Best places in Vancouver to enjoy a film-inspired cocktail
Celebrate your love of cinema – and the return of the Vancouver International Film Festival – with a creative film-inspired cocktail or “VIFFtail.” Select Vancouver bars and restaurants have created special cocktails inspired by iconic films to serve in September and throughout the film festival. Here are a few choice places to pay homage to the best in film with a refreshing VIFFtail. [Photo courtesy of L’Abattoir]
L'Abattoir Office
242-209 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2J2Located in Gastown, L’Abattoir’s contemporary fine dining atmosphere is situated within a historic brick building that was once the site of the city’s first jail. In honour of VIFF, try L’Abattoir’s Saturday Night Fever cocktail inspired by the 40th anniversary of the disco classic. This bright, refreshing drink is made with a mix of pisco, apricot liqueur, citrus, peach bitters and hibiscus.
Chambar Restaurant
568 Beatty St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2L3Chambar’s interior of exposed brick walls, funky lights and Belgian inspiration creates a welcoming and fun space. Paying homage to a cult classic, Chambar’s VIFFtail is the Death Proof, a delicious chartreuse-hued, gin-based cocktail that’s fittingly linked to the Quentin Tarantino slasher film of the same name.
Homer St Cafe & Bar
898 Homer St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2W5Situated in the heart of Yaletown, Homer Street Café and Bar – housed inside a landmark building that was once a steam cleaner and ice delivery shop – serves up comfort food classics and rotisserie chicken. Homer Street’s creative VIFFtail is the I Always Wanted to be a Tenenbaum (an ode to the Wes Anderson classic The Royal Tenenbaums) and features an intriguing mix of Famous Grouse whisky, vermouth, Luxardo Bitter Bianco and lemon.
Long Table Distillery
1451 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1W8Located on Hornby near Beach Avenue, Long Table Distillery is the city’s first micro-distillery serving up handcrafted, small-batch gin and spirits in a cozy atmosphere. For VIFF, Long Table is honouring the 1984 classic Dune, with the Winds of Arrakis, a gin cocktail featuring pineapple, ginger, cinnamon, orange and lime.
Nuba Restaurant Group Inc
508 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2G4With two locations in the city – one on West Hastings and one on Davie Street – Nuba is a haven for fresh, contemporary Lebanese cuisine in a casual and cool atmosphere. Taking on a gargantuan film classic, Nuba’s signature VIFFtail, the Godzilla Gimlet, showcases gin, lime, celery and agave – and comes aptly garnished with a Godzilla-sized cucumber.
EXP Restaurant & Bar
309 Pender St W, Vancouver, BC V6B 1T3A gamer’s oasis in the downtown core on West Pender, EXP Restaurant and Bar is a unique video game-themed spot offering fun and nostalgic comfort food. For a sip that pays tribute to a gem of the small screen, EXP’s VIFFtail is the Song of Ice (for Game of Thrones fans), featuring a mix of peppermint vodka, chocolate liqueur and blue curaçao.
My Twitter
