Spring has sprung, and along with all of the rain, it’s cherry blossom season in Vancouver! As the blossoms cover the city in various soft pink hues, why not entice the other senses with some sakura-themed goodies? Eat your way through cherry blossom season with these local cafes and restaurants during this years’ sakura season.
Wren Cafe
From March 20 to May 3, Wren Cafe is offering various special Sakura-themed treats, including a sakura bloom, sakura cheesecake and a limited-time strawberry cherry blossom sparkling drink.
View this post on Instagram
280 Nelson St.
Avik Cafe
Avik Cafe is back with their delectable strawberry matcha cookie and cherry matcha tonic, the perfect pairing to nosh on as you check out the cherry blossoms this season! Available March 20 until May 3.
View this post on Instagram
682 W Broadway
Grounds for Coffee
Not only does Grounds serve up the best cinnamon buns in town, but for the first time ever, they’re participating in Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival as a new vendor! From March 31 until April 3, cherry blossom buns are available at both Grounds locations—and later in the season on April 22 and 23 just in case you may have missed them the first time around.
View this post on Instagram
Various locations
Oohlala Donuts
As the blossoms emerge on 4th Ave, Oohlala is serving up some beautiful cherry blossom-themed donuts. With pink icing, and a delicate cherry blossom flower on top, these donuts are sure to tickle you pink.
View this post on Instagram
1818 W 4th Ave.
Beaucoup Bakery
Beaucoup Bakery is welcoming the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival with bright flavours, unique textures, and a combination of sweet and savoury. The special collection includes luscious cakes like their malted milk chocolate cake, peanut butter cheesecake and passionfruit and coconut basque cheesecake. Running from March 20 to May 3, the Cherry Blossom Festival collection features a sakura matcha cake alongside savoury items such as a scallop croquette pop tart, truffle cream shio pan, and unagi croissant quiche.
Various locations
The Sandbar
As the cherry blossoms bloom across the water at David Lam Park, Hoshi Sushi at The Sandbar is offering a limited time spring menu. Their indulgent Cherry Blossom Festival Sakura Roll ($24.50) has a mix of avocado, red crab, sockeye salmon, and scallop to capture the iconic cherry blossom hues. Pair this with their sake sangria ($14.50) made with sake, plum wine, triple sec, and orange juice, or their shochu sour ($15) made with Nikaido shochu, lemon, simple syrup and bitters.
1535 Johnson St.
The Victor
The Victor’s “Haru no Yume” (“Spring Dreams”) is running during the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, March 27 to April 12, and features two signature cocktails both priced at $19. Their strawberry-infused Momokawa pearl nigori sake is a spritz with sparkling wine, while their Empress 1908 Indigo Gin combines botanical beauty and a clash of colours with fresh cucumber and a shiso flower.
39 Smithe St.
Fanny Bay Oyster Bar and Shellfish Market
Bringing together Japanese sake culture with the Pacific Northwest, Fanny Bay is celebrating this cherry blossom season with a special seafood and sake experience on April 2, 9, and 16 at 6:30 p.m. Priced at $175 per guest, enjoy rare sake and curated seafood dishes prepared by chef Alex Guido.
762 Cambie St.
Miku
From March 27 to April 12, Miku invites guests to experience the annual sakura kaiseki, a menu encapsulating the spring season with fresh sashimi and sushi. Dishes include Hokkaido scallop with apple and shiso purée, sakura furikake, and pickled shallots; herb confit king salmon with fregula, pea shoot pesto, and yuzu velouté; and, to finish, a strawberry semifreddo by pastry chef Isabelle Valencia with ume tuile, vanilla lychee ganache, and rose umeshu gelée. An optional amabuki sake pairing ($75) is also available to complement each course, and reservations can now be made online.
200 Granville St.
Minami
Minami is marking the annual Sakura season with a mix of dine-in and takeout offerings. Dine-in offerings include a Sakura Berry Mochi dessert prepared by chef Nikki Tam, and the Okinawa Bloom cocktail prepared by bar manager Morgane Lefort, along with bottles of Kozaemon Sakura Sake. For takeout, the sakura bento for two features a selection of sashimi, signature rolls, aburi oshi sushi, and premium nigiri like o-toro with caviar and aburi botan ebi with garlic Miku sauce, available for pre-order. During the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival’s Big Picnic (March 28–29), the restaurant will also offer a pre-order-only hanami bento designed for outdoor dining under the city’s beautiful cherry blossoms.
1118 Mainland St.
Fable Diner and Bar
From March 27 to April 17, check out Fable Diner and Bar’s delicious baked cherry Alaska available at their Richards Street location.
755 Richards St.
