On Our Radar
The bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and distilleries we think you should know about — starting in the Pacific Northwest and moving east. Venues marked BTDT have been personally visited and rated by Gerald.
The Raven Room
Whistler's premier cocktail bar, celebrated for creative, handcrafted cocktails and locally-sourced ingredients. Every drink is a considered act — the kind of place where you linger over a second round without meaning to.
Bar Oso
Known across the mountain for its inventive gin and tonic menu and Spanish-inflected small plates, Bar Oso is the kind of après-ski stop that turns into a full evening without anyone complaining.
Wild Blue Restaurant + Bar
An upscale, seafood-forward dining experience with an expansive lounge that draws a crowd as serious about cocktails as they are about the catch of the day. The room is dramatic; the drinks match.
Araxi Restaurant & Oyster Bar
A culinary cornerstone in Whistler with a long-held international reputation for excellence. Araxi's dedicated cocktail bar and impeccable service set the benchmark for everything else on the mountain.
The Cellar by Araxi
Whistler's premier space for private dining and special events, offering an exclusive underground atmosphere where every detail — including what you drink it through — is expected to be exceptional.
Il Caminetto
High-end Italian dining with a sophisticated beverage program that takes its Negronis as seriously as its pasta. The fireplace, the warmth, the unhurried pace — this is what a great mountain dinner looks like.
Bearfoot Bistro
Known for extravagant dining experiences, an underground wine cellar, and a champagne bar that has made grown adults weep with joy. The Bearfoot is Whistler at its most unapologetically indulgent.
Balam
A vibrant venue celebrating Latin American cuisine with bold flavors and handcrafted cocktails that bring the energy of a Mexico City mezcalería to the base of Blackcomb. Loud, fun, and very good.
Lorette Brasserie
A new dining gem bringing French elegance to Whistler — steak frites, moules, a proper wine list, and cocktails that don't try too hard. The kind of place that feels like it has always been there.
Mallard Lounge
The iconic lounge in the Fairmont Chateau Whistler — a classic après-ski destination where the fire is always lit, the cocktails are always cold, and the crowd is always in a very good mood.
SIDECUT Bar
Located at the Four Seasons Resort, offering specialty cocktails in a relaxed, welcoming ambiance that somehow manages to feel both luxurious and completely unpretentious. The steaks help.
Lakeside Lounge
Handcrafted cocktails and premium oysters served beside a mountain lake at the Nita Lake Lodge. The views are the kind that make you put your phone down and just sit with it.
Rimrock Café
A Whistler institution celebrated for exceptional seafood and an award-winning wine list. The Rimrock has been doing this longer than most of the mountain's other restaurants have been open, and it shows.
Red Door Bistro
An intimate, highly-regarded bistro in Creekside known for West Coast ingredients and French-style cuisine. Small, personal, and exactly the kind of place you tell people about as if you discovered it yourself.
Rockit Coffee
A stylish cafe with retro decor and a serious commitment to small-lot coffee producers. The iced lattes here are the kind that make a long drive up the Sea-to-Sky feel entirely justified.
BReD
A popular vegan bakery serving Elysian Coffee with a strong commitment to sustainability and plant-based products. The baked goods are exceptional; the ethos is genuine.
Mount Currie Coffee Co.
A veteran in Whistler's coffee culture, offering reliable espresso drinks with an earthy, mountain-town vibe that feels like the real Whistler — the one that existed before the gondolas.
Camp Lifestyle + Coffee
An immersive cabin aesthetic experience serving 49th Parallel coffee. The name says it all — this is a place designed for people who love the outdoors and want their coffee to feel like part of the adventure.
Cranked Espresso Bar
A local favorite serving Detour Coffee with a dark, industrial vibe and a community feel. The kind of coffee shop where the barista remembers your order by your second visit.
Forecast Coffee
A popular specialty coffee roaster and cafe in Whistler with a dedication to the craft of cold brew and iced lattes that makes them a natural fit for anyone serious about what they serve.
Copperpenny Distilling Co.
An award-winning craft distillery with a stunning tasting lounge focused on gin-based cocktails made from local ingredients. The Shipyards location is as good as the spirits — and the spirits are very good.
Provisions Italiana
Located at the Seaside Hotel in the Shipyards, offering Italian countryside cooking and a refined cocktail program in an upscale, casual-chic setting with views across the inlet.
Pier 7 Restaurant + Bar
Sweeping waterfront views, a strong focus on seafood, and handcrafted cocktails that do justice to the setting. Pier 7 is the kind of North Shore restaurant you bring people to when you want to show them what Vancouver looks like from the water.
The Lobby Restaurant & Lounge
Located in the Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier, catering to a clientele that appreciates quality and luxury. The kind of hotel lounge that actually earns the word 'lounge.'
The Gull Bar and Kitchen
Housed in a beautifully renovated warehouse, offering well-executed cocktails and local cuisine. The industrial bones and warm hospitality make this one of the North Shore's most likeable rooms.
Arms Reach Bistro
A staple in Deep Cove offering tasteful West Coast cuisine with a picturesque location that makes every meal feel like a small occasion. The kind of neighbourhood bistro that becomes a ritual.
Coffee Villain
A fiercely woman-owned, small-batch specialty coffee roaster and cafe with an independent spirit and a focus on robust flavor. The name is a joke; the coffee is completely serious.
Nemesis Coffee (North Van)
A highly regarded specialty coffee shop known for its premium coffee experience and striking architecture. Nemesis has become one of Vancouver's most recognized coffee brands, and this North Van location earns the reputation.
Beach House Restaurant
A uniquely West Coast dining experience with panoramic views and a vibrant lounge that draws a sophisticated crowd. The sunsets here are the kind that make you order another round just to watch them.
Ancora Waterfront Dining and Patio
Embracing the harmony of Peruvian and Japanese cultures with a focus on sustainable seafood and refined cocktails. The Dundarave location is one of the most beautiful dining rooms on the North Shore.
Bar Olo
An Italian-inspired restaurant with a carefully crafted cocktail program and an upscale-casual ambiance that makes Dundarave feel like a proper village. The Aperol Spritz here is non-negotiable.
Crema Café Bar
A high-end cafe with a focus on quality coffee and wine, an ocean view, and a beautiful interior that suggests someone thought very carefully about every detail. The kind of place you discover and immediately want to keep to yourself.
Raincity Distillery
A craft distillery with a world-class cocktail lounge focusing on small-batch, locally sourced spirits. In a town increasingly known for its food and drink scene, Raincity is leading the charge.
The Salted Vine Kitchen + Bar
An upscale dining establishment with a strong focus on handcrafted cocktails and a commitment to quality that has made it the go-to for Squamish's growing community of food-literate locals.
Pepe's Chophouse & Seafood
A local award-winning gem known for its steaks and a serious cocktail program that includes barrel-aged Negronis. Squamish's best-kept secret, though it's getting harder to keep.
Howe Sound Brewing
A vibrant brewpub with a notable cocktail menu and a view of the Chief that never gets old. Howe Sound Brewing has been part of Squamish's identity for decades — the food and drinks have kept pace with the town's ambitions.
Lions Bay General Store & Café
A picturesque hidden gem along the Sea-to-Sky highway offering great coffee, wine, and spirits with world-class views of Howe Sound. The kind of stop that turns a drive into a destination.
Copper Beach Bar + Kitchen
A solid cocktail program and stunning views of Howe Sound in one of the most scenically dramatic spots on the Sea-to-Sky corridor. The kind of bar that earns its location.
Sea to Sky Restaurant at Furry Creek
Located at the Furry Creek Golf and Country Club, offering breathtaking views and cocktails that make the 19th hole feel like a reward worth earning. The setting alone justifies the detour.
Botanist Bar
Award-winning cocktail bar with a focus on innovative, experiential drinks and Pacific Northwest botany. Consistently ranked among the best bars in Canada, and consistently living up to it.
The Lobby Lounge & RawBar
A glamorous, high-volume lounge known for award-winning cocktails, live music, and a raw bar that makes it one of the most complete evening venues in downtown Vancouver.
Prophecy
An upscale, modern cocktail bar recognized as one of North America's best. The Hotel Georgia address says everything about the clientele; the cocktail list says everything about the ambition.
Hawksworth Restaurant
A high-end restaurant with an inventive cocktail program and a focus on contemporary Canadian cuisine. David Hawksworth's flagship remains one of the most important dining rooms in the country.
Bacchus Restaurant & Lounge
A Michelin-recommended, elegant lounge with plush Venetian decor and a focus on impeccable service and classic cocktails. Bacchus is the kind of room that makes you dress up a little, and you're glad you did.
Gotham Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar
An American-style steakhouse featuring top-shelf cocktails and an award-winning wine list. The kind of place where the martinis are cold, the steaks are serious, and the room makes you feel like someone important.
Tableau Bar Bistro
An award-winning neighbourhood bistro in Coal Harbour offering classic French fare and cocktails. The Loden Hotel address brings a certain polish; the bistro format keeps it approachable.
Cardero's Restaurant & Marine Pub
A spectacular waterfront dining spot in the marina with a focus on fresh seafood and a premium dining experience. The boats in the foreground and the mountains behind make it one of Vancouver's most cinematic restaurant settings.
Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar
A European-inspired bar offering enticing cocktails and refined wines in a setting that manages to feel both intimate and lively. One of downtown's most consistently good after-work destinations.
Parker Rooftop
A trendy rooftop bar with stunning city views and a sophisticated, upscale atmosphere. The kind of place where the setting does half the work, and the cocktails do the other half.
The Keefer Bar
An apothecary-themed cocktail bar in Chinatown, known for its creative and award-winning drinks that draw on traditional Chinese ingredients. One of Vancouver's most original and consistently excellent bars.
Pourhouse
A Gastown restaurant with a focus on old-fashioned hospitality, classic cocktails, and a room that feels like it has been there since the neighbourhood was built. The Sazerac is worth the trip alone.
L'Abattoir
A Michelin-recommended restaurant with French-influenced West Coast cuisine and an award-winning cocktail program. The historic Gastown setting adds a layer of atmosphere that no amount of interior design can manufacture.
Clough Club
A trendy cocktail den in Gastown with a vintage flair and award-winning cocktails. The kind of bar that feels like a discovery even when it's packed, which it usually is.
Breeze Bar
A new 'Trashy & Classy' late-night spot in Gastown with a fun, irreverent approach to cocktails and dining that takes itself just seriously enough. The kind of place that becomes a regular haunt faster than you expect.
The Chickadee Room
An 80s-inspired cocktail bar in Chinatown known for complex, well-balanced concoctions and a warm, unpretentious atmosphere. Sabrine Dhaliwal's bar program is one of the most thoughtful in the city.
Meo
A plush, highly photographable Chinatown spot with interiors inspired by 1970s Hong Kong love motels and Asian-influenced signature cocktails that are as fun to drink as they are to look at.
Bagheera
A hidden speakeasy with a unique Victorian-era India theme and craft cocktails that match the ambition of the concept. Finding it is part of the experience; staying is the reward.
Arcana Spirit Lounge
An occult-themed speakeasy with a focus on hand-crafted, award-winning cocktails and a photogenic atmosphere that has made it one of Vancouver's most talked-about bars since it opened.
Bartholomew Bar
A buzzy, industrial-chic cocktail bar known for its sophisticated charcuterie plates and an extensive, adventurous cocktail list. The Yaletown address brings a certain energy; the drinks justify the visit.
Elisa
A modern, high-end steakhouse with a focus on wood-fired grilling and premium ingredients. Toptable's most recent addition to Vancouver's dining landscape, and already one of the most talked-about rooms in the city.
The Stock Room
A classy, cultured secret cocktail bar with tropical island vibes hidden behind another bar. The kind of place that rewards the curious and keeps the uninitiated guessing.
Opus Bar / The Spritz
A sophisticated, cozy cocktail bar nestled off the lobby of the Opus Hotel, serving timeless Italian favorites and inventive originals. The Yaletown location makes it a natural stop on any good evening out.
Blue Water Cafe
One of Vancouver's top seafood restaurants, known for fresh, sustainable seafood and an extensive wine and cocktail list. The raw bar alone is worth the reservation.
Hello Goodbye Bar
An underground boutique nightlife experience featuring live DJs and VIP bottle service in an artfully designed space that feels like a proper escape from the street above.
Sylvia's Restaurant and Lounge
A historic waterfront hotel lounge with a classic, relaxed atmosphere and a long-standing presence in the West End. The Sylvia is one of Vancouver's most beloved institutions, and the lounge lives up to the name.
Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House
A Vancouver institution known for premium seafood and a classic, upscale ambiance that has made it a city staple for decades. The rooftop patio is one of the best in the city.
Grapes & Soda
Vancouver's first natural wine bar, making it a natural match for anything grown, fermented, or made without shortcuts. Their seasonal dishes and creative cocktails attract a discerning, sustainability-minded clientele.
AnnaLena
A Michelin-starred tasting menu restaurant known for creative, high-quality cooking and expertly prepared cocktails. Michael Robbins' kitchen is one of the most exciting in the country right now.
The Cider House
With a focus on local, BC-based ciders and a plant-based menu, the Cider House is clearly aligned with natural and sustainable products. The beachside Kitsilano location makes every visit feel like a small holiday.
The Vancouver Fish Company
An upscale seafood restaurant on Granville Island with a focus on fresh, local ingredients and craft cocktails. The market setting gives it an energy that most restaurants spend years trying to manufacture.
The Liberty Distillery
A craft distillery on Granville Island known for its award-winning spirits and cocktails. The fact that you can watch the spirits being made before you drink them adds a layer of appreciation to every glass.
Pallet Coffee Roasters
A Vancouver-based specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator with a commitment to quality and craft coffee that has made them one of the city's most respected names in the category.
Elysian Coffee Roasters
Known for quality coffee and espresso served by skilled baristas in a premium coffee experience. Elysian's beans show up in some of the best cafes in the city — this is the source.
Revolver
A highly-respected specialty coffee shop that was a leader in bringing high-end coffee to Vancouver. The Gastown location remains a pilgrimage site for anyone serious about what's in their cup.
Small Victory Bakery
A locally owned neighbourhood bakery specializing in bread, pastries, and coffee with an upscale, beautiful aesthetic and a focus on quality that has made it one of Yaletown's most beloved morning destinations.
JOEY Burrard
A landmark downtown Vancouver dining room with a dramatic floor-to-ceiling wine wall, a serious handcrafted cocktail program, and a globally-inspired menu that has made it one of the most reliable big-night-out destinations in the city. The lounge side is one of the best in the neighbourhood — consistently excellent, consistently full.
Published on Main
Michelin-starred dining with an exceptional, highly curated beverage program. Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson's kitchen is one of the most exciting in Canada right now, and the cocktail program matches the ambition.
The Acorn
Award-winning vegetarian and vegan restaurant with a strong sustainability ethos and a cocktail program that proves plant-based dining can be as sophisticated as anything else in the city.
Burdock & Co
Michelin-starred farm-to-table dining with a focus on natural wines and sustainability. Andrea Carlson's restaurant is one of the most thoughtful and genuinely delicious in the city.
Key Party
A hidden speakeasy with a 70s vibe and a creative cocktail menu that rewards the curious. From the team behind The Narrow — they know how to make a bar feel like a secret worth keeping.
The Shameful Tiki Room
An immersive tiki bar serving complex, premium cocktails that are as fun to drink as they are to look at. The Shameful Tiki Room has become a Vancouver institution — the kind of place that makes you feel like you're somewhere else entirely.
Good Thief
A Michelin-recommended lively bar with a Vietnamese soul and experimental cocktails that push the boundaries of what a neighbourhood bar can be. One of Main Street's most exciting recent additions.
Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions
Top 10 Restaurant Bar in Canada (Spirited Awards '24 and '25) — a counterculture cocktail bar that has quietly become one of the most decorated bars in the country. The cocktails are as good as the accolades suggest.
Please! Beverage Co.
An experimental distillery and cocktail bar in Mount Pleasant that takes its craft seriously and its atmosphere playfully. The kind of place that makes you want to try everything on the menu.
33 Acres Brewing
A design-forward brewery with a minimalist aesthetic that aligns naturally with quality, sustainable products. The taproom is as carefully considered as the beer — which is saying something.
More territories coming soon.
Alberta, Ontario, Québec and beyond — we're working our way east.