Hip places to sip on a glass of wine in Vancouver's Yaletown
From industrial roots to modern vibes, Yaletown has undergone quite the transformation. However, the one constant that’s been there since day one is that you can always find a glass of wine. [Photo © Yellow Pages / Pages Jaunes]
Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill Inc
1133 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P6The only thing to remember when visiting Cioppino's is to arrive very hungry and very thirsty. After that, the rest is entirely up to you. You can go ahead and pair chardonnay with Pacific octopus, a full-bodied Italian red with wild Alberta boar or even turn things on their head by combining a fresh French riesling with Tuscan-style rib eye – all you have to do is say the word and it’ll happen. Just save room for a Sicilian cannoli for dessert.
The Flying Pig
104-1168 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2S2The name of this restaurant comes from that rare time when the impossible happens – when what you uttered would occur “when pigs fly” – actually comes true. In this case, it’s culinary creativity meets ordinary food product. Indulge in salt and pepper Humboldt squid or the jumbo short rib macaroni and cheese cauliflower gratin. Add on a glass of Washington riesling or B.C. cabernet merlot, and you’ll have a meal that’s usually only this good when pigs fly.
Blue Water Cafe & Raw Bar
1095 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5T4For a restaurant that’s right on the water in Yaletown, you’ll have a hard time not thinking you’re dining on a luxury liner in the middle of the Pacific. The seafood is incredibly fresh, from the albacore tuna carpaccio to the Blue Water Café tower (spicy tuna roll, fresh crab meat roll, tuna goma-ae, chilled lobster). Narrowing down the wine to pair with your food will be a challenge. Variety is on your side with 1,000 labels and 14,000 bottles in the cellar.
Lupo Restaurant & Vinoteca
869 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2R7Let your taste buds loose to experience wonders like pork belly, sablefish, rabbit ragout or ling cod. This is not your typical Italian restaurant and you won’t experience anything like it again. Make sure to ask which wine you should pair with your dish, as the restaurant has curated a list of Italian and B.C. wines that’ll please every palate.
Brix and Mortar
1137 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P6Brix & Mortar is open for dinner and late night noshing every night of the week except Sunday, and given the length of the wine menu, you may end up needing all that time to decide. There are more than 300 wines from all over the world. If you crave more wine knowledge, attend one of their winemakers’ dinners held throughout the year.
Rodney's Oyster House
405-1228 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 6L2You don’t really need an excuse to indulge in another glass of wine, but how about pairing it with some of the city’s best oysters? At Rodney’s, seafood is the name of the game and oysters are their claim to fame. All that briny goodness can bring on a big thirst and there are plenty of whites that pair well with shellfish, as well as some fantastic reds from regions like California, Australia and Argentina. B.C. vintners are represented, too.
