I've been here at least twice in the past month. We like it because it has a good happy hour menu,…read moreit's laid-back, and has quality food and service. And this last visit didn't disappoint. The space has changed a few times over the past few year, previously being a bakery and a vegan restaurant. it's nice two high ceiling room that looks elegant and welcoming. We had reservations, which is recommended because it does get busy. We were seated immediately. We sampled the following: - Whipped Burrata & Prosciutto - Very good. Can't go wrong with burrata, but whipped burrata is even better for spreading on bread. Their focaccia is perfectly heated/grilled. Just the right amount of prosciutto. - Steamed Clams - Good. Small though. - Duck Wings - Good flavour. Small serving of four pieces. - Harissa Carrots - Very good. Looks a bit overcomplicated with all the ingredients, but it works well. - Braised Beef Cheek - Excellent. Beef cheeks is ultra tender. Delicious dish I will order again and again. Service was very good. Friendly and attentive, and know how to come in and out with interruption conversations. Overall, another great meal. Happy hour pricing makes it reasonably priced, matched with great service and a great atmosphere.

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

I really enjoyed this spot. The interior has a charming vintage, retro feel that gives it a…read morenostalgic vibe, and the view adds an extra layer to the experience. The music was a bit louder than I prefer, but it didn't take away too much from the overall atmosphere. The food was solid--my favourites were definitely the burger and the charcuterie, both of which stood out. The Brussels sprouts were just okay in comparison. Service was decent, nothing over the top but perfectly fine. One of the highlights is their happy hour, which offers great value on both food and drinks. Overall, it's a place I'd happily return to.

Bayside Lounge is one of my go-to downtown spots for brunch, namely because of the great views of…read moreEnglish bay; its largely undiscovered status so it's easy to get a table; and good value. The vibe is 70s retro with harvest gold upholstery and smiley faces on the walls; the stellar feature is the view and plenty of windows to go around. There's a distinct "eau de bar" fragrance in the background. To note: because it functions largely as a bar, they don't serve brunch to kids under 19. I usually order the Healthy Hash whilst my partner likes skipping around the menu. The well-seasoned hash sports plenty of crisp veggies (zucchini, tomatoes--both fresh and sun-dried--and yams) topped with a couple of perfectly poached eggs. Today my partner ordered the Chorizo Avocado Benny, and while it wasn't one of his favourites, he'd order it again. The chorizo sausage was surprisingly bland however. Service was well-intentioned although a bit haphazard. Not our server's fault because he was the only one on duty whilst guests continued to stream in. Maybe the secret is already out...

This speakeasy has one of the best entrances I've seen, and the interior theming is great, too. Not…read moreonly is the decor fantastic, but the menu is a work of art, featuring text and illustrations from Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories with a drink accompanying each story. The cuisine is Indian small plates, including appetizers and curries, all of which were quite tasty. Tuesdays, they have a special martini night with martinis made from gin that they age in amphorae soaking in salt water solutions. The result was a flight of four martinis that were all too salty for my taste but were certainly interesting. I think that their other cocktails that are more successful, though.

This is a speakeasy located inside the Happy Valley Turf Club, which is decorated in a Cantonese…read moremanner with horse racing and betting (you cannot place bets though). We didn't have reservations but still able to walk in as a party of 4. It was slightly busy on a Sunday evening but still have some tables left. This bar is more English / storybook classics with a modern wall pattern that is signature to this bar, with South Indian food. So this is a conglomerate of multiple influences. The cocktail that stood out the most unique is the camel one since it is made with actual camel milk. We also got the letter, alphabet, and leopard, all of which were well spiced or fruity or herbal. Each cocktail is fairly well executed, simplistic in presentation. This is a good speakeasy to check out if you are in the area, as well as Laowai which is their sister bar.

On our second attempt in coming to Key Party, we came in the evening of a weekday. It's a cute…read morestyled speakeasy with dim lighting and fun paintings. Service was great and the drinks were easily some of the best I've had in Vancouver. You can tell their mixologist has fun coming up with these concoctions. We ordered the Met My Match and Pearl Necklace. Both were so different and so good! Highly recommend a visit to Key Party. One thing I'll note is that it gets busy. I think there are only about 6 tables inside and then bar seating, making it an intimate venue. Think - good for dates and bad for large groups.

Walk-in only speakeasy located in Mt. Pleasant area of Vancouver. We walked in around 7:15pm and…read morethere was a short wait for the server to wipe down the table, but it reached full capacity shortly after. This looks like a one man show as he took care of seating people, making drinks, etc. We kept the orders fairly simple - we tried the Kir Royale Jell-O shots and glory hole (bartenders choice) as this place seems to be known for their shots. The Jell-O shots were quite sweet and not really strong and the glory hole one is more licorice like which is not really my thing but at least it's strong. The value is good for getting 2 at a time as it was $9CAD for 1 or $14CAD for 2. The place is pretty cool as you walk in an accountant firm first before approaching the bar. The space inside is very cramped and you're shoulder to shoulder with people so not the most optimal for a date night but if you want a place for a short visit then this would be fine.

I stumbled across this place for dine out fest and I must say they've really outdone themselves…read morewith this one: for $45 you get a 3 course meal: (note this is only available til Feb 8) APPETIZER: - Steelhead Trout & Prawn Croquettes - Pumpkin Seed-Crusted Goat Cheese MAINS - Grilled Hanger Steak - Pan-Roasted Chicken - Grilled Sockeye Salmon - Winter Squash & Wild Mushroom Risotto finished with grana Padano DESSERT - Tiramisu - Lemon Crème Brûlée I found the value really worth it. Food, drinks, ambiance, and service all amazing. We also tried the nutty by nature cocktail ($16) and the daily special - domesticated jungle bird ($12). I'd recommend also checking out happy hours MONDAY all day, TUES-SUN 4-6pm. They have some great deals. Even during regular hours they have a daily cocktail for $12 which is awesome!

This updated review is for the chicken wings and the wings only. These are some of Vancouver's best…read morechicken wings and I've had a lot of wings in this town. I was out with friends for the early happy hour and two of us got the spicy soy glazed wings. We both were blown away by the fry on them and the additive sauce. We also got the house made ranch and stilton dipping sauces on the side and holy shit they were excellent too. We loved these wings so much, we legit went back late night that same evening with more friends and got four plates of wings. If you're a chicken wing fanatic like myself, you will not be disappointed. The franks wings are excellent too but that spicy soy glaze is next level and I'm usually a franks girl through and through.

I'm writing a review of Laowei to talk about one cocktail I fell in love with: The Heinz Sight…read more This creation sits at the top of my Bloody Mary/Caesar-adjacent totem pole. It comes with fries and a custom-labeled ketchup bottle. Very fun. The drink itself encapsulates savoriness in a smooth drink in a tall glass. Getting in is half the fun: order a #7 at the bun entrance, then slip into a super dark, super cool speakeasy that immediately sets the mood. The staff were genuinely friendly and wonderful, and you can tell they actually enjoy working there. That kind of energy rubs off fast. Great drink, great vibe, great time.

My husband and I have been enjoying speakeasies as they make date nights a bit more fun. We were…read morevisiting Vancouver from out of the country and were recommended Laowai by some friends, so we made a stop by to try it out. We arrived on a Friday night around 8pm. We only had to wait about 10 minutes or so before being called in! The speakeasy is very quaint and to theme. I loved the fun menu book which featured lovely art and was very informative in providing details on each cocktail. We ordered the chicken and chive dumplings along with our cocktails. The chicken and chive dumplings were pretty good! I would order them again. The drinks were creative and their flavor profiles were definitely unique. Overall I loved the atmosphere of Laowai, it's very laidback and inventive. The only issue I experienced was with service. It was a bit difficult to flag someone down for questions or to put in orders. So we spend a good few awkward moments just looking around hoping to make eye contact with somebody. Also, our server Leena came to clear our dumpling plate and spilled the sauce all over my husband's jacket. She did apologize and provided us with two shots on the house. However, this was extremely disappointing as we packed lightly for our trip and were visiting from out of the country. We had to ask for wet napkins to try to soak most of the sauce out of the jacket and try to save it. We did still stay since it was already a bit late and I wanted to try more of the menu items. I'd give it a 3.5 star experience.

They have a nice selection of happy hour drinks and bites. Order from their 'happy hour 10 and…read moreunder' for $10 or less appies. We were hungry and ordered off their more extensive happy hour menu and the portions were massive. Social burger: the burger patty was juicy and thick! We upgraded the side to truffle fries with parmesan cheese for an extra $5. Ravioli prawn trio: we were expecting this to be a small plate of 3 raviolis but each piece was big. I enjoyed the creaminess and nuttiness of the sauce. It was a bit dark inside but I liked the decor and chill vibes. The booth was comfortable although I prefer sitting on the rooftop when it's open. The server was friendly enough but there was no sense of urgency. A bunch of servers were chatting while the food was ready to be picked up from the kitchen.

Really cute spot, the servers were incredibly warm and welcoming. The food, however, was lacking…read more The beef tacos had a grainy, mashed-beans-like mouthfeel, and the chips and guac were meh

This place is vibing…read more Service is great, drinks are fantastic and the ambiance is bumpin. The music is a touch loud but awesome. Street parking only but great neighborhood spot.

Located in Mount Pleasant, in the part full of art and colors, this place fits right in with…read moreinteresting signs and decor. We went here on a Saturday around 6:30pm and it was a bit busy - quoted a 20 minute wait but got a text in 5 minutes to be seated at a high top table next to a purple vintage jukebox. We got tater tots with cheese sauce and the burnt smores cheesecake for food, and we got the Uncrustables, On the Ritz, and Gin & Juicemaxxing for cocktails. Food is a bit pricy - 8 CAD for a small amount of tater tots plus 4 CAD for a tiny cup of cheese sauce, and some entrees go up to 60 CAD which is crazy expensive. Definitely recommend sticking to the drinks only. The Uncrustables is pretty interesting - could have had a bit more peanut butter flavor but still good with the fruity undertones that resemble the jam. It is pretty much the liquid version of Uncrustables peanut butter and jelly sandwich. On the Ritz is pretty good too - a bit creamy and easy to drink. I recommend eating the crackers asap unless you want to try it soggy dipped with the cocktail (either way is good). Gin & Juicemaxxing is wonderful with the fruity and faintly herbal notes. It is also interesting as it is a cocktail on tap since it is highly popular and fairly complex to make, so this drink came out very fast. Service is okay, just need to flag a server as they are slow in being proactive on checking up or refilling waters. Definitely good bar with good ambience, but only worth checking if you are conveniently in the area.