Best of Vancouver Magazine 2017

Where to Eat, and DrinkShop & Shop BEST WhereOF to Eat, Drink

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2017 Kissa Tanto’s gorgeous Octopus Salad.

Top Restaurants //Great Shops //Cool Drinks

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COVER: LUIS VALDIZON; BEER INSET ON COVER: ALISON PAGE. PASTA: LUIS VALDIZON; EAT AND BARTENDER: ARIANA GILLRIE; BEST DRESSED: EVA AN KHERA J; ST YLING: LUISA RINO; HAIR AND MAKEUP: MEL ANIE NEUFELD

BEST OF

Kissa Tanto’s tajarin with butter, mushrooms and miso-cured yolk.

Just one tantalizing dish from this year’s roundup of VanMag’s Restaurant Award winners.

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11 The 2017 Restaurant Awards Your ultimate guide to the city’s top eateries.

34 Best Bites Our taste-test judges source the city’s best snacks.

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SHOP

41 Raising the Bar From dive bars to date night, hereʼs where to wet your whistle every night of the week.

53 Whatʼs Hot Now Fresh looks for fall from Vancouver and beyond.

46 Brewerʼs Best Beermakers tell us where they head for a pint in their off-duty hours.

36 Eat the Suburbs Delicious destinations beyond the city limits.

38 When Night Falls Where to find a decent meal after midnight.

DRINK

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48 The Wine List Five rooms serving the most interesting wines around.

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60 Best Dressed The cityʼs most stylish spill their shopping secrets.

64 Designer Dossier Interior designer Sophie Burke shares her favourite pieces to brighten any home.

BEST OF VANMAG 2017

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ED NOTE

Best of VanMag

BEST OF

One of my favourite things about living in Vancouver is hitting all my familiar haunts: the coffee shop down the street that makes a mean Americano; the local sushi place where the staff know my order by heart; the neighbourhood pub where I can grab a quick cocktail with friends. But then, variety is the spice of life, and when it comes time to expand my homebody horizons, I find myself lucky to be living in an ever-changing city that’s rife with buzzy restaurants, hip breweries and ultra-cool enclaves packed with unique pieces to add to my wardrobe or home. In fact, Vancouver offers so much in these arenas it can be difficult to choose where to start.

That’s why we’ve compiled this guide—to help you plan your own adventures in urban discovery. We’ve drawn from our roster of industry insiders, local experts and savvy editors to bring you our top-tier places to eat, drink and shop. Our compilation of Vancouver magazine’s Restaurant Awards winners is the city’s most trusted source for finding out where to eat right now, while our roundup of late-night bites is sure to satisfy your postmidnight cravings—and we’ve even ventured into the burbs to find out which culinary scenes are worth the commute. In our drinks package, curated by none other than the hard-working (and drinking!) VanMag editors, you’ll find a bar—or four—for every night of the week, plus a DIY tour of “Yeast Van,” informed by some of the city’s most prominent brewers. Finally, on our Shop pages, find out how the folks on VanMag’s Best Dressed List put together their one-of-a-kind looks, and start sprucing up your condo with must-have pieces selected by interior designer Sophie Burke.

Whether Vancouver is your home or you’re just visiting, we hope you’ll use this guide to discover a city that is anything but routine.

Jessica Barrett EDITOR

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BEST OF VANMAG 2017

Art Director Natalie Gagnon Editorial Director, Vancouver Anicka Quin Art Director, Vancouver Paul Roelofs Contributing Editors Julia Dilworth, Kaitlyn Funk, Stacey McLachlan, Neal McLennan Editorial Interns Christine Beyleveldt, Jessie Blair, Jorda Grundy, Gabrielle Lakusta, Stephanie Mitchell, Alicia Neptune, Maansi Pandya, Vincent Plana, Aryn Strickland, Carly Whetter, Aoife Woods Art Intern Lydhia-Marie Bolduc-Gosselin Editorial Email mail@vanmag.com Account Managers Corinne Gillespie, Judy Johnson, Jeff Leyland, Jenny Miller, Gabriella Sepúlveda Knuth Sales Coordinator Karina Platon Online Coordinator Theresa Tran Production Manager Lee Tidsbury Advertising Designer Swin Nung Chai Event Coordinator Kaitlyn Lush Marketing Assistant Rachel Cheng Sales Email karina.platon@vanmag.com Vancouver Office 3rd Floor, 2025 Willingdon Ave. Burnaby, B.C. V5C 0J3, 604-877-7732 National Media Sales Representation Mediative Senior Account Manager, National Sales Ian Lederer 9778748 Canada Inc. 3rd Floor, 2025 Willingdon Ave. Burnaby, B.C. V5C 0J3, 604-877-7732 U.S. Sales Representation, Media-Corps 1-866-744-9890, info@media-corps.com Yellow Pages Digital and Media Solutions Ltd. Vice-President & Chief Publishing Officer Caroline Andrews

VANCOUVER NEIGHBOURHOODS GUIDE is published once s a year by 9778748 Canada Inc. Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the publisher’s written permission. Not responsible for unsolicited editorial material. Privacy Policy: On occasion, we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened organizations whose product or service might interest you. If you prefer that we not share your name and address (postal and/or email), you can easily remove your name from our mailing lists by reaching us at any of the listed contact points. You can review our complete Privacy Policy at Vanmag.com. Indexed in the Canadian Magazine Index by Micromedia Ltd. and also in the Canadian Periodical Index. International standard serial no. ISSN 0380-9552. Canadian publications mail product sales agreement #40068973. Printed in Canada by Transcontinental Printing G.P. (LGM Graphics), 737 Moray St., Winnipeg, MB, R3J 3S9. All reproduction requests must be made to: COPIBEC (paper reproductions) 800-717-2022, or CEDROM-SNi (electronic reproductions) 800-563-5665. Distributed by Coast to Coast Ltd.

PORTRAIT: ANDY FANG; HAIR & MAKEUP: MEL ANIE NEUFELD.

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Eat

The hottest places to snag a table, munch top-tier snacks and grab a midnight meal. We hope youʼre hungry!

EAT

LUIS VALDIZON

Best Restaurants Vancouver magazineʼs Best New Restaurant winner gets nextlevel with a roast chicken dinner.

BEST BEST OF OF THE VANMAG CIT Y 2017

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FEATURING

STEAK FRITES certified angus beef ® sirloin, kale salad, horseradish cream, sea salted fries

The Best Restaurants EAT Best Restaurants

KNAUF AND BROWN

Let VanMagĘźs Restaurant Awards judges pick the table.

Our annual ranking of the cityĘźs best eateries is a hotly anticipated tradition, determined by an esteemed panel of culinary experts. Here are the fruits of their labour for 2017.

BEST OF VANMAG 2017

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EAT Best Restaurants

Dynasty Seafood

began his apprenticeship in Guangzhou and immigrated to Canada in Vancouver, renowned for having the 1985. “His classic Chiuchow cuisine best Chinese food outside of China, has an attention to detail like no is still a city of two solitudes. For over one else’s,” says one judge. His light a century and throughout succesand bright vegetarian dishes blew sive waves of immigration, Chinese another judge “out of the water.” restaurants in the Lower Mainland When not presiding over Dynasty’s have rarely reached out to non-Chinese diners or been fully embraced by them stately West Broadway dining room— with its sweeping view of the North in return. Until now, that is.

Shore Mountains—Leung can often Dynasty Seafood has bridged that be found feasting at many of the city’s gap like no other by becoming an best French, farm-to-table and Italian adventurous culinary innovator, a restaurants (La Quercia is one of his community collaborator, and a mainfavourites). “Sam is very ambitious stream institution for everyone. about taking new influences and using “I don’t know of any other authenthem to reflect a West Coast sensibility tically Chinese restaurant that is as in his cooking. He doesn’t just throw accessible to Western palates and lemon into his barbecued pork cha siu accommodating of Western diners without one iota of compromise to the bao because it’s a Western ingredient; he incorporates citrus to give the integrity of its traditional dishes,” palate something vivacious.” says one of our judges.

After winning numerous Critics’ A huge part of the restaurant’s Choice Signature Awards from the success is due to executive chef Sam Leung, a curious culinary magpie who Chinese Restaurant Awards, Leung

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BEST OF VANMAG 2017

“His classic Chiuchow cuisine has an attention to detail like no one else’s.” was named their Master Chef for 2017.

Dynasty’s many unconventional collaborations over the last 12 months have included East Meets West, a fundraising dinner for the Chinese Restaurant Awards Scholarship at Vancouver Community College with chef Ned Bell from the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program, a dinner for the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin and a feature spot on the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations.

In an era when big restaurants from Mainland China and Hong Kong are increasingly populating the city with high gloss and extravagant prices, Dynasty is doubling down on Vancouver. We are extremely proud to present the first Chinese restaurant to win Restaurant of the Year.—Alex Gill

LUIS VALDIZON

Restaurant of the Year

A NEW YORK ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE

IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER Vancouver’s newest dining experience reintroduces the city to Chef Bruce Woods. Chef Bruce puts a premium on locally sourced and curated ingredients. His homemade pastas and the finest cuts of beef, guarantee a truly memorable dining experience. Our award winning wine list and wine by the glass program is sure to contain a new gem for discovery.

Located in the Century Plaza Hotel

1015 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y5

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trying to sum up 30 years of winemaking can leave us a little tongue-tied.

Thankfully, the wine can speak volumes.

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EAT Best Restaurants

Savio Volpe

Is Savio Volpe really new? Somehow in the short time it’s been open, it’s woven itself so inextricably into the fabric of our food scene that, like Jack Nicholson in The Shining, it seems like it’s always been with us.

It wasn’t the first spot to open in the now-burgeoning Fraserhood (Les Faux Bourgeois was there preOlympics), but it’s tough to imagine that triangle of hipness without it as the anchor. Nor was it first to go for a neighbourhood take on regional Italian cuisine—La Quercia already had the high end Ask for Luigi, the low—but it somehow already seems to be the leading player in this genre.

It’s brought to us by an Avengersesque dream team of talented partners: L’Abattoir’s Paul Grunberg, who is quite simply the hardestworking restaurateur in town; Craig Stanghetta, who first carved out the niche of restaurant design, and then so thoroughly dominated it that it’s rare when a high-profile new room isn’t designed by him; and chef Mark Perrier, whose solid CV (he spent the previous two and a half years at

16 BEST OF VANMAG 2017

Two Rivers Meats, and time before in supporting positions at CinCin, West and London’s Le Gavroche) gave scant indication that he was not only ready to helm his own room, but to absolutely knock it out of the park in one that’s been packed seven nights a week since the first day it opened. The fluid menu changes frequently, but already there are some stalwart dishes that have become sought-after signatures. A bagna cauda of such warmth and depth that it grounds the entire dining experience as a joint venture between diner and chef, an old-school garlic bread that shows a kitchen confident enough to put delicious before stylish, a take on rosemary-lemon grilled chicken that sets the city’s standard with its balance of rusticity and class—all backed by old countryinspired cocktails that, at $9, are 25 percent less than what similar spots charge, and a hyper-focused all-Italian wine list that’s only slightly more dense than Dante’s Inferno (but far more rewarding).

“Already there are some stalwart dishes that have become sought-after signatures.”

BEST VEGAN/ VEGETARIAN

This new category taps into one of the big trends grabbing the city right now.

The winner is scant surprise: since it opened in 2012, Shira Blustein’s the Acorn has not only defined the category in Vancouver, but also across the entire country. And a city of hungry vegetarians and nonvegetarians agree—a line snakes out of this spot almost every night of the week. More surprising is the Silver medal winner—but Richmond’s Spicy Vegetarian Cuisine underscores the fact that our Chinese restaurants nailed meat-free cooking long before it became fashionable. Bronze goes to Victoria Drive’s Chau Veggie Express, which is bringing them in in droves with its Vietnamese take on (mostly) vegan cuisine.

SAVIO VOLPE: LUIS VALDIZON; THE ACORN: ARIANA GILLRIE

Best New Restaurant

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EAT Best Restaurants

Vancouverites are nuts for brunch, a fact celebrated by this new category. We won’t cross the street to see George Clooney save a child from a speeding bus, but for Café Medina’s legendary tagine? We’re happy as clams to stand in the rain for an hour. Ditto dishes like Silver winner Burdock and Co.’s crispy fried chicken or Au Comptoir’s (Bronze) authentic omelette aux fines herbes.

BEST SEAFOOD

Two things are true: for an oceanfront city, Vancouver doesn’t have nearly enough seafood restaurants…but the ones we do have are amazing. To wit, Blue Water Cafe, which has owned this category since 2008, again tops the judges’ ballots for its blend of consistency and creativity, typified by chef Frank Pabst’s continual pushing of the seafood boundaries with his use of limpets and jellyfish. But hot on its heels is Silver winner Ancora, led by chef Ricardo Valverde, who blends his native Peruvian cuisine and Japanese influences with local B.C. ingredients to great effect. Taking Bronze is the elegant Boulevard, with its ever-present seafood towers and oysters galore.

BEST FOOD TRUCK

Best Brunch

Not that long ago we were expecting food trucks on every block, but the realities of licensing, maintenance and having to make hay, mostly at lunch, mean that our three winners all have bricksand-mortar establishments to help defray the costs of the truck. Taking Gold is our paragon of trucks—Tacofino, where their take on fish tacos continues to set the standard. Close behind is Le Tigre, with its Chinese and West Coast mash-up typified by the legendary crack salad. Bronze is Vij’s Railway Express, where the high prices are offset by attention to detail and high-end ingredients uncommon on four wheels.

This year we combined the best upscale Italian and best casual Italian categories, and the end result is that neither defending champion triumphed. Instead it’s CinCin, a Vancouver institution that was only a few years ago verging on touristtrap territory. Chef Andrew Richardson has reinvigorated the Robson Street room with a combo of open flame and attention to detail. Runner-up Cioppino’s still sets the standard for classically prepared Italian dishes, while the regional La Quercia (Bronze) continues to rule with its mixture of rustic and refined.

18 BEST OF VANMAG 2017

CAFÉ MEDINA AND CINCIN: ARIANA GILLRIE

BEST ITALIAN

SPONSORED REPORT

CIOPPINO’S: Tradition and evolution in the art of fine Italian Cuisine, in the true spirit of Canada West Coast Quality Italian Cuisine from one of Vancouver’s Premier Chefs Chef Giuseppe (Pino) Posteraro

Canadian Wagyu beef carpaccio with arugula and Parmigiano

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Ravioli of buffalo milk ricotta with sustainable wild rock prawns

hef Giuseppe Posteraro feels he has achieved what he set out to do. “The mission was to create a world class Italian/Mediterranean restaurant,” explains Pino, as he is known among locals. “I wanted to provide customers with creative meals and excellent service in a relaxed environment. Vancouverites were behind us all the way.”

Posteraro opened Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill and Enoteca in 1999, following stints at reputed restaurants around Europe and in Singapore. He believes that it is a perfect balance of tradition and evolution that brings people back. “It’s that mix of personable service and familiar faces with the highest standard of professionalism and consistency.”

Of course most would argue that the chef’s extraordinary skill plays a key role in Cioppino’s success.

Renowned for his exceptionally light Italian-inspired dishes, including house-made pastas, the 2008 and 2014 Vancouver Magazine Chef of the Year has long been

garnering attention and acclaim as one of the city’s top culinary talents.

Posteraro believes that Vancouver’s small-town vibe and unparalleled access to local products make working in the city more fun, although he says that ultimately inspiration comes from within. Long list of accolades considered, Posteraro is still most proud at the end of a long night.

“A successful evening with perfect food creations, great service and happy customers; that is what makes me happy,” he shares humbly. You’d be hard pressed to find this award-winning chef without a smile from ear to ear.

“How lucky am I to do what I love and never have to work a day in my life?”

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1133 Hamilton Street 604.688.7466 cioppinosyaletown.com PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRUCE LAW

EAT Best Restaurants

In its second year, Royal Dinette earns top marks from our judges as “a place of real, quiet creativity.”

Lunch and dinner services “successfully balance the tricky tightrope between more mainstream midday diners and adventurous foodies in the evening.” At Farmer’s Apprentice (Silver), David Gunawan has “taken a reductive path” by “delving into ingredients with more depth and honesty and stripping them away to express the core of their true flavours.” Chef Andrea Carlson “cooks good food with honesty and integrity” at Burdock and Co. (Bronze), creating “comforting dishes that are rooted in the classics with flavours that are luscious, rounded and balanced.”

BEST LATIN

Best Pacific Northwest When you look at Japanese and Italian cuisine, there is a common sensibility between them that focuses on seasonality, incredible technique and balance. The seamlessness and finesse with which Kissa Tanto has integrated techniques and ingredients made it an easy choice for Gold. The bold playfulness of the menu at Torafuku (Silver) has our judges lusting over the deep-fried mochi and “kickass rice.” It may focus only on one thing (Asian-style rotisserie chicken), but Freebird (Bronze) got multiple slow claps for its Hainanese poached chicken and umami-rich dipping sauces.

BEST FRENCH

French food was once the forgotten cuisine in our town, but the last few years have seen a great resurgence in a more casual take on Gallic fare. Yet when push comes to shove, the judges still bow to the clas-

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sical perfection practised by Michel Jacob and his team at the superlative Le Crocodile. Silver goes to L’Abattoir’s decidedly more modern take on French, whereas the Bronze will go nicely with Au Comptoir’s zinc-topped bar in the excellent brasserie.

BEST CHAIN

Our chains are better than their chains.

For proof, look no further than Gold winner Cactus Club Cafe, which spent last year schooling our Toronto friends on how to run a hopping restaurant in the heart of the Big Smoke. The judges praised the chain’s infallible consistency, be it at the swanky Coal Harbour flagship or the Kamloops branch. Silver goes to the too-elegant-to-be-a-chain Kirin, whose four rooms never fail to disappoint, while Bronze belongs to the too-fun-to-be-a-chain team at Guu, who have likewise opened a Toronto outpost.

BEST BAKERY

Thomas Haas, of the double-baked almond croissants, quark danish and sparkle cookies, remains on the top of the bread basket for all things leavened. Grabbing the Silver is Fraser Street’s paean to a classic boulangerie, Bâtard, while Bronze goes to the exquisite chocolates and viennoiserie of Burnaby’s Chez Christophe.

ROYAL DINET TE: CARLO RICCI

BEST PAN-ASIAN

A surprising tie for Gold between newcomer El Santo and La Mezcaleria shows the growth of Latin cuisine on Vancouver’s restaurant scene. El Santo’s hibiscus and jicama enchiladas kept our judges coming back, while La Mezcaleria’s queso fundido and mezcal-based cocktails make for what one judge describes as “the best Friday night on the Drive.” Casual lunch spot Molli Cafe nabs the Bronze, thanks to its deeply earthy pulled-lamb tacos and two-fister tortas.

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EAT Best Restaurants

BEST KOREAN

Royal Seoul House proves its staying power after almost 30 years with its repeat Gold this year. The service here isn’t notable, but “it executes traditional Korean food with a level of sophistication and consistency that surpasses others in this category,” says one judge. Its location might not be the most welcoming, but Hanwoori (Silver) continues to deliver “consistently excellent value and quality,” and newcomer Maru Korean Bistro (Bronze) wowed our judges with its crispy rice rolls, friendly service and stone bowls.

Best Indian

BEST CHINESE

BEST SUSHI

We have such a high concentration of exceptional, multifaceted Japanese restaurants, we thought it was time to break the genre down to its component parts. But it turns out, for the most part, our judges think the Best Japanese restaurants are also the Best Sushi spots, with the now-dominant Zest taking Gold in both categories for its elegantly classical approach, and Fraser Street’s small and zonedin Masayoshi nabbing both Silver medals. The Bronze goes to Davie Village’s 10-seat sushi-only Bar Maumi.

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BEST OF VANMAG 2017

BEST DIM SUM

For many non-Chinese people, their first experience with the lure of Chinese cuisine came at dim sum while a steam cart navigated through the tables, piled high with bamboo baskets. Proof that Vancouver has come a long way since those days is exemplified in the elegant menu that dim sum chef Garley Leung creates at Gold winner Dynasty Seafood. It’s more akin to a tasting menu, with recognizable classics like pan-fried pork buns elevated to heights beyond their steam-table past. Silver goes to Richmond’s Golden Paramount, whose outward old-school signs—bamboo baskets, banquet chairs, strip mall location—belie the sophisticated take on Cantonese cuisine. Taking Bronze is Alexandra Road’s Yue Delicacy, with its muted, posh interior and legendary har gow.

Vikram Vij’s shimmering My Shanti takes this year’s golden crown in true “over-the-top Bollywood style.” Judges lauded it as “fearlessly offering authentic flavours true to the subcontinent” with dishes ranging from reinvented Udaipur chaat to Kerala duck biryani.

Now in its new Cambie Street outpost, Vij’s (Silver) returns to deliver “the combined vision of Vikram, host par excellence, and Meeru Dhalwala, the perfectionist in the kitchen.”

Rangoli (Bronze) continues to hold court (still in its original location at the time of these awards) as the Vij triumvirate’s remaining South Granville stalwart, its “intricately spiced,” smartly priced dishes especially popular with lunchtime diners.

MY SHANTI: ARIANA GILLRIE

Our Restaurant of the Year, Dynasty Seafood (Gold) reached out to new diners and embraced innovation while staying true to the clean, light, elegant ideals of upscale Cantonese cooking.

Chef Tony Seafood (Silver) “toned down” its reputation for ostentatious luxury (though we still love the black truffle-gilded roast chicken), offering more sophisticated comfort foods like steamed pork belly with house-salted lemons and local ling-cod-tail hot pot.

The Jade Seafood’s (Bronze) “exceptionally suave service” continues to impress, along with “smooth and wobbly, clean and pure” steamed savoury custard with seafood.

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BackyardVineyardsBOV17HH_sc.indd 1

2017-11-03 3:26 PM

EAT Best Restaurants

“Its stellar menu delights the palate with crisp, clean and aromatic flavours.”

BEST JAPANESE

Our judges covered a lot of culinary ground this year, and the category winners reflect a broad spectrum of price points and approaches. Gold winner Zest has “a classic Tokyo vibe.” Its “understated modern serenity is an elegant backdrop for chef Yoshiaki Maniwa and Tatsuya Katagiri’s sharply executed dishes,” says one judge. Their menu reflects “a sense of elevated rigour in which all the details matter,” adding up to a “singular dining experience.” At Masayoshi (Silver), the focus is on omakase; in the words of one judge, “it’s all about surrendering yourself to chef Masayoshi Baba’s meticulous, mindful culinary journey.” Kinome (Bronze) has fun with sushi and izakaya dishes, but judges unanimously praised “the serious passion that’s poured into their handmade soba noodles and dashi.”

BEST IZAKAYA

Kingyo bounces back to its previous Gold status after last year’s Silver (for Casual

24 BEST OF VANMAG 2017

Japanese), thanks to the perennial excellence of dishes like its stonegrilled beef tongue. “It introduced izakaya in an elevated setting that hadn’t been seen in Vancouver before,” says one judge. “The subtle nuances in their dishes took izakaya from cheap and cheerful to elegant and refined.”

Guu (Silver) has always impressed our judges with inventive dishes like deep-fried chicken knee cartilage, and Rajio’s heavenly skewers and hot stone crab bibimbap are only a few of the many dishes that have earned this hip pub a Bronze.

BEST THAI

If you were the betting type, there was probably no more sure a thing than Angus An’s Maenam winning this category.

Last year’s Restaurant of the Year continues to impress the judges with its seamless and modern take on Thai fare.

And proof of An’s mastery is reinforced with the Silver winner, Longtail

Kitchen, his more casual outpost in New Westminster’s River Market. Bronze goes to the trail-blazing Montri, where Montri Rattanaraj pioneered modern Thai in Vancouver in the 1980s and is still very much on the top of his game.

MR . RED CAFÉ: ARIANA GILLRIE; MAENAM: CARLO RICCI

Best Vietnamese

Mr. Red Café (Gold) continues its winning streak from last year, thanks to its stellar Northern Vietnamese menu that our judges say “delights the palate with its crisp, clean and aromatic flavours,” along with the warm hospitality of owner Rose Nguyen.

The vegan “fish” sauce and heady broths helped Chau Veggie Express (Silver) jump up from its honourable mention last year. And newcomer Anh and Chi (Bronze) shows that families who cook together, rock together.

THIS IS WHERE YOU WANT TO BE IN YALETOWN. Happy Hour 2-5pm daily | Brunch Saturday-Sunday 11am-3pm 1039 Mainland St Vancouver BC | banterroom.com |

EAT Best Restaurants

The Okanagan food scene has exploded in the past few years, but, in the eyes of our judges, no one has yet ascended to the level of unseating chef Mark Filatow as the Valley’s top dog—this is Waterfront Wines’ eighth consecutive win in this category, but it remains perhaps the most unpretentious fine-dining spot in the province.

Nudging in second is chef Jeff Van Geest’s beautiful room, Miradoro, attached to Oliver’s Tinhorn Creek winery, where the former Aurora Bistro owner serves up his take on the local bounty of the Okanagan. Nabbing Bronze is the stunning Old Vines, located at Quails’ Gate.

BEST VICTORIA

It’s a wholesale changing of the guard in Victoria as an entire new slate of young ’uns captures the podium this year.

First up is the tiny Agrius, where Cliff Leir presides over a jewel box of a room.

In the words of one judge: “A young, unpretentious, ingredients-focused team sources local and focuses on flavourful, and it is also home to the best bakery in the capital city (oh, the breads).

Cocktails are sharp, and the wine list is naturalist; this is the hippest room in town.” Silver goes to Part and Parcel, an ultra-low-key, supremely wallet-friendly Quadra Street spot that also zones in on the local, while Bronze sees the Island’s reigning whole-food champ, Nourish, show its leafy chops.

Best Okanagan The mountain version of the Hatfields and the McCoys is again the theme of this year’s Whistler category, with Araxi (winner of the award every time but once since 2000) and Bearfoot Bistro (the “but once”) presenting their different takes on high-alpine fine dining.

Gold is Araxi: its supreme consistency and flawless presentation continue to impress our judges. But there’s also love for the controlled excess of Silver winner Bearfoot Bistro, where the steady hand of chef Melissa Craig keeps the high-wire operation in check. Bronze was snagged by newcomer (and Toptable stablemate to Araxi) Bar Oso, where authentic Spanish tapas, a vibe-y room and a much lower price point than the other medallists make it the hardest table to get right now.

26

BEST OF VANMAG 2017

WATERFRONT WINES: PINSTRIPE PRODUCTIONS; ARA XI: STEVE LI

BEST WHISTLER

Whistler’s iconic Italian restaurant Reimagined.

Dinner nightly from 5pm @ ilcaminettowhis 4242 VILLAGE STROLL, WHISTLER | 604 932 4442 | ILCAMINETTO.CA

Untitled-4 1

2017-10-31 2:39 PM

CONTEMPORARY. SOCIAL. FRESH. el Santo was awarded best latin restaurant

by Vancouver magazine.

Open Sunday to Thursday 11:30am – 10pm & Friday, Saturday 11:30am – 11pm 680 Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC 604 553 1849 | elsanto.ca

EAT Best Restaurants

BEST UPSCALE

One might imagine that in a year that saw many key individuals spending time at chef David Hawksworth’s upstart Nightingale, the chef’s namesake restaurant might slip just a bit. Not a chance.

Hawksworth, this category’s reigning champ (it’s won Best Upscale every year since it opened in 2011), continues to perfect a mélange of imaginative food, an amazing wine list and note-perfect service that make it the obvious choice when the occasion—be it a 50th wedding anniversary or an impromptu Tuesday night—demands that everything be just so. Silver goes to the resurgent CinCin, which proves that a dedicated team can turn any room around, while Bronze goes to the often-overlooked Bauhaus, a restaurant that’s working hard to bring an elevated experience to über-casual Gastown.

Best New Design

28 BEST OF VANMAG 2017

Past the faded Chinatown facade and up a narrow set of stairs, there’s a vision so romantic, so complete, it could be a film set: a 1960s jazu kissa (Japanese jazz café) dripping with romance and whisky. The judges were unanimous in their love for Gold winner Kissa Tanto (photographed below). This 80-seat Japanese-Italian restaurant, designed by Ste. Marie Art and Design, is atmospheric perfection: a glossy domed ceiling pearls with light, pink vinyl banquettes invite tête-à-têtes, and modernist tile work is inspired by the cover of a Haruki Murakami novel. A beautifully considered 14-seat bar dominates half the room, reminding diners this is a boozy destination, and perfect decorations (a Noguchi paper lamp, vintage tchotchkes) add heart. Silver goes to another Ste. Marie project, Savio Volpe, for its thoughtful rendition of “Italian farmhouse modern.”

Pleated oak wall treatments and quarry tile suggest modesty, but nobody’s fooled: this room is as tailored and sophisticated as it is rustic.

HAWKSWORTH: CLINTON HUSSE Y; KISSA TANTO: KNAUF AND BROWN

“A vision so romantic, so complete, it could be a film set.”

auhaus Restaurant, owned by German film director Uwe Boll, is known for its unique, upscale dining experience. The fresh and nuanced flavours of the dishes are built on the philosophy of transforming German cuisine into a contemporary form. Bauhaus Restaurant has been achieving international acclaim, recently selected by The Diners Club / 50 Best Discovery Series as one of the top six restaurants in all of Canada and the Midwest judged by the prestigious World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy.

2 1 MARINE D

R

North Shore 1 Café Ça Va

WA Y9

9

2 Terroir Kitchen 3 Indian Fusion honour able mentions

HI

GH

• Maru Korean Bistro

Best Restaurants

EAT

Olive and Anchor

West End

Gastown/ Railtown

1 Nook/Tavola 2 Kingyo 3 Amici Miei

1 LʼAbattoir

honour able mentions

2 Ask for Luigi 3 Pidgin

• Adesso Bistro Damso

honour able mentions

• Belgard Kitchen The Mackenzie Room

1

• 2

Downtown 1 Cinara

3

•

• Heritage Asian Eatery

ST

2

1 1

3

BU

RR

AR

Tableau Bar Bistro

2 E

ST

DA VI

honour able mentions

D

2 Royal Dinette 3 Latab (closed)

•

EAST HASTINGS ST

2

3

1

1

•

3

•

3

2

Chinatown West Side 1 LʼUfficio

3 WEST BROADWAY

• Bufala •

1 Lupo 2 La Pentola 3 Bistro Sakana honour able mentions

• House Special Homer Street Cafe

honour able mentions

• Pizzeria Farina Harvest Community Foods MAIN ST

Grapes and Soda

1 Bao Bei 2 Bestie 3 Campagnolo Upstairs

CAMBIE ST

honour able mentions

GRANVILLE ST

2 Au Comptoir 3 Farmerʼs Apprentice

30 BEST OF VANMAG 2017

Yaletown

WEST 4TH AVE

1

CAFÉ ÇA VA: LUIS VALDIZON

1

2

3

HIG 1 AY HW

ST

W

ES

T

AL

D

KEITH RD E

LO N

SD

3R

EA VE

KEITH RD

•

Royal Dinette Cinara

Ask for Luigi

BEST OF THE NEIGHBOURHOODS There’s no corner of this city where you can’t find some good eats, and these winners took home the trophies in their ’hoods.

T

2

•

EAST HASTINGS ST

East Side 1 Burdock and Co. 2 Campagnolo Roma 3 Bistro Wagon Rouge

EAST 1ST AVE

honour able mentions

• Via Tevere COMMERCIAL DR

ROYAL DINET TE: CARLO RICCI; ASK FOR LUIGI: CLINTON HUSSE Y; CINARA: CARLO RICCI

3 S P OWE LL

Merchantʼs Oyster Bar

Find more places to dine

and expert food reviews at vanmag.com/taste

BEST OF VANMAG 2017

31

EAT Best Bites

BEST BITES Choosing the perfect snack in a foodie-focused city can be a daunting task. Our Taste Test judges are here to help! Find out which ubiquitous eats rose to the occasion when hunger hit—and which ones fell flat.

BY

Kaitlyn Funk

PHOTOS BY

Ariana Gillrie

This semi-soft Naturally Smoked Boerenkaas cheese from Natural Pastures Cheese Company wasn’t able to snag the no. 1 spot, but the creamy consistency and subtle smoky flavour impressed all of our judges. “This would be great on a burger,” one exclaimed.

Choices Markets, various locations Our judges were surprised to hear the “rubbery” Island Brie came from the much-adored Vancouver Island cheese shop Little Qualicum Cheeseworks, but despite its less-than-ideal texture, one taste tester was quick to point out that it’s a creamy, uncomplicated staple for any cheeseboard.

Gourmet Warehouse, 1340 E Hastings St.

Cheese Pleasers “The texture is perfect, the rind is nice; everything about it is good,” noted one judge on our Best in Show Poplar Grove Cheeseʼs Harvest Moon. Further described as having a delight-

32

BEST OF VANMAG 2017

fully balanced “farm-fresh” and “vegetal” flavour profile, this washed-rind cheese produced on the Naramata Bench was the clear favourite among our judges.

Bosa Foods, 956 Commercial Dr.

The only goat cheese submitted for tasting, Ruckles from Salt Spring Island Cheese Company did not disappoint. It is creamy, tangy, spread-it-ona-cracker good. Or, as one judge succinctly put it: “Garlic-and chive-flavoured chèvre—what’s not to like?” Les Amis du Fromage, 1752 W 2nd Ave.

TWO RIVERS MEATS

THE SHOP TRADITIONAL BUTCHERY | DRY AGED BEEF | WOOD FIRED GRILL | CHARCUTERIE

BUTCHER SHOP & EATERY Since 2007 we have supplied some of the best restaurants and retailers in British Columbia with the highest quality ethically and sustainably raised products. With the opening of ‘The Shop’ you can now source your meat like the pros at our butcher shop - purchasing house-made sausages, charcuterie and hand-tooled cuts. Under the same roof, our family-style eatery will work in tandem with the butcher shop to highlight the best preparations for a multitude of products.

180 Donaghy Ave North Vancouver www.tworiversmeats.ca | @TwoRiversMeats | 604.990.5288

Breakfast Classic

EAT Best Bites

Superior Savoury Just Waffles’ traditional Liège was denser than its competitorsʼ but better balanced overall. “The flavour is great and the sweetness was nice all the way through,” noted one judge. This momand-pop shop secured the big win. 3531 E Hastings St.

“Talent has gone into this,” said one judge, who was impressed by the finesse and technicality of All India Sweets and Restaurant’s samosa. The thinness of the dough and the mild flavour, which acts as the perfect vehicle for chutney, was further appreciated by our other taste testers: “It’s jampacked full of potato and has the best pastry.” 6507 Main St. Though some might find it overpowering, this spicy samosa from the Samosa House, with its crisp exterior and pronounced flavour profile, managed to secure the number-two position.

109–12837 88 Ave., Surrey Taste Test is judged by a panel of food industry insiders and VanMag readers selected online.

The judges loved the chewy-and-charred crust of this slice from Pizza Garden: “Anything from a wood-fired oven has got my vote,” said one judge. Our other testers agreed, praising the quality of the toppings (the onions are delicate in flavour but provide a nice crunch) and the creamy béchamel-style sauce.

Multiple locations The cream-based sauce made this Megabite pizza seem cheesier than it was (“It’s a clever cheat”), but the judges still enjoyed the Philly cheesesteak-style toppings—red and green bell peppers, mushrooms, caramelized onions, tender steak —and the sesame seed crust.

Multiple locations

Follow @vanmag_com and look for the #VMTasteTest hashtag for your chance to be a judge

34 BEST OF VANMAG 2017

Nice Slice

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EAT The Suburbs

Top Shanghai

Freebird

Brew Street Craft and Kitchen

Wild Thyme

Caffé Divano

Moody Ales

Angelina’s

TO THE SUBURBS

Mui Garden

Hot spots worth the commute.

BY Jenni Baynham, Julia Dilworth and Maia Odegaard

Jade Seafood

PORT MOODY

NEW WESTMINSTER

From house-made granola to fresh-fromthe-oven pies, Gabi and Jules Handmade Pies and Baked Goodness (2302B Clarke St., gabiandjules.com) is prime evidence of just how Instagrammable PoMo has become.

Find your coffee fix at the pie shop’s sister location, Caffé Divano (101–101 Klahanie Dr., caffedivano.ca), where owners Patrick and Lisa have been serving locals for nearly a decade. Tempting Vancouverites out of the city are four industrial-style craft breweries on one block adjacent to the water—a.k.a.

Brewer’s Row. Try the Moody Brown at local stalwart Moody Ales (2601 Murray St., moodyales.com). For late-night: Brew Street Craft and Kitchen (3224 Saint Johns St., brewstreetcraftkitchen.com) is craft beer in a cutesy fairy light-adorned beer garden.

36 BEST OF VANMAG 2017

Steps from the SkyTrain station lies Angus An’s Freebird (105–810 Quayside Dr., freebirdchickens.com), serving up Asian-style free-range rotisserie chicken with rice and green papaya salad. Many locals gravitate toward “cozy” over “cavernous chain,” exemplified by Angelina’s Restaurant (960 Quayside Dr., breakfastnewwestminster.com), where they go for Dutch-style pannekoeken, all made from scratch. Head up the steep hills of the Royal City for Wild Thyme (705 12th St.), a pint-sized Lebanese café known for its fresh brick-oven flatbread, or man’oushe. Following this small-is-better ethos is Solodko Ukrainian Bakery (444 6th St., facebook.com/solodko.ca): handmade perogies, sauce-drenched cabbage rolls and borscht just like Baba used to make.

RICHMOND

In the land of strip malls and food stalls, it shouldn’t be surprising that some of the city’s best dim sum is just off the Price Smart parking lot at Top Shanghai (5880 No. 3 Rd., topshanghaicuisine.com). Order the pan-fried pork buns (like fat crispy soup dumplings), salty soy milk soup and fried fish in seaweed batter (green fish and chips).

Slow-roasted beef brisket that’s slathered in nuclear-yellow Malaysian curry sauce calls at Mui Garden (5960 Minoru Blvd., muigarden .com)—a side of warm roti is a must. And because even vegetarians should get to enjoy dim sum, hit banquet hall-style Jade Seafood (8511 Alexandra Rd., jaderestaurant .ca) for the revelatory (and award-winning) wild mushroom trio and truffle dumplings in paper-thin rice wrappers.

FREEBIRD, BREW STREET, WILD THYME, SOLODKO, CAFFÉ DIVANO, MOODY ALES AND ANGELINA’S: ARIANA GILLRIE; MUI GARDEN: YONGYUT KHASAWONG

Solodko Ukrainian Bakery

1226-8338 CAPSTAN WAY VANCOUVER, BC V6X4B5

3309 KINGSWAY VANCOUVER, BC V5R5K6

3250 CAMBIE STREET VANCOUVER, BC V5Z2W4

COMING SOON 1463-1487 ROBSON ST VANCOUVER, BC V6G1C1

COMING SOON NOV 2017 1111 PONDEROSA ST COQUITLAM, BC V3B7L3

COMING SOON 120 LONSDALE AVE NORTH VANCOUVER, BC V7L1B1

EAT Late Night Eats

House of Dosas OPEN 24/7 SIGNATURE DISH Chicken vindaloo dosa, $11 WHY? All the way out near Kingsway and Knight Street, this out-of-the-way favourite serves the sort of enormous, screw-tomorrow food tubes a margarita-addled mind might crave. These huge lentil wraps are filled with curries, combining the strong flavours with the sort of easy consumption that keeps your dignity intact when dining in the wee hours.

WHEN NIGHT FALLS…

BY

Graham Templeton

The Fix Is In Few cities rival Vancouverʼs endless appetite for caffeinated beverages.

Whether youʼre partial to single-origin pour-overs or organic matcha lattes, weʼve got the perfect place for your pick-me-up of choice.

38 BEST OF VANMAG 2017

The Naam, Kitsilano

Did’s Pizza, Downtown

OPEN 24/7 SIGNATURE DISH Naam Dragon Bowl, $10.75 WHY? This is where we should all aim to

OPEN Until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays SIGNATURE DISH Pesto pizza, $3 to $3.50 per slice WHY? Open late on Fridays and Saturdays

end up after a night of imbibing. The plates are generous and full of bold flavours, but this allvegetarian mainstay is a legitimate healthy option that’s a rare find after a certain hour. Their rice- and quinoa-based dragon bowls focus on warm Asian aromas like peanut and spicy curry sauce, with tofu and “meaty” veggies to soak up the flavours.

(you weren’t out drinking on a school night, were you?), Did’s is a Vancouver institution. Drunk Vancouverites have been satisfying their poorly articulated hungers here since the ’80s, and the signature pesto pizza has been served since day one—it’s practically part of Vancouver’s history.

Lucy’s Eastside Diner, Mount Pleasant

McDonald’s at International Village

OPEN 24/7 SIGNATURE DISH All Day Every Day burger and milkshake combo, $13 WHY? Lucy’s is a veritable

OPEN 24/7 SIGNATURE DISH “Gimmmme every

haven for night owls, what with its penchant for neon signage, come-as-you-are vibe and staff that firmly encourage the uninhibited mixing of their billion flavours of milkshakes in those experimental early morning hours. We would tell you to get mint-peanut butter, because that’s the best, but half the fun is in trying to concoct a bad combo and failing every time.

FOR CHAI Smart Mouth Cafe

big mmmack and fries! Wate. No. Just one meal inssssead. That’s SMART! Right? Right, what, whassyername…manager? Isn’t that right, MANAGER?!”, $7.79 WHY? Let’s be honest. This is where you’ll end up after a big night out, no matter what we say. By including it, at least we get to seem influential. Get the Big Mac because, what, are you trying to impress someone?

FOR ESPRESSO Matchstick

FOR ATMOSPHERE

117-131 Water St., facebook .com/smartmouthcafe

Various locations, matchstickyvr.com

“I replaced coffee with matcha and chai lattes years ago. I travel a ton for work and have tried chai lattes in upwards of 40 cities; Smart Mouth Cafe has the best one I’ve ever had.”—Gaby Bayona, creative director of Truvelle Bridal, truvelle.com

“Coffee connoisseurs fawn over the rotating roster of pour-over blends, but for my money, the fruity espresso makes the best Americano in town.”—Jessica Barrett, editor, Best of Vancouver

“It’s all white marble, brass and wood—just the right amount of hipster with really high-quality coffee and tea.”

—Jewel Staite, actress, Serenity

Small Victory 1088 Homer St., smallvictory.ca

SMALL VICTORY: DAVID STRONGMAN

Is there anything worse than being hit with a postmidnight craving and feeling bereft of options for suitable sustenance? Fear not!

Vancouver offers a bevy of late-night eateries—just as long as you know where to look. Whether youʼre hankering for greasy fare to ward off tomorrowʼs hangover or simply refuelling for a second wind, weʼve compiled a wide range of choices that are a definite cut above hitting your local 24-hour convenience store.

A crêpe-like dosa (made from lentil batter) is the ideal after-hours feast.

BEST PIZZERIA IN VANCOUVER 7 YEARS RUNNING

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DRINK Best Bars

Raising the Bar

There are a million places to wet that whistle, catch up over a pint or dance the night away—but only seven nights a week to do it in.

Make the most of your downtime with our day-by-day play-by-play of the best places to drink now.

Each spring, VanMag unveils its list ofMcLachlan the year’s best Stacey PHOTOGRAPHS BY Ariana Gillrie restaurants. While such rankings are inherently subjective, ours is backed by an elite team of 18 judges representing the top food critics in the city. These judges spend countless hours trying the best food Vancouver has to offer (yes, there are worse jobs), and here in your hands are the results for 2016.

Drink BY

From the most interesting wine lists to the most innovative breweries, we’ve got the insider intel right here.

BEST OF VANMAG 2017

41

Belt out some George Michael (RIP) and canoodle with a cutie who might just be able to snag you a reso at Savio.

Upstairs at Campagnolo

M

The Boxcar

Monday KEEP IT LOW-KE Y

There’s no better place to raise a toast to the start of the week than the Boxcar (923 Main St., thecobalt .ca/the-boxcar). The narrow wood-panelled room features 24 rotating craft beer taps alongside cocktails, but more importantly, the laid-back staff is totally cool if you bring in a pizza from Pizzeria Farina next door. (The carbonara pie pairs beautifully with a Berliner Weisse—just sayin’.)

SING YOUR HEART OUT

The Boxcar’s other neighbour is big-sister venue the Cobalt (917 Main St., thecobalt.ca), which offers up some rowdier Monday-night fun in a delightfully dive-y 100-plus-year-old space. Mondays mean nocover karaoke on the low-slung stage, and the event is an industry fave for chefs and servers from the city’s hottest restaurants. So grab a $4 PBR, belt out some George Michael (RIP) and canoodle with a cutie who might just be able to snag you a reso at Savio.

42 BEST OF VANMAG 2017

Tu

Tuesday SLIP INTO A SPEAKEASY

A secret bar is a good bar. Head through the unmarked green door and up the staircase to Upstairs at Campagnolo (1020 Main St., campagnolorestaurant .ca), where the mustachioed bartenders pour stiff drinks that play on the classics—the French 125 pairs cognac with cava—and the music is turned low to accommodate actual conversation.

GO ON A GENDER BENDER

Peach Cobblah bills herself as “the Baddest Bitch of East Van,” but it’s 1181 (1181 Davie St., 1181.ca) in the West End that’s been home to her weird and wild weekly storytelling-meets-drag show Shame Spiral for three years and counting. Buff bartenders serve up cocktails into the wee hours.

Editor’s Pick I’ve tried to recreate the

Shameful Tiki Room (4362

Main St., shamefultikiroom .com) experience at home, but there’s something about sipping a frothy coconut bev out of a tiki glass (I always order the Pain Killer— it’s like drinking a vacation), surrounded by bamboo and Polynesian kitsch, that can’t quite be replicated in the living room.— Stacey McLachlan, executive editor

Th

Celebrate the penultimate day of the work week by settling in at the Keefer Bar (135 Keefer St., thekeeferbar.com).

DJs spin soul all night, and between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., it’s happy hour: two-for-one food (Peking duck sliders!) and weekly cocktail specials ($5 rosemary gimlets!).

The Diamond

W

At Revel Room (238 Abbott St., revelroom.ca), live boogie piano accompanies “Sour Hour” most afternoons (variations on the traditional sour cocktail, like the Lime Sorbet or the gin-based Last Word, are just $6 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.), but stick around Thursday nights for an extended bout of key-tickling as duelling pianists duke it out.

Best Bars

GROOVE THROUGH HAPPY HOUR

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PIANO MAN

DRINK

Thursday

Revel Room

Back and Forth

Clough Club

Wednesday GIVE DONNELLY A CHANCE

Some may write off the impossible-to-pronounce Clough Club (212 Abbott St., donnellygroup.ca /clough-club) for its Donnelly Group pedigree, but the Craig Stanghetta–designed room is unlike the rest of its pub brethren. Enter the moody, artfully shabby tavern and sip any of the inventive (and highly boozy) cocktails on the menu—though on Wednesdays, it may be best to stick with the weekly agave special: select top-shelf tequilas and mezcals are just $5 or $10.

ROCK OUT WITH KOI FISH

Think of the Imperial (319 Main St., imperial vancouver.com) as the spiritual successor to Richards on Richards: a music venue big enough to attract solid acts (Jon and Roy, Thurston Moore) but small enough to maintain an intimate vibe.

The design takes cues from the building’s history as a Chinese-language theatre, featuring a koi aquarium, chinoiserie and terracotta warriors.

Fri

Friday TAKE DATE NIGHT UP A NOTCH

The Diamond’s (6 Powell St., di6mond.com) brick-lined lounge offers a bird’s-eye view of Gastown to go along with its oh-so-Vancouver combo of craft cocktails and sushi. So come sunset, station yourself and your date by the oversized windows—if you can manage to juggle your Yoshikazu (made with shiitake-infused cognac) and spicy tuna roll long enough to hold hands.

SCHOOL YOUR FRIENDS AT THE PING-PONG TABLE

Paddle the night away with pals at Back and Forth (303 Columbia St., backandforthbar.com), the Chinatown Ping-Pong bar that cheekily channels a rec-room vibe with menu items like Pizza Pockets and instant noodles. Pair these juvenile snacks with $5 sleeves of beer (from local faves like Twin Sails and Parkside) and wine-on-tap offerings between rounds.

BEST OF VANMAG 2017

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R E A L LY HAPPY HOURS

DRINK Best Bars

WEST END

Sa

Lounge at the Fairmont Pacific Rim

Saturday

Timber The vibe Canadiana cool The deal Half-price snacks (like $2 house-made potato chips); $4 cans of B.C. Genuine lager When to get it 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

CHINATOWN

LIVE THE LUXE LIFE

INSTIGATE A DANCE- OFF

At the sleek Lobby Lounge at Fairmont Pacific Rim (1038 Canada Pl., lobbyloungerawbar.com), the moneyed West Van regulars dress to impress , but it’s the venue that steals the spotlight with soaring ceilings and a white-marble-everything design. Snag a Japanese-inspired cocktail (like the sesame-bourbon Sesame Street) and a spot by the fire to soak in the nightly musical act and prime people watching.

Though a select portion of the population may pine for the venue’s previous iteration as a porno theatre, the rest of us are busy dancing at Fox Cabaret (2321 Main St., foxcabaret.com). Fun theme nights—a Daft Punk–inspired party, Motown dances, Y2K jams— helmed by stalwart DJs like Trevor Risk and Common People keep the unpretentious space bumping every night of the week.

Juniper The vibe West Coast chic The deal Negronis on tap for $7; house-made pickles for $3 When to get it 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

MOUNT PLE ASANT

The Cascade Room The vibe First-gen gastropub The deal $8 banger and a beer (plus: sauerkraut!)

When to get it 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

33 Acres

Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar The vibe Downtown glam The deal Two-bucks-a-shuck oysters; $5 beers When to get it 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Su

Sunday UP YOUR WINE-SNOB GAME

Irreverent brown-bag tasting challenges led by David Stansfield and Lisa Cook— the core curriculum at their consistently sold-out Sunday School wine seminars at Vancouver Urban Winery (55 Dunlevy Ave., vancouverurbanwinery.com)—take the term “Sunday Fun Day” to heart.

BRUNCH HARD, PL AY HARD

Though the neighbourhood is full of top-notch tasting rooms, 33 Acres (15 W 8th Ave., 33acresbrewing.com) has the edge on Sunday morning. The beer waffles with a scoop of Earnest ice cream (plus avocado toast made with Nelson the Seagull bread) almost distract from the real appeal of brunch at a brewery: swapping coffee for a flight of ales.

Find more drink picks and samples of the city’s everevolving bar and brewery scene at vanmag.com/drinks

44 BEST OF VANMAG 2017

Editor’s Pick From the minute I spied the Emerald Supper Club’s (555 Gore Ave., emeraldsupperclub.com) crimsoncarpeted staircase and crystal chandelier, I thought, “This is my kind of place.” While the cabaret stage hosts all manner of hip events, it’s the lounge— with its dark leather seats, wood detail, stone feature wall and classic cocktails on special (I’ll take the bourbon sour, thanks)—that makes this place feel like a true bar, and it's a rare find in a city that likes to overcomplicate its watering holes.— Jessica Barrett, editor

TIMBER: NELSON MOUELLIC; CASCADE ROOM: JANIS NICOL AY; JESSICA BARRET T PORTRAIT: ANDY FANG

DOWNTOWN

THE WICKLOW is a cozy tavern overlooking False Creek that offers great food made fresh in house daily, great people and stunning views.

Happy Hour 7 days a week 3-6pm 610 Stamps Landing, Vancouver | 604-879-0821 | thewicklow.com

Happy Hour is 3-6pm everyday $4 Beer League cans, $7/gls of Dames white, red or rosé + ½ off popular snacks

Vancouver Magazine called our bison burger one of the ‘Top 3 in the City’ @timbervancouver | call: 604.661.2166 | 1300 Robson Street l Vancouver, BC | timbervancouver.com

POWE LL ST

BREWER’S BEST

EAST CORD OVA ST

EAST HASTIN GS ST

We asked the experts— beermakers—to help us pick the must-hit places in “Yeast Van.” The catch? Their own bars were off limits.

Jenni Baynham

MA IN ST

BY

N

T EX

BRE

W I S 32

min ute s b y

f oot

// 2

.6

km

PRIO R ST

On your way, dream about antipasto plates and homemade flatbreads that await at Luppolo // Bottoms up!

Start!

TERM

Faculty Brewing Co. 1830 Ontario St.

INAL

AV E

EAST 2ND AVE

First Up

Next Stop

Then On To…

Faculty Brewing Co.

Luppolo Brewing Co.

Callister Brewing Co.

Our quest begins at the secondsmallest brewery in Vancouver, which we picked for the easy introto-brewing atmosphere carefully cultivated by owners Mauricio Lozano and Alicia Medina. You’ll smell Faculty before you see it, with warm notes of yeast drifting out the door and floating across the street to Medina’s new adventure, Oddity Kombucha. A conscious decision by the owners means you won’t find any wacky beer names here, just numbers and detailed descriptions to help dabblers decide whether they’re more IPA or ESB.

“After work, my partner and I cycle along the Adanac bike lane to Luppolo, which means ‘hop’ in Italian,” says Faculty’s Lozano. With a 5,000-square-foot establishment and antipasto plates that hearken back to time the owners spent in Italy, you can see why the Faculty staff like to relax here after a long day’s work. Go for the beer, stay for the homemade flatbreads and local artwork adorning the walls. “Ryan, the brewer there, has mastered the New World sour,” explains Lozano. “It’s really become his signature beer.”

“You want me to name another brewery I like to drink at?” exclaims Ryan Parfitt, brewer and one of the four owners of Luppolo. “How can I choose just one?” After a considerable pause, Parfitt is ready with his decision: “Callister Brewing Co., because they act like a co-op brewery, meaning they are constantly playing host to new brewers testing out their beers before launching their own brand.” A quick trip to Callister proves Parfitt’s point: five different breweries have beers on offer, and the room has a cool, insider vibe that feels substantially less clinical than some of Vancouver’s larger tasting rooms. “Try the Callister Zwirbelbart dunkelweizen,” suggests Parfitt. “The taps rotate a lot, but definitely try to catch that one.”

46 BEST OF VANMAG 2017

1123 Venables St., luppolobrewing.ca

1338 Franklin St., callisterbrewing.com

FACULT Y BREWING: ALISON PAGE

1830 Ontario St., facultybrewing.com

Finish!

NOW THAT YOUʼRE DONE…

T L AS

BRE

W IS 9

tre

s

Powell Street Craft Brewery 1357 Powell St.

Get home safe! // Yellow Cab 604-681-1111 // MacLureʼs Cabs 604-831-1111

Doanʼs Craft Brewing Company 1830 Powell St.

min. // 760 m

BREW IS 9

minu te s

76 0

m

e

t // 914 m

e tre s

NE X T

t // by f o o

Callister Brewing Co. 1338 Franklin St.

in

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by f o o

Just imagine the rotating taps at Callister Brewing // Keep going!

m

How About Them Apples?

Luppolo 1123 Venables St.

VICTORIA DR

COMMERCIAL DR

Craft beer might be all the rage right now, but craft cider is quickly coming into its own. Here are our picks for your best alternatives to hops-n-barley brews.

EAST 1ST AVE

Next Round

Last Call

Doan’s Craft Brewing Company

Powell Street Craft Brewery

“It has to be Doan’s,” says Chris Lay, owner and head brewer at Callister. “That place is run by awesome guys—they’re brothers— and they have some of my favourite beers in the world there.” There’s something homey about the tiny tasting room, with its black-and-white wall mural depicting the brothers and a Ms. Pac-Man arcade machine in the corner. This location also seems to have secured Vancouver’s golden ticket: the ability to sell full pints of beer.

“If I’m not sitting in my own bar and drinking, I’m heading there for the rye stout,” says Lay. “The brothers always have fun collaborations going on, but that one has been my solid favourite for a while now.”

“Powell Street Craft Brewery,” says Mike Doan, who co-owns Doan’s Craft Brewing along with his brother (and brewer) Evan. “This was their original space, which we took over when they moved on to bigger pastures,” he explains.

Powell’s is now just a few blocks down the road, in a massive industrial space with large glass windows that let you ogle their “gorgeous” brewing equipment (says Doan—I’m not sure we’d ever describe brewing equipment as gorgeous). With many award-winning beers on offer, it’s hard for Doan to choose just one.

“I’m bouncing between the Cheeky session ale and the Amarillo sour, but really the Ode to Citra has been my favourite for a long time, so I should stick with that,” says Doan.

LUPPOLO: TERUMI SQUIBB; CALLISTER BREWING: CHRIS L AY

1830 Powell St., doanscraftbrewing.com

Brew Tour

CLARK DR

DRINK

NE X T B R E W I S 1 1

1357 Powell St., powellbeer.com

Sunday Cider The first and only cidery operating in Vancouver proper offers a clean-drinking Sesh, a Wild blend with notes of stone fruit, and a variety of seasonal ciders on rotation. Sundaycider.com

Left Field Cider Co. This sister-owned cidery out of Logan Lake, B.C., has been receiving awards and accolades for its dry, crisp take on English-style ciders that are as sophisticated as they are complex. Leftfieldcider.com

Sea Cider Saanich-based Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse has been producing some of the most inventive flavours in recent years. We love the bourbon-barrel-aged Rumrunner, while the spiced Wassail is like Christmas in a bottle. Seacider.ca

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DRINK Wine List

THE WINE LIST From bubbles to Bordeaux to made-in-B.C. blends—these five rooms are serving up the most interesting wines in town.

BY

Kurtis Kolt

L’Abattoir

217 Carrall St., labattoir.ca

Wildebeest

120 W Hastings St., wildebeest.ca Yeah, yeah, yeah—Vancouver is renowned for an abundance of fresh seafood and vegetable-forward diets, but that doesn’t mean we don’t like to tuck into a good cut of meat every now and then. When carnivorous cravings strike, get thee to Wildebeest, where things like bone-in rib-eye and roasted elk loin give guests plenty to chew on.

The crew could have taken the easy route with California cabernets and hearty blends from Bordeaux; instead, wine director Justin Everett gets creative with things like indigenous Spanish reds, aligoté from Burgundy and a British Columbian arneis.

Restaurant director Lisa Haley’s (see page 54) mission for her wine list is to create “a curated snapshot of the best wines from regions large and small.” There’s a sense of playfulness in her execution, too, whether it’s glass pours of a non-sparkling pinot noir from Champagne or a cheery aromatic white blend from nearby Pender Island. Savvy staff are always eager to share their enthusiasm for unique wines without being fussy, especially during the weekend, when the restaurant’s Bubbles at Brunch program sees local sparkling wine fans flock to the place for a handsome selection offered at ridiculously low markups.

Try This Benanti 2014 Etna Rosso is a blend of Sicily’s indigenous nerello mascalese and nerello cappuccio varieties grown on Mount Etna’s volcanic soils, delivering plenty of red fruit, baking spices and herbs.

Try This Wildebeest 2016 Red is a blend of B.C. merlot and cabernet franc, made in partnership with Summerland’s Okanagan Crush Pad. Fresh and dynamic enough to ride sidesaddle with a whole host of chef Alessandro Vianello’s dishes.

Tap and Barrel

Whether you’re perched at Tap and Barrel’s Olympic Village, Convention Centre or North Shore Shipyards location, you’ll be guaranteed a stunning, quintessentially Vancouver seaside view. The restaurant keeps things local with its dozens of British Columbian wines available by the glass, and it guarantees a clean, fresh pour, as the entire wine program is offered on tap via keg. While wine enthusiasts have plenty of options, from crisp, minerally rieslings and elegant chardonnays to spicy, concentrated syrahs and cabernets, many highlights from the ever-changing list are exclusive wines crafted specifically for Tap and Barrel. A fun place to play.

Try This Stag’s Hollow 2016 Tempranillo is a delightful take on the noble red grape from Rioja, with fruity tobacco notes, baked plums and a wisp of fresh sage.

48 BEST OF VANMAG 2017

L'ABAT TOIR: HAMID AT TIE PHOTOGRAPHY

Various locations, tapandbarrel.com

PASSIONATELY SERVING VANCOUVER’S BEST RESTAURANTS AND WINE MERCHANTS rich@masseywines.com | 604.454.4046 | @masseywines masseywines.com

THE BEST OF VANCOUVER ALL ONLINE Daily stories that connect you to the best of our city. Fresh, exclusive insight that resonates locally. Plus the Vancouver Restaurant Guide, with 1,000+ authoritative reviews that you’ve come to expect from your city magazine—as gorgeous on your phone as it is on desktop.

But that’s just the beginning.

See more at VanMag.com— your playbook for our playground.

ADVERTISE WITH US! Pizzeria Bufala 5395 West Boulevard, Vancouver 604-267-7499 • bufala.ca

DRINK Wine List

2702 Main St., burdockandco.com

Chef and owner Andrea Carlson is making some of the best food in the city in close collaboration with local growers, farmers and foragers. Her well-versed wine director is Matthew Sherlock, a partner and winemaker in the Okanagan and co-owner of an import agency sourcing some of the most interesting natural wines— handcrafted and made with minimal intervention—from Europe. Jesse Walters is the wine guy on the floor, consistently ensuring every guest enjoys some of the most honest, delicious, intriguing wines available in Vancouver, perfectly matching the authenticity and integrity of the dishes on the menu.

Try This: Movia 2006 Puro Rosé from Slovenia is a traditionalmethod sparkling pinot noir that’s still sitting on the lees from its second fermentation in the bottle. It’s disgorged to order, unleashing brambly berry fruit and balsamic notes.

Serving It Right Every great beverage program requires a cunning curator who deftly balances the need to complement the menu and coax diners into expanding their horizons. Meet the women who took top honours at this yearʼs VanMag Restaurant Awards.

BARTENDER OF THE YEAR

Complexity without being complicated. It’s Sabrine Dhaliwal’s mantra when crafting a drink, and her refined, intellectual approach to cocktails has vaulted her well beyond bartending’s traditional gender imbalance into the local and global spotlights.

Dhaliwal has developed an ineffable grace and ease over the course of her career. From early stints behind the wood at Reflections at Rosewood Hotel Georgia and West to her current bar manager duties at Uva, creating individually memorable experiences for her guests has always been a top priority. As a Certified Specialist of Spirits with a Level 3 Wine and Spirits Education Certificate under her belt, she brings an elegant sense of balance to her libations that charmed this year’s judges.

As the only female finalist at Belvedere Vodka’s 2015 international martini competition, Dhaliwal is now the Canadian ambassador for the brand, as well as a “Bitter Babe” ambassador for Vancouver-born producer Bittered Sling.

SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR

Blue Water Cafe

1095 Hamilton St., bluewatercafe.net For Vancouverites looking to impress out-of-town guests, Yaletown’s opulent Blue Water Cafe has been a popular destination for more than 15 years. Chef Frank Pabst offers some of the best seafood in the city, all of it certified sustainable by the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program.

Whether guests are feasting on delights from the raw bar, live tanks or the grill, they’re assured perfect pairings from wine director William Mulholland’s well-stocked cellar. While there are well over 1,000 wines to choose from, his Champagne selection is particularly jaw-dropping, and there are plenty of options from the Okanagan Valley for those looking to enjoy a little local fare.

Try This Champagne Delamotte Brut is made from grand cru chardonnay, and not only will it make your special occasion more festive, its lemon, pear and ginger notes will sing right along with your seafood tower.

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BEST OF VANMAG 2017

Lisa Haley landed on the West Coast a few years ago, bringing with her some Montreal savoir faire, a passion for natural and authentic wines, and a scholarly bent. She first dived into the wine scene at the natural wine temple that is Burdock and Co. before leaving to launch Boulevard’s ample and serious wine program. These days you’ll find her managing the masterfully concise list and elite team at L’Abattoir. A great champion of her staff and customers, she walks the floor with calm assurance and no-nonsense style.

BLUE WATER CAFE: STEVE LI; SABRINE DHALIWAL: ALLISON KUHL; LISA HALE Y: VIRANLLY LIEMENA

Burdock and Co.

Saturday Night! Feb 24, 2018

Experience the allure of West Vancouver

CREATIVE SEASIDE COMMUNITIES World Class Scenery

Local Shops

Ambleside Beach

Share your experience on social media @ADBIAwv #ExploreBC

Two Communities

One SeaWalk

Dundarave Village

ADBIA.CA

SHOP

Valentino suede shoulder bag with enamel panthers ($3,110), Boboli, boboli.ca. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust watch in 18K Everose gold with (56!) diamonds and green dial ($20,100), Rolex Boutique GWC, globalwatchco.com.

Carmen tasselled pumps ($395), Kalena’s Shoes, kalenashoes.com.

Masahiro Maruyama eyewear ($889), Bruce Eyewear, bruceeyewear.com.

The Look

What’s Hot Now

PHOTO: K YOKO FIERRO; ST YLING: LEIL A BANI

Stylist extraordinaire Leila Bani dishes out the precious intel on the most coveted looks and must-have pieces—from Vancouver and beyond.

Let the cityʼs most stylish school you on their favourite looks and where to find them.

Shop Shop BEST OF VANMAG 2017

53

Loro Piana hooded toggle coat ($6,260), baby camel hair sweater ($2,580) and Pete Sorensen braided leather belt ($425), Boboli, boboli.ca. Performance denim slim jeans ($139), Dish and Duer, duer.ca.

Anne and Valentin Drake glasses ($479), Bruce Eyewear, bruceeyewear.com.

Church’s brown boots ($740), Gravitypope, gravitypope.com.

Paul Smith black leather monkey print wallet ($350), Simons at Park Royal, simons.ca. Rolex 18K gold Cellini time watch with crocodile leather strap ($17,400), Rolex Boutique GWC, globalwatchco.com.

“Accessories are life— the easiest and most fun way to make or change a look in a flash.”

— STYLIST LEILA BANI

54

BEST OF VANMAG 2017

PHOTOS: K YOKO FIERRO; ST YLING: LEIL A BANI

The Look

SHOP

Cozy+Casual

SHOP

Valentino chiffon Chemisier dress ($6,960), Fair Isle knit bralette ($810) and over-the-knee boots ($2,860), Boboli, boboli.ca. 18K yellow gold toggle necklace ($13,920), Stittgen Fine Jewelry, stittgen.com. Rag and Bone felt hat ($235), Gravitypope Tailored Goods, gravitypope.com.

Lise Charmel floral demi-bra ($207), Diane’s Lingerie, dianeslingerie .com. Scarves for Water scarf ($29), Obakki, obakki.com.

“I think it’s good to not be too precious about the bling. I mean, don’t fling it in the river, but what’s the point of it sitting in a box?”—L.B.

The Look

Modern Boho

BEST OF VANMAG 2017

55

Fresh Prince

56 BEST OF VANMAG 2017

Midnight plaid twill suit ($999) and navy box dobby and paisley pocket square ($59), Indochino, indochino.com. Alexander McQueen embroidered shirt ($995), bow tie ($250), Versace red cardigan ($895) and Prada leather sneakers ($1,255), Leone, leone.ca.

Steel cufflinks ($310), Stittgen Fine Jewelry, stittgen .com. Happy socks ($14), Gravitypope, gravitypope.com.

PHOTO: K YOKO FIERRO; ST YLING: LEIL A BANI

The Look

SHOP

“I love that no detail is left behind, from the embroidery on the McQueen dress shirt to the pocket square to the very athleisure-trendy Prada sneaker brogue.”—L.B.

IN CENTURIES PAST,

the hammam was known as the silent doctor.

A place of cleansing and healing for body and soul. Miraj HAMMAM Spa is an exotic oasis where you can indulge yourself in traditional Middle Eastern steam gommage and massage treatments while your imagination takes you on a mystical journey into the past.

Celebrating 17 years!

Treatments & Programs: HAMMAM • Gommage Massage • Body Masque Aromatherapy Facial 1495 West 6th Avenue (at Granville) 604-733-5151 www.mirajhammam.com Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie Paris, Shangri-La Hotel Toronto 647-253-5770 www.mirajcaudaliespa.com

Hotlist 2013 Editor’s Picks of World’s Best New Spas Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie Paris

Power Lunching 58 BEST OF VANMAG 2017

Versus Versace white graphic-print jacket ($1,660) and Alexander McQueen cropped trousers ($1,560), Leone, leone.ca. Valentino black fine-rib turtleneck ($1,520) and Valextra Iside large bag ($3,575), Boboli, boboli.ca. Marni resin earrings ($530), Gravitypope Tailored Goods, gravitypope.com.

Diamond and tanzanite ring ($18,000), Stittgen Fine Jewelry, stittgen.com. PS

by Paul Smith Lin block heels ($530), Gravitypope, gravitypope.com.

PHOTO: K YOKO FIERRO; ST YLING: LEIL A BANI

The Look

SHOP

“Plaid! Statement coat! One of the most coveted bags on the planet! This gal’s ready for her jet.”—L.B.

HÄSTENS, THE SLEEP YOU’LL REMEMBER HÄSTENS, THE SLEEP YOU’LL REMEMBER Exquisite Beds Handcrafted from Natural Materials

Exquisite Beds Handcrafted from Natural Materials

HÄSTENS PROFERIA

HÄSTENS PROFERIA

FUL F I L L I NG DR EA M S S I NC E 18 52 HAS T E N S . COM FUL F I L L I NG DR EA M S S I NC E 18 52 HAS T E N S . COM

INFORM INTERIORS | 50 & 97 WATER ST, VANCOUVER BC, V6B 1A4 604-682-3868 INFORMINTERIORS.COM INFORM INTERIORS | 50 & 97 WATER ST, VANCOUVER BC, V6B 1A4 604-682-3868 INFORMINTERIORS.COM

SHOP Style Hunter

BEST DRESSED Quirky or classic, oversized or understated, we asked the cityʼs most stylish individuals to dish on how they cultivate their unique looks—and where to find your own style gems in Vancouver.

BY Lexy Dien and Dominika Lirette PHOTOGRAPHS BY

Evaan Kheraj Luisa Rino GROOMING BY Anya Ellis STYLING BY

VANCOUVER’S WHISKY FESTIVAL Over the past 20 years, the world of whisky that was, is no longer. The dark, mahogany-walled, back-room studies that played host to the “old boys club” is now open to everyone. In January of 2018, the whisky connoisseurs of Vancouver and abroad, both men and women, come together to sip these special golden drams and learn about what makes each of them so special.

GRAND WHISKY HALL January 22nd, 2018

TIME 6:00PM - 10:00PM

LOCATION Rocky Mountaineer Station 1755 Cottrell Street, Vancouver B.C.

ATTIRE Cocktail Attire

TICKETS $119 General Admission $169 VIP

W H I SK YCL A S S I Q U E . C O M

P R ES EN T I N G S P O N S O R

SUP P O RT I NG SP O NSOR S

C H A R I TA B LE PA RT NER

The Dapper Doc Day job Family doctor Style “You’re always at risk of being projectile vomited on, so you have to tone down what you wear. I don’t wear any Brunello Cucinelli cashmere to work, ever—that stuff is completely off limits.”

What’s your shopping strategy?

I’m a voracious reader of fashion and style websites.

As I browse, I open my phone and keep a list of items I want to buy. I review my list occasionally and all items have to go through a probation period.

What stores or neighbourhoods are under the radar when it comes to shopping?

Chinatown and the eastern part of Gastown are a bit under the radar. The Shop specializes in rare Japanese selvedge denim and leather jackets—the type that will last forever and never go out of style. Other great low-key stores would be Haven and Roden Gray.

What’s one unique piece you scored in Vancouver?

I found a Drake’s ancient madder tie at Holt Renfrew on Boxing Day for dirt cheap.

I don’t think many other people knew what it was, and, luckily for me, it ended up in the clearance section.

What excites you about Vancouver’s fashion scene?

Once considered a frumpylooking city, Vancouver has since capitalized on the athleisure trend, with many brands establishing themselves as leaders in the field worldwide. I love shopping local brands such as Arc’teryx Veilance and Reigning Champ and incorporating their supremely functional items into off-duty looks.

Sushi

Darwin Wan

SHOP Style Hunter

The Expressionist

Day job Employee at Lush Manufacturing Style “Quirky, dark, yet colourful. All things cute and spooky.”

Where do you take friends from out of town when it’s time to shop?

It depends on who they are.

I would usually take them around Granville Street, Gastown and Metrotown.

When you’re shopping for yourself, what’s your favourite ’hood in the city?

Gastown. It has all of the one-off stores, all slightly different from each other.

Are you into DIY? Do you hem or alter your clothing to make it your own?

If I’m unhappy with the fit or how it sits on me, I will definitely change it up myself.

What’s your personal shopping strategy?

I don’t really have one. If I’m set on something, that would be the item that I would search for until I have it.

What’s one unique piece you scored in Vancouver?

Where’d you find it?

A vintage ball gown, which I will wear one day!

I got it from Community Thrift and Vintage.

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BEST OF VANMAG 2017

Day job Co-founder of Garmentory.com Style “Long and oversized— things that don’t have a waist.

I like to be able to eat.”

What excites you about Vancouver’s fashion scene?

We have so many really good indie boutiques that carry designers from all over the world.

It’s amazing to be able to go to one boutique and find pieces from Los Angeles, New York and everywhere in between.

What’s your shopping strategy?

Lately I’ve been focusing on buying more special pieces. I have my foundation of wardrobe basics, so itʼs time to up the game with wow-factor pieces. Also, I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but I’ve been on the hunt for statement earrings.

I can’t stop buying them.

What’s one unique piece you scored in Vancouver?

Where did you find it?

I love my custom-made onesie by Vancouver designer Sara Armstrong.

What’s your shopping strategy?

Less is more. I try to really fall in love with the pieces I like. Sometimes I put it on hold so I can decide if I want to come back for it. (Which is most likely the case!)

Style Hunter

Where do you take friends from out of town when it’s time to shop?

I will always start at Gastown and make sure we hit these stores: One of a Few, Nouvelle Nouvelle, Neighbour and Neighbour Woman, Roden Gray, Old Faithful, the Block, 017, Hey Jude, Livestock and Erin Templeton. It’s a lot for them to get through, but every stop is totally worth it.

Day job Hairstylist Style “It’s very unisex with a touch of hipster. I love mixing new and vintage pieces.”

SHOP

Where is your top place to score unique pieces in Vancouver?

Erin Templeton and Hey Jude.

They carry unreal vintage, but you have to be committed to spending the time to try on each piece. Those vintage jeans may look amazing on the hanger but totally different once on.

The Artist

What are your go-to stores when it’s time to update your look? Why? Topshop is my go-to store as it has a great mix of trendy pieces as well basic pieces.

Where do you take friends from out of town when it’s time to shop?

Most likely Main Street and Gastown. Itʼs great to show off some good vintage stores.

Chris Weber

Adele Tetangco

The Online Shopper

What excites you about Vancouver’s fashion scene?

It’s fun watching Vancouver grow. It still has a very small fashion scene compared to Europe, but it’s fun to be a part of it!

BEST OF VANMAG 2017

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SHOP Home Decor

Vintage Moroccan rug, 7e7 “Pieces like this add

a really unique element with incredible depth and texture to a modern interior.”

DESIGNER DOSSIER Sophie Burke shares a few of the Vancouver-sourced design pieces she’s currently coveting.

by

Stacey McLachlan Ariana Gillrie

photos by

Interior designer Sophie Burke may have started her career in London, but after working her magic in Vancouver for 13 years, she’s no stranger to catering to West Coast tastes. “Vancouver designers are influenced heavily by our natural environment,” says Burke. “We tend to use less colour and more natural, grey tones in our designs.” But Burke knows that with the right pieces, the earthy vibe can be anything but boring— and, luckily, the city’s got plenty of cool design shops from which to source them.

Gubi Gräshoppa lamp, Bombast

“The height of the shade is perfect. It sits beautifully by an armchair with the light hitting the right spot.”

Mud Australia ceramics, Provide CH25 chair, Inform Interiors

“My all-time favourite chair from my alltime favourite furniture brand. It has a perfect sculptural simplicity.”

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“The dishes have a very minimalist, clean look to them but retain a handcrafted quality with a matte finish.”

living room, room, reinvented reinvented.. living living room, reinvented. living room, reinvented.

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END Best View

Weʼre lucky to live in a city that gives us so many options for eating, drinking and entertainment, but the real credit for making this city great goes to Mother Nature. Nothing beats rounding Prospect Point to take in a sunset from the seawall. In our view, itʼs simply the best.

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BEST OF VANMAG 2017

WAYNE STADLER PHOTOGRAPHY

WONDER WALL

Unmatched By Day. Unbelievable By Night.

Glide on the skate pond, shriek in delight at the Sliding Zone, stroll through the magical Light Walk, embark on a snowshoe journey or ski or snowboard down The Cut as the city glows below. Your wonderland awaits at Vancouver’s winter playground. grousemountain.com