Take It Outside

Your guide to the look, feel, and food of the city's 23 hottest patios

DOWNTOWN

Parkside
The Look A stylish garden courtyard terrace that wouldn’t be out of place in Montreal’s Latin Quarter or New York’s Upper West Side. The MenuThe prix fixe menu—$65 for three courses—changes weekly (if not daily) and is classically grounded, featuring local ingredients. The wine list is extensive and affordable. Get This Chef Andrey Durbach does many things well, but don’t pass up the opportunity to sample his foie gras—or just about any meaty dish on the menu. 1906 Haro St., 604-683-6912 [ map ]

Il Giardino
The Look Less a patio than an outdoor room where the Howe Street crowd comes to play. The pretty courtyard’s brick walls and draping vines muffle the drone of traffic from Pacific Boulevard. The Menu The draw is Umberto Menghi’s Tuscan cooking, and choice items fired in the outdoor wood oven. Get This Agnolotti stuffed with lobster and shiitake mushrooms in a light tomato sauce ($26.95), paired with a glass of North Coast Sterling Chardonnay. 1382 Hornby St., 604-669-2422 [ map ]

CinCin
The Look Definitive pan-Med décor, warm but cleanly wrought. Patrons run the gamut from celebratory to celebrity. The Menu Rustic Italian. The wild-mushroom pizza with peppercorn Pecorino ($23) is a perfect reason to order a second bottle from the deep cellar. Get This If pastry chef Thierry Busset’s bread rolls are the best in the city, as many believe, his desserts are ample reason not to eat more than two. Second floor, 1154 Robson St., 604-688-7338. Cincin.net [ map ]

Raincity Grill
The Look A narrow patio edges off Denman Street pointed toward the wide-angle shot of the sunset over English Bay. Raincity’s patio is designed for prolific people-watching. The Menu The “100 Mile” tasting menu changes throughout the year. Six courses are a reasonable $75. Get This At weekend brunch: smoked salmon on brioche, poached eggs, hollandaise, green salad, chive crème fraîche ($16). 1193 Denman St., 604-685-7337 [ map ]

Brix
The Look One of the few outdoor spaces in Vancouver where the food and ambiance calm our coastal predilection for a view. Well-heeled guests enter through a tunnel to find a leafy, 40-seat courtyard. The Menu Globally influenced “modern Canadian.” While the small-plates list remains the draw, the desserts are some of our most unsung. Get This The Kobe beef chuck burger with Balderson Cheddar and chipotle aioli ($15), which satisfies late-night cravings. 1138 Homer St., 604-915-9463 [ map ]

Lift
The Look A gorgeous deck that floats out over Coal Harbour, views of Stanley Park and the North Shore Mountains, rooftop fire pit. The Menu Find cocktail companions in steamed Salt Spring mussels, or a Pacific shellfish misto. Get This For brunch, try the Florentine Benedict with crab and hollandaise sauce ($14). 333 Menchions Mews, 604-689-5438 [ map ]

Provence Marinaside
The Look Contemporary Mediterranean, cast in warm taupes, softened with swagged-fabric ceilings and big art. The Menu Antipasti include caramelized onions, olives, and anchovies,
cold seafood salad, and grilled squid in lemon-chili vinaigrette. There’s a huge oyster list, even rack of lamb ($33). Get This Look no further than the fish soup ($9). 1177 Marinaside Cres., 604-681-4144 [ map ]

The Fountainhead Pub
The Look Ignore the ’80s-inspired strip-mall architecture—it’s the only streetside patio for miles and that’s what draws the young and fabulous. The Menu Well-executed pub food with 16 beers on tap. Get This The Regular “J” Burger (sautéed mushrooms, bacon, Cheddar) for $10. 1025 Davie St., 604-687-2222 [ map ]

The Mill Marine Bistro
The Look Sprawled on Coal Harbour’s seawall next to an enormous fountain, the 180 seats (on a sunny day) are shaded by beer-label-emblazoned umbrellas. The North Shore Mountain vista, of course, is impossible to fault. The Menu Edamame beans, quesadillas, salmon burgers, and other predictable (but tasty) staples. Get This The bucket of peel-and-eat shrimp ($26) might offend the sensibilities of the foodie set, but since you can also get a bucket of ice-cold Sol beers for $25, we’re conditionally sold. 1199 W. Cordova St., 604-687-6455 [ map ]

Nu
The Look The wraparound patio boasts killer views brought to life by the arc of the sun as it glides over False Creek and sets beyond the Burrard Bridge. The Menu Folded inside napkins like little love notes passed to the food-bored, chef de cuisine Joseph Santor’s menus list clean, inspired dishes at unlikely prices. Get This Fried local oysters with a Lighthouse Lager shooter ($3.90), and chèvre-stuffed chicken wings ($11.60) are introductory musts, while the open-faced lobster club sandwich ($24.90) will sort out the unsated. 1661 Granville St., 604-646-4668 [ map ]

Cassis Bistro
The Look This sliver of a space is as sexy as it is secretive, with a wooden screen and potted greenery guarding against the sketchy block of West Pender. The Menu Thoughtfully constructed bistro classics have never slummed so well. Lunch sees barbecued pulled pork sandwiches cosying up to barista treats, while dinner succeeds with French done on the cheap. Get This French onion soup is among the best in town ($7), as is chef Ben Coté’s straightforward and richly flavoured coq au vin ($16). 420 W. Pender St., 604-605-0420 [ map ]


Chill Winston
The Look Hip young boutique owners and loft dwellers park their Vespas on the cobbled street beside the sprawling sidewalk patio. The Menu Light snacks like tuna tartar ($12) and pan-seared calamari ($10). Get This Anything off the adventurous cocktail menu, or the inventive wine list, for that matter. 3 Alexander St., 604-288-9575 [ map ]

Boneta
The Look Let’s call it edgy urban. With the Downtown Eastside in close proximity, you never know who might stumble by. The Menu Changes almost weekly; well-edited (read: short) list of dishes—think white asparagus with cured pork cheek and gribiche sauce ($17), or Japanese sea bream with green-pea velouté, ras el hanout, fresh pappardelle, and maitake mushrooms ($26). Get This Let über-bartenders Mark Brand and Steve da Cruz create an exotic cocktail, and sommelier of the year Neil Ingram chose a wine, to complement your order. 1 W. Cordova St., 604-684-1844 [ map ]

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