10 New Vancouver Venues for Summer 2019 Meetings and Events

Located by the Vancouver Seawall, H Tasting Lounge opened a new patio area in May, providing guests a view of the Coal Harbour Marina and North Shore Mountains. The outdoor space, which seats 60 people, also has fireplaces to keep guests warm on chilly nights. The interior seats 120 people, which includes a private dining area. The menu features craft cocktails with treats like tea infusions and sharable punch bowls, along with food inspired by the Pacific Northwest and international flavors. It also offers private mixology classes for groups. The lounge is located on the lobby level of the Westin Bayshore, Vancouver.

Following a renovation that finished in April, the Vancouver Airport Marriott Hotel now features 236 redesigned rooms and suites, 5,000 square feet of meeting space, and the new restaurant-bar 75 West Coast Grill. Other luxuries include a heated outdoor pool and whirlpool spa, and an updated fitness center. Located less than six kilometers away from the Vancouver International Airport and 12 kilometers from downtown Vancouver, the hotel offers complimentary airport shuttle service. The hotel is also a part of the Richmond Convention Centre that contains another 50,000 square feet of meeting space, including the 10,000-square-foot Britannia Ballroom.

Located in a revitalized heritage building, Stanley Park Brewing Restaurant and Brewpub opened in July on the site of a former social sports pavilion built in the 1930s. Now the modern brewery boasts 16 beer taps highlighting all of Stanley Park Brewing’s current lineup and 10 innovation beers brewed on site. The interior design takes inspiration from the park itself, with reclaimed-wood tables and a 32-foot log bar top. The 9,500-square-foot space is available for rentals, and it includes a 140-seat indoor area, 50-seat outdoor deck, and 40-seat patio.

Opened in May, Hotel Belmont in downtown Vancouver embraces a retro-modern style full of bright colors, neon lights, and flamingo printed walls. The boutique property features four areas for events: the Living Room, Basement, Kitchen, and Den. The Living Room is a dimly-lit lounge with deep turquoise walls and hot pink bar stools that has a 179-person capacity. The Basement features arcade games, a dance floor, and a bowling lane, and it can accommodate 183 people. The Kitchen and Den are both private gathering spaces for 27 people.

Defined by its East-meets-West cuisine, Blossom Dim Sum and Grill serves dim sum, sushi, and grilled meats. Its signature dishes include quail’s egg siu mai with black truffle, sweet and sour sakura pork, and seared sablefish with rice cakes. Opened in June in downtown Vancouver, the restaurant spans 6,000 square feet with a capacity of 180 seats, and features a bar, dining area, private room, and 40-seat patio. The interior is characterized by plush velour booths, a mural of cherry blossoms, and brightly colored parasols that hang from the dining room ceiling.

Elisa, a contemporary steakhouse in Yaletown, features a menu with prime cuts from around the world, sustainable seafood, and vegetable-forward dishes. Designed with red and white seating, wooden pillars, and dim lighting, the restaurant has an elegant, refined atmosphere. The 6,800-square-foot space seats 130 guests, with an additional 30 seats on its newly opened patio, and is available for group events and private dinner parties. Elisa is a part of the Toptable Restaurant Group.

Located on the main floor of Parq Vancouver urban resort, the farm-to-table restaurant Honey Salt debuted its new patio in May, fitted with its signature lime green chairs. With a 60-seat capacity, the bright outdoor space welcomes guests to enjoy brunch, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea, or happy hour alfresco. The eatery’s main dining room seats 180 guests, and the lounge another 100. Honey Salt is characterized by its soulful cuisine, live music on Thursday nights, and signature Society Chocolate and Banana Cake.

Opened in July, Sprezzatura is a 100-seat casual Italian restaurant that specializes in Neapolitan-style pizza. The restaurant uses a special dough that passes through a 100-hour fermentation process before entering a high-heat oven to produce a crust that is both crispy and soft. Beyond pizza, the menu features classics like roasted chicken and braised wagyu. The drinks list offers Italian cocktails and both British Columbian and Italian wines. With light blue and gray accents, and a mix of wooden and metal decor, Sprezzatura possesses a fancy yet rustic feel, aligning with the meaning of its name—”studied carelessness.”

The fourth location in the city, Colony Entertainment District opened on the Granville Strip in June. The 15,000-square-foot space—the chain’s largest one to date—includes a front room, mezzanine, back area, and bocce area with a total capacity of 405. Besides serving as a place to eat and drink, the venue offers arcade games, ping pong, foosball, shuffleboard, and pool. The main seating area is suited with long wooden tables and high ceilings. Buyouts are available.

Overlooking the English Bay, Papi’s Seafood and Oyster Bar features fresh catches from the Pacific Northwest and a sea-inspired cocktail list. The centerpiece of the beachside restaurant is a full-wall mural depicting the sea goddess Amphitrite, painted by local artists Arden Marow Ross and Peter Ricq. Opened in June, the casual seafood bar seats 66 inside and 40 on the patio; the entire venue holds 155 guests for receptions. The venue is available for buyouts.