Vancouver’s neighbourhood wine bars are a source of comfort from the cold rainy nights where sunshine can be found in a glass. British Columbia’s wine industry is in full bloom with over 300 wineries now operating in the province including the Okanagan, Kamloops, the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island. Vancouverites have become wine drinkers enjoying both local and foreign wines. From newbies to experts, Vancouver’s wine bars offer a chance to enjoy a great glass of wine along with small plates or even dinner.
Photo: L'Ufficio Wine Bar
This Kitsilano neighborhood gem, is one of Vancouver’s best wine bars. Small and inviting, L’Ufficio offers an excellent selection of exclusive Italian wines, artisanal cheeses and house made charcuterie. If you can, grab a seat at the bar, as the friendly staff provide exceptional service. Specials are listed on the blackboard and bigger plates come from their award-winning sister restaurant, L’Quercia which shares the same kitchen. L’Ufficio is everything a neighborhood wine bar should be, a place where you can drop in for a glass of wine, enjoy a small bite or even dinner. And the neighborhood agrees, L’Ufficio is packed nightly.
Wines by the glass starting from $10.00
3687 W. Fouth Avenune. 604.676-1007
Photo: TWB-The Wine Bar
Located in Yaletown and connected to Vancouver’s longstanding Provence Marinaside Restaurant, TWB-The Wine Bar is a tiny modern wine bar that also boasts a beautiful patio directly overlooking the waterfront at False Creek. The “it spot” to be scene at in Yaletown, TWB offers over 50 wines by the glass with a special focus on France and local British Columbia wines. Enjoy a selection of small and medium bites starting at just $6.00 including daily gnocchi, meatballs and crispy calamari which are local favourites. For those who linger, dinner options are also available. One of the best Happy Hours in Vancouver, TWB “Tappy Hour” runs from 3pm to 5pm with a fabulous selection of wines by the glass for just $5.00 along with selected small bites also at $5.00.
Wines by the glass starting from $8.00
1167 Marinaside Crescent. 604.681.4144 ext. 8
Photo: Salt Tasting Room
One of Vancouver’s first dedicated wine bars, Salt Tasting Room opened in 2004 in what was once the deserted and hidden Blood Alley in Gastown. Today, Blood Alley has become a food destination with Gringo and Tacofino Taco Bar now also located on the back alley and Gastown is one of Canada's most stylish neighbourhoods. Salt Tasting Room remains one of the city’s coolest wine bars with exposed brick walls, concrete floors and a chalkboard selection of artisanal cheeses and small-batch cured meats. An excellent way to discover new wines, Salt provides wine flights consisting of 2 oz. pours of three different wines starting at $15.00. Salt’s friendly and informative staff are happy to pair the three wines with your chosen meat or cheese plates or you can choose the wines you would like to try. Salt also offers one of the city’s best selection of sherries by the glass. Salt Tasting Room showcases a solid and interesting wine list including many local BC wines.
Wines by the glass starting from $9.00
45 Blood Alley Square. (604) 633-1912
Photo: Uva Wine and Cocktail Bar
Funky and hip, Uva Wine and Cocktail Bar shares the kitchen with it’s sister restaurant, Cibo Trattoria and is located in the Moda hotel. Uva is a destination for both wine and cocktails with Lauren Mote, Vancouver's Queen of cocktails behind the bar, and wine director Robert Stelmachuk curating the wine list. For those new to wine, choose from Uva’s fun wine flights: Bubbles, Pretty Things, Italian Tourist, and New Empire which offer a chance to compare and discover wines from around the world including the Okanagan. Wine flights consist of 2 oz. pours of three wines starting at $16.00. Uva cranks up the volume including live music on Saturday evenings after 9pm so this wine/cocktail bar tends to cater to the under 40 crowd.
Wine by the glass starting from $9.00
900 Seymour Street. (604) 632-9560
Photo: Grapes and Soda Wine Bar
While oenophiles will delight at the exclusively natural wine list, newbies love the vibe of South Granville’s newest wine bar, Grapes and Soda. This hip 25 seat room includes a small bar and intimate tables along with seasonally inspired small plates that are perfectly paired with the wine list. With acclaimed sister restaurant, Farmer’s Apprentice next door, Grapes and Soda is the neighborhood spot where you can actually drop in without reservation and hope to find a seat.
Wines by the glass starting from $10.00
1541 W. 6th Avenue. (604) 336-2456
Photo: Stable House Wine Bar
The Stable House Wine Bar and Bistro has become a favourite with South Granville locals for a glass of wine as well as their popular charcuterie plates. The Stable House soft and modern décor features an excellent bar along with small tables. Enjoy the cozy neighborhood vibe along with the carefully selected wine list which also showcases boutique BC wines.
Wines by the glass starting from $9.00
1520 West 13th Avenue. (604) 736-1520
Photo: Espana Restaurant
Espana Restaurant located in Vancouver's West End, is a Spanish style tapas bar serving up delicious small bites and an exclusive Spanish wine list. A neighbourhood favourite, Espana offers an excellent selection of reasonably priced Spanish wines both by the glass and the bottle. In addition, Espana also carries a number of sherries by the glass and offers sherry flights consisting of 1 oz. pours and the opportunity to try 3 either dry or sweet sherries.
Wines by the glass starting at $6.00
118 Denman Street. (604) 558-4040
