Less than a week before the Winter Olympics, Vancouver was in a
state of last-minute preparations: hotels opening just in the nick of
time, airport employees gearing up for the massive influx, and
temporary installations being erected. The one thing they couldn't seem
to do anything about was the weather—during the three days I was
there temps hovered in the balmy mid-50s. Despite the pre-games flurry,
the restaurants and bars seem fully prepped. I had heard Vancouver was
a serious food town and I wasn't disappointed—it was one great meal
after another, one talented bartender after another, and everyone we
met was nicer than the last. My personal gold medal winners after the
jump.
Best all around: Bao Bei, a newcomer to a slightly derelict Chinatown
strip, channels retro 1940s Shanghai glamour. The clientele is pretty,
the bartenders wear slim-cut button-downs and skinny ties, and the food
is bold and brassy takes on street food standards. Snack on red-skinned
peanuts and fried minnow-like fish and don't miss the shao bing, a
greaseless sesame pancake split and stuffed with braised pork and
pickled onions and some sort of delicious mystery sauce. To drink, the
Madame Chiang, with fernet branca, gin, and grapefruit juice.
Best cocktails: The hip Gastown area is thick with great restaurants, but Diamond sets the standard for cocktails. The brand-new spot was started by three bartending veterans and it shows: a long menu of classics, new classics (Gin Gin Mule anyone?), and originals. The second-floor space, with chandeliers and windows overlooking the historic square, has a Prohibition vibe without the cramped basement feel.
Best wine bar: Salt Tasting Room, on a cobblestoned alley off Gastown, has a chalkboard menu of mix-and-match meat and cheeses and a thoughtful wine list. Plenty of local (raw milk) cheeses keep things interesting. The owners are opening a second place next door called the Judas Goat—it'll have a tapas feel and modern small plates.
Best brunch: The sister restaurant to Chambar, a local favorite, Medina serves the city's best breakfast and brunch—skillets of fresh farm eggs over sweet braised short ribs, rich tagines with hunks of grilled foccacia, and waffles drowning in chocolate syrup.
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Best cocktails: The hip Gastown area is thick with great restaurants, but Diamond sets the standard for cocktails. The brand-new spot was started by three bartending veterans and it shows: a long menu of classics, new classics (Gin Gin Mule anyone?), and originals. The second-floor space, with chandeliers and windows overlooking the historic square, has a Prohibition vibe without the cramped basement feel.
Best wine bar: Salt Tasting Room, on a cobblestoned alley off Gastown, has a chalkboard menu of mix-and-match meat and cheeses and a thoughtful wine list. Plenty of local (raw milk) cheeses keep things interesting. The owners are opening a second place next door called the Judas Goat—it'll have a tapas feel and modern small plates.
Best brunch: The sister restaurant to Chambar, a local favorite, Medina serves the city's best breakfast and brunch—skillets of fresh farm eggs over sweet braised short ribs, rich tagines with hunks of grilled foccacia, and waffles drowning in chocolate syrup.
More from Vancouver
Video: Is it the most livable city?
Canada Wins Chinese Gold
Seriously, you want the best Chinese food? Go to Vancouver!
West Coast Bliss
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