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 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.

my foodie adventure con't with a with checking my keys at the key party. very chic and interesting…read morespeakeasy with an accountant office front. trust google and your gut to find the place ;) the place is small so there was a bit of a wait - short 10-15min, nothing major but be sure to dress appropriately if there's a line. the drinks were on point and boozy - just the way i like them! i had shades of grey and the french tickler. i most preferred the shades of grey over french tickler - the chambord didn't sit well with me. there're other drinks that caught my eye so i think i need to bring my books to the accountant soon ;)

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.

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 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...

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.

This downtown bar with a bit of a speakeasy vibe is certainly a happening place at happy hour. I…read morewas there on a Wednesday night, and the music was cranking from a live performer. The place was packed to the point where I ended up standing at the bar. I guess even the bar seats require a reservation. There's a lot of creative cocktail making going on here, and I enjoyed the drinks, but both of the drinks that I tried seemed simpler in actuality than their complex descriptions implied that they would be. Certainly, the Kelpie was well-named because it was like drinking ground-up nori. If you don't like seaweed, you would not like this drink. The other drink I had was the Run Wild, which turned out to be an excellent espresso martini, but again not as complex as the ingredients might imply. It was perfectly assembled, though, and the float of cream on top of it was sublime. There's a nice menu of happy hour bites that I hadn't seen online, and also a food menu for sharing that I hadn't found anywhere either. In addition, during happy hour they were passing around various small bites, including their chili chicken and a truffle flatbread. Both were quite tasty and appreciated. The bartending was precise, but the volume level in the place precluded any form of socializing, so I can't comment on the friendliness of the servers.

I was super excited to check out Prophecy -- the vibes looked fun, trendy, and I loved that they…read morehad a DJ. Unfortunately, we didn't even get the chance to go inside. We were denied entry by two girls at the front who were rude and gave us dirty looks from the start. We presented valid passports and are well over 21, but were told we needed two forms of ID ,including a bank card with our names, due to some "liquor law." However my friend didn't bring anything else only passport because she uses Apple Pay not to lose her card. As we were leaving, someone outside mentioned that this isn't actually a requirement, which made the situation even more disappointing. The place looks great, but the front door experience completely turned us away.

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.