried to asked questions about the Valentines menu. Guess what? Out of stock! On the Valentines itself. Again, no sorry. Server wasnt friendly or didnt even try to explain the options we can get instead. I was very disappointed! A very fancy resto with no manners at all. We then decided to call gotham if they have a spot for us instead. I am happy that they have. We left the table. I dont think they even notice. I am happy we left! We ate a better meal and got the service we deserved. read more

Marvelous service and great food. Can't ask for better than that. We were not aware that either the hotel nor the restaurant were there but a very good reference said we wouldn't be disappointed and they were right. read more

Had dinner and multiple breakfasts here. Very good! Solid meals. My favorite were the shrimp platter and the breakfast sandwiches.

The food is so great and delicious! We had the whole sun bream fish and it was superb with the "salsa verde". Our server was friendly, professional and even recommended other places to visit while we're on town. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and I loved the accents of blue throughout. Our favorite place so far in Vancouver! read more

Thoroughly enjoyed dining here. Delicious food and the manager even provided champagne on the house!

Unique take on Mediterranean food. So well done. So tasty. Service is all you could ask for. Highly recommend!!

This restaurant is beautifully decorated with a large spiral staircase in the centre. Newly opened, there were not many diners when we went, but surely with more time, the atmosphere will warm up. I really appreciated that there was a fish counter that diners could visit to pick out their fresh fish! It reminded me of Greece. We ordered the grilled octopus, roasted whole leg of lamb, grilled whole fish, and the Bougatsa and Cream of the Crop for dessert. The grilled octopus was pretty flavourful and good, although a tad bit too salty. The octopus is small so the tentacles are fairly small and on the chewier side. I found myself wishing that they served a bigger octopus, like they do in Greece, where the legs are large enough to sous vide or slowly braised for added tenderness. The whole leg of lamb was plated fabulously. It came with a beautiful gravy made from the drippings and herbed salt. This is a nice touch for those who find restaurant food too salty; it gives diners control over the sodium level. Although the server described the lamb as medium rare near the bone, medium in the centre, and well done on the outside, the lamb was well done throughout. This was disappointing as lamb gets very dry when cooked beyond medium. There was not a trace of pink, but overall, it was very tender. The whole grilled fish was delicious. The skin was golden brown and the dish was again beautifully presented. We asked the server not to filet it table-side as we were fish lovers and preferred to get every morsel! We had the New Zealand Green Bone, which was tender, flaky, and moist. The fish came with a side of salted lemon butter, which again gives the diner control over the sodium. Both family style platters came with a size of fries and grilled vegetables. I was disappointed that the potatoes were fried because I was looking forward to having lemon potatoes. Lemon potatoes would have cut the grease better from the lamb and be a more refreshing pairing with the fish. The grilled vegetables were good but in a small amount. I would have liked to see more vegetables for a more balanced meal. The vegetables included broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and lettuce. I found it odd that lettuce was included. I would have preferred zucchini, radishes, or tomatoes instead of that lettuce to go with the proteins we ordered. The Bougatsa for dessert was absolutely amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone who prefers their desserts not too sweet. It was a generously sized phyllo pastry stuffed with custard and ganache, and then doused in warm dark chocolate table-side. The dark chocolate was semi-sweet and the phyllo pastry extremely crispy. We scraped the dish clean. The Cream of the Crop was a lemon custard inside a meringue shell. It came with warm caramel to drizzle on top. This was extremely sweet and definitely only for those with quite the sweet tooth. Overall, we had a wonderful time dining at Hydra. The staff were friendly and very patient with our questions. I would give this place a higher rating if they hadn't overcooked the lamb! read more

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We had a fabulous experience at the restaurant. The food was great, the drinks were great, and our server Irenee was fantastic!

Service was pretty good but happy hour was pretty disappointing. Chunks of shell in every single oyster! Much better to go to Riley's! We probably won't be back... read more

The place has a very nice location and interior design. I wanted to come because I saw that they had grilled octopus available for $10 from their happy hour special advertised on their instagram. The photo they used to advertise on instagram shows them i offering quadruple the amount of octopus then the four tiny pieces you actually get on the happy hour. But hey it's $10 maybe you don't get a lot but it's very good..... no you can tell the some frozen octopus very rubbery not fresh tasting at all. We also ordered off of their happy hour menu the "garlic butter potatoes" for $10. This is literally just a plate of frozen McCain thick cut french fried with sriracha and mayo drizzled all over it. We ordered the happy hour $10 sashimi, which was tuna and about four very thin slices. Pretty fresh, not much to complain about. But you can get a lot better in sushi restaurants. Before the entree's we also ordered the $19 tomato salad, this was pretty good and came with a generous amount of feta and olives. The entree was the grilled salmon for about $36. It was ok, skin was cooked very crisp but it had little flavour. read more

Really amazing platters and lush cocktails. Would recommend for a birthday or a night out with a group of 4 or more. Don't skip out on the souvlaki platter! read more

Hydra Estiatorio - Souvlaki Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

The new menu is overpriced and misleading. I was charged$149.00 for a single glass of red wine. I just got back from Paris and paid less for a bottle of Bordeaux. I highly recommend you avoid this restaurant given their new price list. read more

Went with a group of out of town colleagues excited to try a greek place in Vancouver. I will start with the good: excellent atmosphere especially upstairs, with superb staff and service. Drinks menu very good, especially the wine selection. Unfortunately, these could not distract from the food. Oddly, the main part of every dish was very disappointing, but the accompanying parts of the dishes were excellent. For example, the octopus was light eating salted rubber yet the rest of the dish was very tasty (sauce, capers etc). The Ahi tuna was way overcooked and again lacked any taste, but the trimmings were great. Chicken souvlaki was dry and sadly not great. Rest of the dishes sampled were similar. Maybe we were there on bad day for the chef but to match the rest of what the restaurant provides, the food has a long way to go. read more

Food was not bad but the host and server made the experience unbearable. First of all they have all the outside entrances locked, so it seems very unwelcoming. You have to enter through the hotel, but I was out for a morning walk and decided to have breakfast here at our hotel. You have to go back through the main hotel entrance, then up to the second floor, so not surprising that we were the only ones there. The host, who was pouty and sad did not greet us, just asked "do you have a package?" I asked if that was the discount they mentioned at the front desk. Her reply was snooty and she just repeated the question, then said if we did not know about a package, we don't have one. OK, whatever that was all about. Server took our order, delivered food, and was never seen again. The pouty host refilled water but was clearly not happy about it. I also had to ask her to get our check. The server returned finally with the check, but forgot to apply the discount. We will not return, even if it is the only restaurant open. Clearly this is the reason the place is empty all the time. read more

Hydra Estiatorio - The door that is always locked, so people would think they closed for good. - Mediterranean Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Great happy hour with their small plates. We tried 5 different plate selections, then repeated the lamb sliders....excellent. Something for everyone, and the drinks were well-priced, too. Just go! You'll not regret it! read more

Came here for my sisters birthdays! We wanted to go somewhere that served family style dinner. Hydra did not disappoint. All the dishes were amazing. The lamb was our favourite. The fish was deboned table side. The platters come with two sides. The French fries were amazing. Ohhh and can't forget about the cocktails!! Delicious ;) read more

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We had an exceptional time here at the Hydra. The food was excellent and the service was top notch. The hummus and tzatziki is delicious and the pita is so good. I really loved dining here and I can't wait to come back again. The cocktails here are insanely good. I definitely recommend stopping by here for some great Mediterranean food. read more

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I had high expectations for this spot. Not only had I read about in Vancouver Magazine which is the bible for new and happening spots but also pass it everyday on my way to work. I organized a group dinner for 8 on a Friday night and was surprised that they were able to accommodate a large group on a rather shorter notice. The drinks menu is quite extensive and the gin cocktail I ordered was one of the best balanced cocktails in town. We also ordered a variety of dips that are accompanied by their in house made pita bread. Although tasty none of the dips left a great expression on me. My grilled octopus was over cooked and very small in size even though it was listed under entrees. Overall, the decor is very chic the service and drinks were great but the food didn't live up to my expectations. read more

We stayed at the Exchange, which was wonderful. The Hydra Restaurant was awful. We ordered 4 egg dishes and 2 yogurts for breakfast. After 20 minutes our server finally brought water. After 35 minutes, we asked to take the food to go since we had a flight to catch. Our server, who we had to peak our head into the kitchen to get his attention since no one was on the floor, barely acknowledged our request. After 45 minutes we asked the host, the only person who was actually on the floor, to speak to a manager. They didn't have a manager. After 1 hour of still no food, we walked out. read more

I came for a dinner with 5 of my friends, you can taste the food was fresh. I got the grilled octopus for starters the grilled fish for a main and the baklava with pistachio ice cream for dessert. Every meal was truly incredible, you can taste how fresh how the food was and how much care is taken to prepare the meals. The waiter was super nice and was wearing a mast the whole time. The major de (not sure how to spell) , Mark, was more than nice he brought our group 2 rounds of shots for the table. I highly recommend coming next time anyone is looking for a Greek or Mediterranean meal. read more

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Breakfast sandwich at the cafe! Just try it! Pretty good for a quick breakfast or lunch. The entrance can be intimating since the cafe is mixed with the restaurant and can be confusing at first time you enter, but once you get used to it, it's a nice experience. read more

Hydra Estiatorio - Breakfast sandwich - delicious - Mediterranean Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Unbelievably beautiful. The menu selection was fantastic and so many wonderful shareable dishes. Great decor and overall vibe.

When I first heard of a new Greek restaurant in Vancouver at the Exchange hotel I got excited because I like to try every new Greek restaurant in town, but as soon as I walked in i was reminded of Milos, my favorite Greek restaurant outside Athens. Hydra is an upscale take on traditional Greek food! The decor is stunning and fitting with the whole theme!! I ordered the crispy eggplant thins and it tasted delicious so did all the appies! The service was exceptional on my first time there and the numerous times after! I recommend ordering many small plates to share and then sharing the large fish specialty platter as it is large! read more

Fantastic restaurant! The food was great, but the service was absolutely outstanding. Everyone went out of their way to make sure we were happy. We wanted a quiet table - they seated us in a private dining room, away from the very noisy main dining room. Our server, Shadia, was fabulous, explaining the menu, keeping our glasses filled, even finding me a cushion to sit on because I'm short. We were VERY pleased with the entire evening. read more

Excellent Greek food and an amazing wine selection. Waiter did. Great job of guiding my wine snob girlfriend towards a goof Greek wine.

This is the worst restaurant experience I have ever had in my entire life. Uncooked food, horrible service, I waited 30 minutes just for the waitress to come check on our table, my family was incredible disgusted with the poor lack of attentiveness to our table, I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. read more

Hydra Estiatorio - Uncooked food - Mediterranean Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

We were visiting Vancouver and came to Hydra on suggestion from a stranger who took pictures for us. Absolutely terrific experience. We had the salt baked fish served family style. It was very good but if you are not into salty try the grilled. Waiter was really helpful. read more

Amazing Food, Amazing Service, Amazing Restaurant Went out for happy hour / early dinner to Hydra with my husband the other night. So worth the visit to this restaurant. Hydra is beautiful and the staff make you feel so welcome. They are very attentive but not hovering. The food was delicious. It was so fresh & cooked perfectly. We loved the grilled octopus and grilled prawns. The Maitre'd Mark was very patient with me to find me the perfect wine to compliment my food. And to top off the experience we enjoyed a wonderful phyllo Greek desert called Bougatsa - yummy! Will be going back to try the fish next time. read more

Hydra Vancouver is an estiatorio Mediterranean restaurant & bar that just opened at the newly renovated luxury EXchange Hotel on 475 Howe Street (between Pender and Hastings.) The 180-seat Greek restaurant itself is a stunning bi-level, washed with natural light from its six-story atrium lobby. It has opulent mirrors and an irresistible raw bar - right as you enter the restaurant on the second floor! Last night I had the pleasure to experience the debut menu of this elegantly modern Greek-inspired flagship estiatorio. The menu focuses on quality Mediterranean dishes such as vine-ripened tomato salad with flat parsley and feta, tender grilled octopus garnished with lemon juice and olive oil, or lamb chops served straight from the grill with hints of garlic and oregano. Chef Ioannis Gerolymatos pays homage to his roots and honours ingredients and traditional cooking styles. On the menu was a selection of Hydra Favorite starters. There is a good variety of appetizers from saganaki fried cheese to deliciously crispy paper-thin zucchini chips! GRILLED OCTOPUS 21: Tender flame grilled baby octopus dressed in lemon and oregano olive oil and served with a fava bean purée. HYDRA SPECIAL 18: We bet you can not just eat just one! These guilt-free paper-thin zucchini are super delicious and comes with spicy eggplant tzatziki. KEFALOGRAVIERA 17: Crispy on the exterior and melty, gooey, cheese inside. This fried saganaki dish is lovely. TOMATO SALAD 19: This Greek salad includes vine-ripened tomatoes with fresh feta cheese flown from Greece. GREEN SALAD 13: Simple and refreshing. Finely chopped hearts of romaine, scallions and served with a light dill hydra vinaigrette. ORGANIC HEIRLOOM BEETS 14: Tender heirloom leafy beets tossed in red-wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. Now that our appetite's been warmed up it is time for Today's fresh selection of seafood from the Aegean & Salish Seas and world's oceans, on display at the Raw Bar. Choose how you'd like your fish to be cooked - salted baked or grilled. Served with greek fried potatoes, and sautéed greens. WHOLE FISH IN SEA SALT MP: salt baked with herbs. Mildly flavourful and full of natural sweetness from the fish. GRILLED WHOLE FISH MP: flame-grilled with olive oil & lemon sauce. Family Style Hydra Platters from the land like the Forno Roasted Whole Leg of Lamb or Chicken. The menu at Hydra Vancouver is intended to be explored and shared with friends and family. There is something for everyone! I can't wait to come back and try their Charred Cauliflower, forno baked Black Cod, Spanakopita and Crab Cakes and of course the flame grilled whole lobster! read more

This restaurant is in the hotel I'm staying at so it's a convenience for me. Located on the 2nd floor of the Exchange Hotel, it offers Mediterranean inspired meals. I opted for the organic heirloom beet salad and grilled octopus. The beets were lovely. Thinly sliced red beets with quartered yellow ones with a light red wine vinegar and olive oil. There was also small little rosettes of a creamy looking "sauce." It might've been hummus, but it tasted lighter with a hint of garlic, which I loved. The octopus was seasoned well and the char from the grilling won me over from the slightly chewy texture. I would order it again just to give it another go because the flavor was excellent. The service was wonderful. I was by myself, greeted promptly and my server was very attentive and nice. I'm staying here a few more times this month and will revisit this restaurant. read more

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An awesome new addition to Vancouver's food scene! I passed by this spot a numerous occasion, but it never quite caught my eye. It's quite low-key given the bottom floor is just a bar area, while the dining area is on the second floor. I found myself at Hydra for an early dinner on a week night. Enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant with its high ceilings and modern decor. I went with a group of 5 and we opted to share everything. The menu is designed for both individual servings and family style, so this spot is great for both casual and business affairs. I highly recommend trying the pita with dip to start. They had 6different dips you could choose from with your typical hummus on the menu, but also some less generic ones as well. I just wish that they would do a sampler of dips, rather than forcing you to pick one dip. The spanakopita was also spot on. I also tried the grilled shrimp appetizer too, but that was less memorable. As for the entree, we opted for the whole roasted chicken which appeared on the shared plate section. To be honest, the chicken was a miss for me. It was a little too dry and tasteless for my liking. I found I really relied on the gravy and seasoning salt to enjoy the chicken. Should have probably stuck with a seafood entree given this is a seafood restaurant. Though the sides of roasted vegetables and fries were perfect. Dessert was delectable - we tried the bougatsa and ice cream/baklava. The bougasta will a custard filling wrapped inside fillo pastry served table side where warm chocolate is drizzled over it and cut up. The baklava dessert was like any typical baklava - I just wish portions were a little bigger. The pistachio ice cream was on point though - no artificial colouring, creamy with chunks of pistachio mixed in. Overall, I thought Hydra is a great spot if you are looking for something a little more upscale. Our server was attentive and engaging. She did a great job of guiding us through the menu and ensuring we were well taken care of throughout the night. While I think there are some small things they could tweak on their menu, the service and the restaurant atmosphere are both phenomenal. I will definitely keep this spot on my list of places to go for special occasions or when I am looking to treat myself. PS I love the all white aesthetic of the bathrooms. Also, rather than music, you can listen to an audiobook reading of the myth of Hydra as you relief yourself, which I thought was showing of a restaurant that upholds its branding. Good on them for the thoughtfulness down to the last detail. read more

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We had to wait over an hour for our food. Also, note that they charge a fee if you're planning on bringing in a cake for a birthday. We were not told about this fee when we called ahead and were charged $25 just to be able to eat our own cake. Food was not bad, but mediocre at best, I've had better greek food elsewhere. Service was not on par with their prices. Server didn't update us on why we've been waiting for our food for over an hour until we asked her. The ambience was quite nice though so two stars for that. read more

Great fish, great service with Thomas. Best Pita ever. Ambience also 5 stars. Don't miss this place if you are in Vancouver.

Thanks Hydra for providing an exceptional dining experience last weekend! I had a blast with their service, and totally in love with their decor Spreads and tomato salad were ordered as the appetizers, and they were pretty refreshing The whole fish in sea salt was a great experience, with the manager's professionalism in taking all the bones out. And my favourite favorite part was the dessert, their Bougatsa was so YUMMY! The puff pastry was one of the best that I've ever had. Served with semolina custard, caramel chocolate ganache, and cinnamon icing sugar, my dinner was completed read more

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Amazing happy hour prices. Highly recommend the oysters. Service is very friendly. Great ambiance. We went multiple times during our stay in Vancouver and had a great time each trip! read more

Beautiful atmosphere, good service, and not authentic Greek food, but not bad either. The potatoes are simply not right for a Greek place. They were bad. The prawn were delicious. The chicken was overcooked and did not have adequate lemon, oregano, or salt/pepper. Very strange miss as this should be easy. Steak kabob/souvlaki was also overcooked and somewhat bland. Moussaka was pretty good, but too much nutmeg. They need me to supervise their kitchen. 3.5 stars. read more

Food was pretty good. Dips and pita bread was awesome. So was the spanakopita and grilled fish. Was looking forward most to the octopus but it was overdone. The prices are expensive and does not match the portion or quality. Service was excellent and Tom was awesome. However it took over 40minutes for our table to receive our entrees. Ambiance was lacklustre and I'm sure the design of the place was going for a minimalistic greek vibe but it misses the mark. Was worth trying once but I don't think I would go again. read more

Hydra has finally pounded out the kinks of a new business and I certainly enjoyed the benefits of that! The spavmce is gorgeous, really good design, decor and even architecture. It's light and airy, streamlined and cosy, upscale and welcoming. The service is fantastic! Nicky Snow made the evening seem like our table was the penthouse suite, but she made every table felt that too. Her service is impeccable, so professional, intuitive, and warm. We entrusted the entire ordering to her expertise and wow! The food was brilliant, every dish, except for - the pita could be better, and the fava could be a little less dry/grainy). 5-star all the way... ...Htipiti for the creamy whipped yogurt and surprisingly spicy combination... ...The Mint and feta dip with its buttery texture, summery mint and earthy cheese... ...The roasted eggplant with loads of roasted garlic, fresh and quickly mashed, wholesome and homemade... ...the tomatoes salad... ...the to die for briam... ...the lamb chops, omg they were plump, tender, juicy, grilled to the utmost perfection... ...the family sized white fish from New Zealand's deep corals. Delicious delightful, sweet meat. A plus here, was watching the crazy expertise as the fish was deboned at table. It is an art form... ...the dessert board with all the mini Mediterranean delights like loukoumi, the perfect taste and texture of the halva, the lemony cleverly meringue pie, and more. I'm not naming the dishes because I think everyone should go check this place out for themselves and enjoy the nomnom experience without preconceived expectations. A great evening of dining in style. Ask for Niki Snow, that woman is awesome! read more

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The staffs are so passionate and energetic, they have brighten up my day - I was here for breakfast and coffee plus bonus of warming welcoming from staffs. The selections of food are great, three kinds of breakfast sandwiches- 1. ham, egg and cheese 2. Bacon, egg and cheese 3. Egg and cheese. I ordered the Bacon, egg and cheese with biscuit, the balance between the sweet from the biscuit over the saltiness from bacon is just right - very tasty and filling. The honey Greek yogurt is so good for breakfast on the healthy side. Great food and great experience - will come for sure to try out their dinner menu. read more

Hydra Estiatorio - Bacon, Egg and cheese sandwich with honey yogurt - Mediterranean Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I love coming to Vancouver and trying out new restaurants this one is in the hotel lobby, second floor of the exchange hotel well worth it The service is out of this world everything I've had is been fantastic and I believe well worth the money! read more

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