Stop in for cinq à sept at one of Vancouver Cocktail Week’s participating bars and you never know who might be perched on the bar stool next to yours. It might be an out-of-town cocktail lover, a global brand ambassador or a rock star bartender from overseas.
Hanging out with VCW visitors is one of the most exciting aspects of the whole week.
Here are just a few bar stars we know will be in town, and where you can see them — note that many will also be at the Black & White Gala on Saturday, March 8.
- James Grant, 2021 World Class Global Bartender of the Year and bar manager of Toronto’s famed Library Bar, will lead a pop-up at Prophecy on March 4.
- Sakiko Hirota from Japan’s Saito Shuzo brewery will be representing Eikun sake brand at the Signature Sunday Cocktail Brunch at ARC Restaurant on March 2.
- Rogerio Igarashi Vaz pops over from Tokyo for a cocktail coup by the renowned Asia’s 50 Best Bars-anointed Bar Trench at Meo on March 5.
- Shinji Inaba, representative for CHOYA, travels from Osaka, Japan, to host the Understanding Umeshu seminar at Zarak on March 5.
- Keegan McGregor, 2024 World Class Global Bartender of the Year and bar manager of Halifax’s popular Highwayman Restaurant & Bar, will hit Prophecy for a pop-up on March 6.
- Nozomi Odaohara of Nikka Whisky will be arriving from Japan to host the Smoke, Malt & Salt: Japanese Whisky Tasting Night at Carlino on March 4.
- Alessio Pane of Vecchio Amaro del Capo joins bitters lovers from Italy to host an amaro master class at Carlino on March 6.
- Hisatsugu Saito makes a return appearance from the 50 Best Bars Discovery Owl & Rooster Bar in Sapporo, Japan, for a sold out bar takeover at Bao Bei on March 5.
- Tony Salles of El Tequileno travels north from Mexico to host Mexico’s Best Kept Secret at Chambar on March 3.
- Ben Yabrow, partner and head bartender at New York City’s Sip & Guzzle, will host a pop-up at Good Thief on March 3 (multiple seatings; reservations essential) and a seminar on March 4.
Vancouver Cocktail Week
When: March 2-9, 2025
Where: Various locations in Vancouver
Tickets: Purchase online via The Alchemist magazine/Eventbrite
