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.

Went here on a Friday at 9:30pm and surprisingly, we got a seat in under 5 mins! A few years when I…read morecame 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.

I came here because they were ranked 7th in North America's best bars in the World's 50 Best, and…read morethey were deserving of the title! They're located in Chinatown and I love that they lean into the Asian theme with the apothecary and medicinal themed drinks. The service is super friendly and the ambiance is intimate but lively. All the cocktails we had here were amazing! I don't like martinis but I decided to try one again here, since I figured that if I don't like this one, I won't like any martini. The Forager's Martini was actually super refreshing. It was ice cold in a carafe and I felt that it was more of a 50/50 martini. It was botanical forward and had a lot of complexity. I still prefer other cocktails but it definitely changed my mind on martinis. Another stand out to me was the Gimme S'more. It was a seasonal drink so they might not have it when you go, but it tasted just like a mix of s'mores and champurrado (Mexican hot chocolate). The drink had the pumpernickel toasty flavors of rye, and mixed with the cocoa, amaro, and cayenne gave it complexity and a hint of spice at the back of the palate. The graham cracker foam on top added the s'mores vibe since it tasted exactly like a graham cracker. Another non-seasonal drink I really liked was the Fantasy Island. It kinda reminded me of a cosmopolitan with its tart fruit forward flavors. The strawberry, rhubarb, and pomegranate worked together to make a perfect sweet and sour balance. The egg white added structure and a foam to the drink which I really enjoyed and contributed to the velvety mouthfeel.

Very artsy, tasteful, and immersive ambience inside! I love the way they did the Chinese Apothecary…read moretheme, it makes for such a unique vibe inside that is so cool. Their drinks were very special with a wide variety of novel flavor combinations. Overnight Crush was the clear winner of the night! Something to note, they definitely do not intend the interior space for large parties. You'll be lucky to find a table for more than 2 that isn't crammed against the side of a narrow hallway. The music is also very loud so conversation with anyone who isn't right next to you is near-impossible.

Went to the Dog People with my pup's for doggy toothpaste as we had run out, spotted Chupito's dog…read morefriendly patio and ended up enjoying a beautiful sunny early evening at Chupito. I almost felt like I was on vacation. The patio is very clean, there was a breeze, great music, and such welcoming warm service I couldn't resist saying yes to a Chupito (small shot) to start which turned out to be the cutest strawberry tequila daiquiri and staying for a flan after the delicious recommendation to try the birrio. Think we have found a favorite mini escape in Vancouver!

We came across Chupito when we were looking for new restaurants (to us) to try out during Dine Out…read more2026. We picked three restaurants this year. Chupito was our favourite. We went there for dinner a week ago. Our seating was at 1700 right when they opened. The restaurant filled up quickly. The interior was warm and inviting. We noticed that the sidewalk patio was sheltered (with heat lamps) so there wouldn't be any distractions from pedestrians walking by while dining on the patio. We like that. I had the following selections from the menu for dinner: 1. caldo de camarón 2. ceviche de coco 3. tostada de jaba 4. pulpo zarandeado 5. tres leches We were also offered a complimentary Mexican hot chocolate to taste before our meal. Every dish was lovely. The caldo packed a punch of flavours with a large piece of prawn. While I usually prefer the tartness and spiciness of ceviche in citrus juice, the coconut cream ceviche was refreshing and comforting on a cold and rainy day. While I loved the depth and layers of flavours in every bit of my tostada de jaba with its slight smokiness and heat, I found myself gravitated towards my husband's choice of tostada de atún for the course. The cold fresh tuna offered a welcoming contrast to the warm crispy tostada with flavours which could compete with mine. I love grilled octopus tentacle and it was an obvious choice for me for the fourth cause and the dish lived up to my expectations. It was a good sized piece grilled to perfection. I enjoyed being able to cut up sizeable chunks to savour without having to worry about that I would finish it too quickly. The piece of tres leches was one of the best we have had, definitely in Vancouver, but also among some from authentic eateries when we lived in the Bay Area. We are glad we found this place and are looking forward to visiting the restaurant against soon.

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.

Service, price, and quality of food makes this place a great option for people who want a variety…read moreof menu options with unique twists. As a food, I did my research before coming here, scouring Yelp reviews to preselect what to get. This was hard because I wanted to try so many things! We started with their Truffle Fries which came out fast and hot. Not too truffle heavy but the fries were nice and thin. A ton of herbs and parm were a nice touch. NOTE: the table beside us ordered the Chips and French Onion Dip and I would 100% get that! I got the French Onion Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup. The soup is so rich and full of flavour. The grilled cheese is huge with the perfect cheese to onion ration. The caramelized onions are so sweet and rendered perfectly. The Spicy Vodka Rigatoni (with gochujang) was a huge hit. Not spicy at all but so delicate. It coats the pasta perfectly and the flavours work so well. I loved this. If there was bread, we would have swiped the bowl clean. My friend also got the Cold Satay Noodle Bowl and I will 100% get that next time. You can choose your protein, for an uncharge, to complete the meal. The bowl was massive! The veg and noodles are plenty and really make the bowl full! I will absolutely come back here!

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.

This speakeasy requires an advance reservation to get in, though it didn't feel nearly as busy as…read morethey made it out to be. The interior is very beautiful, but the cocktails are overpriced and the menu options were underwhelming. Service was okay overall. Unfortunately, the experience wasn't as exciting as I expected, and I'm not sure I'd return.

Love the atmosphere in the restaurant. It was nice and cozy amongst the beautiful backdrop of the…read morebar. If you're there during certain times you will also have the pleasure of listening to live music while enjoying your drinks. Unfortunately we just missed the band playing so I can't speak on that. My group and I got a few drinks and they were fruity but we didn't feel like it was anything special. I personally got an orange flavoured drink infused with earl grey and other herbs but it just tasted like orange juice. For the prices on the menu I believe this is pretty reasonable. Nothing on the high end but still some pleasant cocktails.

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.

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.

My five stars are for the establishment - but as my followers know this is about the chicken…read moresandwich. Great cocktails, very friendly staff. This place shares a kitchen with Juke next door so they are KNOWN for their chicken. The good: flavors were a great mix. I got the spicy chicken option - the heat wasn't too bad and offered me a mild scalp sweat. Well balanced heat. The bun was also dynamite. Great structural integrity and it held together the sandwich well. The chicken (THIGH) was perfectly fried. No notes there. The not so good: the spicy option means it's kinda smothered in the spicy chili - which I assumed to be a spicy chili flavoring not like an actual sauce. That really threw the texture equilibrium off for the whole sandwich. You couldn't feel the crunch of the breading or the slaw and was just kinda a mess. 7.1/10 for the spicy chicken sandwich. I am certain that that the regular would be spectacular but the overall texture of the spicy one really was a disappointment. Definitely get the ranch, very tasty.

A crazy find when I was in Vancouver for a few days. Tucked at a corner of an average street…read morecorner of the Chinatown. No fancy decor for a cocktail bar but fancy drinks that elevate your evening. I started with Forest Moon (Ketal One, Woods Amaro Chiaro, Mastic Infusion, Grapefruit, Sea Buckthorn oil), then stuck at Medusa Strategy (Shinobu Peated Pure Malt, Torres 10 Brandy,El Gobernador Pisco, Amontillado, Tawny Port). Best thing ever, hot chicken wings from the connected restaurant.