Food was absolutely delicious, the vibes were incredible & our server was amazing. We had such a good time and will definitely be back with friends! So fun! read more

Speakeasy bar. Beautiful ambiance. Delicious drinks. Quick and friendly service. Order a #7 to get into the speakeasy. Got in within 10 minutes. Sat me and my gf on a high top table for 2. We didn't feel rushed. We actually were able to have a long, intimate and deep conversation so that was enjoyable. I can't remember the name of the drink we ordered but it was good and most likely had a tequila base. Glad we were able to experience this place while on vacation. read more

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My husband and I have been enjoying speakeasies as they make date nights a bit more fun. We were visiting 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. read more

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I'm writing a review of Laowei to talk about one cocktail I fell in love with: The Heinz Sight. 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. read more

Laowai - In Heinz Sight - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Went here on a Friday at 9:30pm and surprisingly, we got a seat in under 5 mins! A few years when I came here we had to wait for like an hour for 3 people so I'm glad we got in so quickly. It was pretty busy inside as well. Their menu is always changing and they always have cool themes. I tried 2 different types of baijius this time. read more

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This speakeasy is a solid crowd-pleaser. The ambiance is lovely, the drinks are good, and the food menu 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. read more

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This is a pretty cool speakeasy bar in Vancouver Chinatown area, with the literal translation of the place being "foreigner" like "gwei lo" equivalent haha. Parking is very limited and paid, and it is not in the best part of town, but despite that, the bar inside looks upscale and pretty. We made reservations same day which were possible on a Sunday, and even though we showed up 10 min late, they still accommodated us. We ordered number 7 and in a few minutes, the person at the front of the dumpling shop took us in to the speakeasy bar. We were a party of 3 and got 3 drinks total - Via Galaxie, Brown Chicken Brown Cow, and Faulty Equipment. Each drink is dedicated 2 pages on the menu, with inspirations of the invention of an item by the Chinese. The Via Galaxie was fairly strong and placed in a cute astronaut holding cup. The Brown Chicken Brown Cow is placed in a mushroom, and the waitress was nice to add the paper syrup to burn on it since I was intrigued by the ingredients of the Brown Chicken Brown Cow but also wanted the paper burning presentation of Burn After Reading, so instead of having to order another cocktail just for it, she was nice to add it to the drink I wanted. The Faulty Equipment is sparkling and easy to drink. All the drinks have complex notes and ingredients, which demonstrates the complexity and craft of each cocktail. Service was good, the person outside was nice, and the waitress was nice and accommodating. We had very positive experiences of this place, and even though some reviews say there is bias against Asians, we were welcomed as 3 Chinese customers and had no issues. We did walk confidently to the front knowing what to do, say the password, and had no issues. read more

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Came here after going to the other speakeasy down the block. Our waitress at Bagheera told us about it since it's their sister location and cued us on how to get in. Dumpling storefront and beautiful bar in the back. The waiter was very nice and gave some recommendations. We ordered drinks and dumplings bc I had to try all the yuminess. Drinks - faulty equipment, head over heels, Shanghai noon, fury road, and good old ol fashioned. I did not like my drinks and my bf was not impressed with his either. I didn't like his and he didn't like mine. They are beautifully presented but the taste isn't my thing. Although he enjoyed his old fashioned. We drank them bc that would be alcohol abuse but not the tastiest. The dumplings were good. Bison was meh. Chicken and chive was delicious. I'd recommend and go back. The place is super cute with a great vibe. read more

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Make a reservation! I didn't make a reservation, I just showed up and I had to wait about 45-minutes to enter. Once inside I loved the design and the vibe of this bar. Dark, but cozy; cool without being pretentious. I was sat at the bar and ordered two drinks and a few dumplings. I sipped on the Manchurian Candidate and the "Burn After Reading", both vodka based cocktails. The Manchurian Candidate was my first drink and I loved how refreshing this drink tasted. I was a little put off by the wasabi aftertaste, but still a delicious drink. The "Burn After Reading" was their spin on a martini and I loved drink! I especially loved the presentation; once the drink was placed in front of me I noticed a small sign hanging from it with the name of the drink printed on it. Once I read the sign, the bartender lit it on fire and *poof* it was gone. Great show and a even better drink! Their dumplings are just ok, as you're strictly here for the cocktails, but I did sample three different dumplings. I tried the Bison Momo, a veggie/mushroom based dumpling, and a chicken + chive dumpling. They were all good just as a small drinking bite and the veggie dumpling was the best out of the three. A solid spot for a date night or solo cocktail crawl! read more

This is a review to document the speakeasy code for future entry...yes, I can be forgetful and the bonus is I don't hold grudges which is a plus in life but it also means I may forget passwords and usernames lol. So here goes -- I recommend ordering the number 7 drink at the dumpling storefront. When we visited, Willow was there and we ordered our first round of drinks with her while waiting to get in. She even served us a bonus shot in addition to our order. The wait was enjoyable because she was very nice and the bar seemed cozy welcoming, even if it's just bar stools and no views. Parking - paid street parking, since this spot is in a more sketchy neighborhood... try to park close to minimize walking. Extra cover charge when there's live music but overall, it was a cool spot to bring out of town visitors even without the live performance. Very chic and romantic with vibes of NYC plus old Shanghai. Service was ok and since we came for a cocktail experience thus our expectations on food taste or service was low; yet to my surprise though, their dumplings was good and actually paired quite well with their drinks. My pals from Hong Kong enjoyed the ambiance and want to return again for live music fun next time. read more

This the speakeasy behind the dumpling house. To get in is very fun when the front person play their 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. read more

Stunning bar, the drinks were just ok. Super creative menu but the two drinks we tried weren't very impressive. The bartenders were friendly and we wanted to like it more. Next time hopefully drinks will be better. read more

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This place was recommended def to us by our bike tour guide. I always love a good surprise so we ordered off the menu ;-) The cocktail menu is beautifully crafted and thoughtful. I love that they give you a detailed description of the flavors in the drink and what type of glass it's in. We liked it so much we purchased one as a souvenir. We went after dinner so were mostly full but we tried the bison dumplings which were good. Service was friendly. I would recommend for a nice romantic date night. read more

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What a cool place to hang out for cocktails and dumplings!! It's hard to imagine just finding this without some help or recommending it as most people wouldn't know about it or go in walking or driving by. It's a speak easy behind the Blnd Tger dumplings restaurant. The secret code is "7" to gain entry but not sure if you can get in without it, but good to have so you're not disappointed. Good cocktails and even better dumplings. Great to entertain clients or hang out with friends. read more

Came here on a Sat night. Enjoyed the speakeasy environment, live music, and spacious seating. They offered a wide range of drinks including many variations of baijiu. We ordered the dumplings and stinky tofu to accompany the drinks. The drinks were good, but the food was too salty and not authentic. The staff was very friendly. read more

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Really cool concept. Needed a secret passcode to enter the bar through their "refrigerator". Came on a night with live music so they charged us 7CAD per person extra. Really cool concept with a unique theme. Drinks are pricey, but worth the experience. Great service! read more

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Truly a speakeasy spot - love the theatrics and you really do need to order the number off the menu to get in (or make a reservation) The drink menus are ever changing and when we went - the drinks were laid out in a dynasty warriors game player stats description which was so detailed and well-thought out. On a Friday night they may charge cover too for the live singer that's performing. Such a cool ambiance. read more

The experience started off with our food never arriving. When we followed up, our server apologized and offered to comp the dish -- which we appreciated and thought was a reasonable response. Shortly after, another dish was brought to the table. We assumed it was a complimentary gesture to make up for the earlier mistake. However, when the bill came, we were surprised to find we had been charged for it. When we raised the issue, the manager insisted the charge was fair because we had eaten the dish -- even though it was never ordered and clearly served as a result of their initial error. I don't mind paying for food I order, but I do have a problem being charged for something I didn't ask for, especially under these circumstances. Instead of resolving the issue professionally, the manager chose to argue rather than apologize or make it right. A simple acknowledgment of the mistake and removal of the charge would have gone a long way. Unfortunately, the way it was handled left a very poor impression. read more

Found this place in best of Vancouver. Shanghai vibes, bellied up to the bar after entering the original Chinatown. Sorry no under 19 allowed. Drink menu has a story, albeit a slow read , dumplings hit the spot -chicken and chive were our favorites. Get the bok choy and be happy. The secret dumpling of the day is the way to go. So good read more

Has so much potential to be a great restaurant!! Cons Food so so Wait time with hardly anyone inside ... too long for nothing Worst con was the lack of service!! Waiter wearing an apron ... which we thought was the main chef... made ZERO effort to come ask if we needed more food or drinks!! Too busy chatting up a female who only ordered one drink at bar... Pros Great cocktail selection but alas no one came to ask if more drinks were wanted Great potential for a nyc vibe read more

went here last night with my daughter! it was amazing. the drinks were so delicious, ambiance was beautiful. It was a Thursday night and relatively quiet - there was a pianist and singer that really made for a luxurious lounge feeling. Willow our server was so welcoming and nice. we had a couple cocktails and an order of the pork dumplings. very fresh and delicious. i loved the speakeasy entrance. will definately recommend to everyone! read more

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Love the ambience and decor. Drinks were delicious but on the pricier side. However, what didn't sit well with me was how our server basically scammed us by getting us a shot and charging it to our bill. The server was friendly and chatted up with us throughout the evening. The fact that she was both my ethnicity and same culture as my friend, there was a common connection and she started speaking to him in their native tongue. Later on she offered us to take shots her. I declined, my buddy said yes. Only to find out she ended up charging us for it. Granted, I've never had a server/bartender offer us to do a round of shot with them but end up charging us. Be wary. read more

AMAZING! Get the number 7 from the Blnd Tgr and you will find yourself led through the freezer door into Laowai. The bartenders are true artists and dedicated to their craft (thanks Sal!). Dumplings were all great too. A fantastic time. read more

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This place has a Happy hour until 8pm! And this place is wonderful. From the old time lamps, the custom bird lights, and intimately dark atmosphere is quite the spot for a date or an intimate dinner with friends. The menus have a story behind every drink and are history lessons or stories of famous figures in fiction and history. The dumplings are usually around $6 and they have a bunch of other share plates. Service is excellent. Just ask for the number 7 outside to get in. (They have a rule of not allowing anyone to take pics.) read more

The decor was a mood; the vibes were immaculate; the staff were personable and non-pretentious; the clientele were diverse; baijiu recommendations were on point; menu was tasty (we had the cumin lamb dumplings, rabbit & bok choy); we got there early around 8:30 on a Sat, got on the waitlist & had a table in about 30mins. The street outside was quiet except for the patrons chatting outside the Irish Pub across the street. All in all a solid spot for a date night or drinks before/after a show! read more

I would love to write a better review but sadly cannot due to a significant misunderstanding that leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Tonight around 9:15 pm with my wife and 77 year old father we checked in to get a table - just 2 groups in front of us. Unfortunately 2 groups became several more due to friends and industry colleagues getting priority (jumping the line). Despite several larger groups leaving we waited 70 minutes or so. I don't mind the wait - but having no insight into the real position in the queue was certainly frustrating. The owner apologized to us and offered the first round of cocktails on the house. I thought that was a great resolution to the frustrating wait experience (and I didn't have to complain at all - he seemed to be reading my mind). With that in mind we made sure to order a second round of drinks. Unfortunately when I asked for the check we were charged for the first round as well. We had originally only wanted to come for a single drink but thought we should order a second round so we aren't just leaving after a free round of drinks. Not sure what happened there, but it's very disappointing and unexpected. We weren't asking for anything free, but not delivering on this offer made it even worse. We liked the live music, the cocktails were good, the ambiance was nice, but the wait was unpredictable and frustrating. read more

This speakeasy has been on my list for so long! We've tried to get in with a bigger party a few times without any luck, but today we walked in at around 7:30pm on a Friday evening with a group of 2 with no issues. The atmosphere of this place is so great, i loved the decor and the style of the menu. They had live music which was so classy and fun. The cocktails are very interesting, they have a lot of classics but most other cocktails are complex in flavor and come with a story. The food was a hit or miss. I LOVED the pork dumplings, but the fermented chicken was pretty basic and definitely not worth the price in terms of the portion as well. We ended up having to wait around 40 minutes for our dumplings to arrive because they had made an error in our order, which was really unfortunate. In those 40 minutes we hadn't had any waiters check on whether we wanted more drinks or food so we could ask about the status of our food. Unless you're sitting at the bar, it's a little hard to get the attention of the waiters and that's the main reason why I'm only giving this place 3 stars. read more

Cool interesting and original spot in Chinatown. Nice decor and ambiance; and interesting (and strong) drinks called Baijiu. Good service. Will have to check it out with some live music sometime. Apparently, the same owners as Bagheera which makes sense given the decor and speak easy theme with one main difference -- the service and vibe is more welcoming at Laowai. read more