Dine above the crowds: Here are 5 Vancouver rooftop restaurants to check out
Vancouver may not have as many rooftop restaurants as Toronto, Montreal or New York, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in variety. The city’s rooftop dining scene ranges from waterfront decks overlooking Coal Harbour to sky bars 14 storeys above downtown, garden terraces hidden among office towers and expense-account steak houses where the beef is sold by the ounce.
Here are five of the city’s best places to dine above the crowds:
Parker Rooftop
The Parker Hotel (1379 Howe St.) | parkerrooftop.com
Sitting on the ninth floor of The Parker Hotel at the foot of Howe Street, Parker Rooftop looks south toward the Granville Street Bridge, False Creek and English Bay. Floor-to-ceiling windows make the most of the views, while high ceilings, a grand central bar and a series of indoor and outdoor seating areas give the space a sense of scale unusual for Vancouver.
The decor is slightly arty, slightly Wall Street. Thick coffee-table books rest on shelves, while a large black-and-white photo of Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street hangs on a wall near the restrooms. A Japanese influence extends throughout the menu, with sushi, wagyu and an excellent miso black cod among the highlights. A truffle butter sauce elevates the rib-eye steak, while sake, cocktails, zero-proof drinks and an extensive wine list ensure something for every palate.
Taking full advantage of its views, Parker Rooftop hosts a popular “golden hour” from 3 to 6 p.m., featuring reduced prices on select drinks and appetizers.
The Roof
Black+Blue (1032 Alberni St.) | glowbalgroup.com
If not the quintessence of downtown dining, Black+Blue’s third-floor rooftop is close. Here, dealmakers, celebrants and expense-account diners gather beneath a retractable wooden roof to tackle one of the city’s most unapologetically steak-forward menus.
The beef selection includes Japanese A5 wagyu and authentic Japanese Kobe beef — still a rarity in Vancouver — while the Angus Reserve Tomahawk looks like it escaped from a live-action version of The Flintstones. Pescatarians need not worry. A chilled seafood bar features lobster, crab, oysters and caviar, while the entrée list includes pan-seared halibut with chanterelle mushrooms and roasted salmon.
The atmosphere shifts as the week progresses. By happy hour, which runs from 2 to 5 p.m., the rooftop fills quickly with downtown workers eager to capitalize on sunshine and discounted drinks. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Lavantine Restaurant & Skybar
Azur Legacy Collection Hotel (833 W. Pender St.) | lavantine.ca
Perched on the 14th floor of the Azur Legacy Collection Hotel, Lavantine combines city views with Mediterranean-inspired design and a menu informed by Middle Eastern flavours. The open floor plan, white walls and indoor-outdoor layout make it feel more like a resort lounge than a downtown restaurant.
Fried halloumi, edamame hummus and wagyu kofta share menu space with seafood and larger plates, while the cocktail program draws inspiration from One Thousand and One Nights, offering both original creations and imaginative twists on classics. Local beer from 33 Acres provides a welcome Vancouver touch.
Lavantine’s greatest strength may be its atmosphere. During one visit, a couple seated nearby explained they had discovered the restaurant after searching for somewhere to unwind after a therapy session and had been returning regularly ever since. On weekends, DJs turn up the energy and the rooftop takes on more of a lounge-and-nightlife feel.
Reflections The Garden Terrace
Rosewood Hotel Georgia (801 W. Georgia St.) | rosewoodhotels.com
Tucked away on the fourth floor the historic Hotel Georgia, Reflections feels less like a rooftop restaurant and more like a secret garden suspended above downtown. Surrounded by greenery and protected by a retractable roof, the terrace offers a welcome escape from the concrete canyons surrounding it.
The cocktail program is among the most colourful in the city, with both spirited and zero-proof options. The Green Thumb margarita is a fan favourite, and about as healthy-tasting as a cocktail can get. The menu leans toward share plates and lighter fare, though substantial mains are also available. The hamachi tiradito prompted my dinner companion to pronounce it the best yellowtail she’d ever tasted. I loved the three cheese sacchetti and miso-glazed sablefish.
LIFT Bar Grill View
333 Menchion Mews | liftbarandgrill.com
Located on the edge of Coal Harbour, LIFT combines harbour, Stanley Park and North Shore mountain views with one of the city’s most scenic waterfront patios. On sunny days, the wraparound deck fills quickly, particularly during happy hour. Our garlic prawns arrived swimming in a good-to-the-last-drop white wine sauce. Cocktails range from contemporary favourites to tropical classics, which feels right. LIFT’s rooftop seems made for a mai tai.
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Source: vancouversun.com