Inside Vancouver

Are Craft Beer Lounges Coming to Vancouver?

by Remy Scalza in Food & Drink on July 2, 2013

Photo credit: John Biehler | Flickr

Anyone who’s been to wine country knows the pleasure of visiting a winery, strolling the vineyards and then enjoying a glass or two in the winery restaurant.

Imagine if you could do the same thing with beer.

That dream may soon become a reality in Vancouver. Nearly a dozen local craft breweries and distilleries have applied for licenses to open tasting lounges, according to the Vancouver Sun’s Randy Shore. That means patrons may soon be able to sit down and savour a beer at the brewery, something nearly impossible to do now. Continue reading:
Are Craft Beer Lounges Coming to Vancouver?

Rooftop Patio on Hotel Georgia Opens for the Summer

by Remy Scalza in Food & Drink on May 2, 2012

Photo credit: Rosewood Hotel Georgia

It may not feel like summer quite yet. But summer patio season in Vancouver is already heating up.

Among the newest contenders for the city’s coveted best patio title is a little-known lounge on the fourth floor of downtown’s restored 1927 Hotel Georgia: Reflections.

Reflections opened for the first time last summer and largely flew under the radar of die-hard patio fans. That’s a shame because it has to be among the most sexiest spots to grab a drink anywhere in Vancouver, indoors or out. But the good news is it just reopened for another season of al fresco cocktails and great people-watching.

But it’s not easy to find (and I think that’s half the fun). Wander into the venerable lobby of the Hotel Georgia – all hardwood wainscoting and crystal chandeliers – and you won’t see a sign for Reflections anywhere. Discretely ask the concierge, and he’ll point you to an elevator secreted away in the back of the hotel.

Take that to the fourth floor and prepare for a bit of a surprise. Continue reading:
Rooftop Patio on Hotel Georgia Opens for the Summer

Best Hotel Bar in Vancouver? You make the call!

by Remy Scalza in Food & Drink on February 16, 2012

Hotel bars are funny things. Some people absolutely hate them. Some people love them.

At root, there’s a pretty complex dynamic at work. Hotel bars are just about the opposite of your local watering hole. They’re not chummy. They’re rarely gritty or authentic. But, done right, that works in their favour.

A good hotel bar, you see, is partly a fantasy. It’s a little bit classier, a little bit more mysterious, a little bit more exotic than what you might be used to. You certainly wouldn’t go there all the time – But once in a while, it’s a nice change of pace.

Now, there are plenty of great hotel bars in Vancouver. Too many, in fact – which is why I’d like your help.

Do have a favourite hotel bar in the city? A classy, cosmopolitan spot with a nice mix of travelers and locals and great drinks? Please let us know below.

I’ll start things off with a hotel bar I visited recently: Xi Shi Lounge in the Shangri-La Hotel.

Continue reading:
Best Hotel Bar in Vancouver? You make the call!