There’s always something to do in Vancouver…but first we eat.
If you like to make food the focal point of fun, we’ve got 23 delicious food and drink events happening in and around Vancouver in April 2018.
Check back in, because we’ll keep adding to the list.
Great British Tea Party
Photo courtesy Notch8 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
For the Great British Tea Party, Notch8 is pulling out all the stops: Vintage décor, bunting, Union Jacks, and a red telephone booth can be found in the restaurant’s Private Dining Room. There's Coronation Chicken, roast beef and stilton, and egg salad tea sandwiches; Eton Mess; scones and Devonshire cream; and plenty of house-made UK-inspired pastries.
When: Now through September 3, 2018. Seatings at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm
Where: Notch8 - Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 900 West Georgia Street
Cost: Adults $65, Children $32.50 (ages 12 & under). Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made by phone at 604-662-1900, or online.
Pescetarian Tasting Menu at Ancora
Seafood lovers will want to make note of a special offering at Ancora, available Sundays through Thursdays, now extended through April. The five-course set menu will showcase Chef Valverde’s approach to a variety of seafood focused dishes while incorporating fresh and sustainable West Coast ingredients. While remaining true to the restaurant’s Japanese-Peruvian roots, each of the five courses will bring forward Ancora’s unique take on dishes such as a Matane Shrimp Risotto, Aji Panca Glazed Sablefish, Cause Mixta and more.
When: Sundays through Thursdays in April
Where: Ancora – 1600 Howe Street, Vancouver
Cost: $59/person, or $99/person with BC wine pairings
TWG Sakura Tea Set
TWG Tea is celebrating Cherry Blossom season in Vancouver with a special Sakura Tea Set featuring Japanese tea-infused savouries and patisseries paired with an extensive selection of exclusive tea blends perfect for spring. Savoury bites include a crab cake, duck leg confit, and sablefish--all infused with different teas. And of course, sip on Always Sakura Tea and enjoy a Sakura! Sakura! macaron.
When: All April
Where: TWG Tea Salon & Boutique - 1070 West Georgia Street
Cost: $48
Poisson d'Avril at Provence Marinaside
Photo courtesy Provence Marinaside
Get into the spirit of springtime with an April full of delicious fish dishes. Provence Marinaside has turned Poisson D’Avril into a month-long celebration of all things fishy with an a-‘luring’ three-course, prix fix Poisson d’Avril Menu ($56) with two optional wine pairings – Canadian Wine Pairing for $25 ($15 for petite pour) and Old World Pairing for $30 ($20 for petite pour).
When: All April
Where: Provence Marinaside - 1177 Marinaside Crescent
Easter Cask Day at Central City
If the only hopping you like on your Easter comes from brews and not bunnies, the Easter Cask Day event is for you. There will be 20 casks from all different breweries around BC. Your ticket comes with 3 drink tokens and a food ticket.
When: Sunday, April 1 from noon-4 pm
Where: Central City - 871 Beatty Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $30; available online
Crisp Cuisine Pop-Up Dinner
Crisp Cuisine/Facebook
Get to know the food of Crisp Cuisine with this pop-up dinner. This will be a vegetarian six-course dinner, held at Caffe Mangia.
When: Monday, April 2 from 7-10 pm
Where: Caffe Mangia - 2211 Manitoba Street
Tickets: $75; available online
Wildebeest Luppolo Brewmaster Dinner
Wildebeest is teaming up with Luppolo Brewing Company for an exclusive Brewmaster Dinner to will pair its decadent-yet-simple style of country cooking in a four-course meal with four of the brewery’s beers at the downtown restaurant.
When: Tuesday, April 3 at 7 pm
Where: Wildebeest - 120 West Hastings Street
Tickets: $55; available online
Distiller's Dinner - BC Distilled
A week prior to the always-exciting BC Distilled public tasting event is the popular Distillers Dinner. Held on April 6 at Vancouver’s esteemed Forage restaurant, Chef Chris Whittaker will feature six cocktail and spirit samples from BC distilleries, paired with six terroir-based courses, for an unforgettable night of food and drink.
When: Friday, April 6 at 7 pm. Ticketed cocktail reception begins at 5:30 pm
Where: Forage - 1300 Robson Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $119 (dinner only) and $149 (dinner + cocktail reception); available online
The Herbal Chef Pop-Up Dinners
The Herbal Chef is actor Christopher Sayegh, who has built his rep on creating exciting food using local ingredients enhanced with THC and CBD extracts. On April 6 and 7, he’ll host dinner events in Vancouver at a still-secret location that will be revealed to guests just prior to the evening.
When: April 6 and 7
Where: Location remains secret until day-of
Tickets: $200 apiece and include tip and a gift bag. To book, email [email protected].
Flavours of Hope: Pop-Up Night of Syrian Feast, Music and Storytelling
Flavours of Hope/Facebook
Taking place at Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, where the space has been generously donated and the community centre has volunteers in place for the meal, this special meal opens up the chance to bring locals together. With a feast prepared by a mother-daughter duo of Syrian refugees, this next installation of an ongoing roaming pop-up dinner event gives guests a way to to learn about the traditional fare of Damascus, and the work being done in the Kitsilano community to help refugees. And of course, eat, listen to music, and engage with all the other diners.
When: Saturday, April 7 from 5:30 to 8 pm
Where: Kitsilano Neighbourhood House - 2305 West 7th Avenue
Tickets: $40; available online
Taste of Barbados
Experience authentic Barbadian food, drinks, music, and culture. Fun for the whole family with activities for the kids. Test your skill at dominoes, dance to some soca & reggae, or lime at the "rum shop." Admission is free, just bring some bucks for food and drinks.
When: Sunday, April 8 from 2-8 pm
Where: Bear Creek Pavilion - 13750 88 Avenue, Surrey
California Wine Fair
Wine/Shutterstock
The California Wine Fair Fundraiser is the Arts Club’s all-inclusive, social tasting event where wine lovers will have a unique opportunity to sample premium selections from the Golden State. Celebrate with full access to more than 350 exquisite Californian wines.
When: Monday, April 9 from 7-9:30 pm
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre East
Tickets: $90; available online
Wine for Waves
Wine and seafood lovers will have much to toast as some of Vancouver’s top Ocean Wise chefs come together with the Naramata Bench Wineries Association at the annual Wine for Waves event. Hosted at the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver, Wine for Waves showcases the Spring Wine Releases from 25+ Naramata Bench wineries. Pours are paired with small, Ocean Wise seafood bites from a great mix of local chefs and restaurants from Naramata.
When: Friday, April 13 from 7-10 pm
Where: Four Seasons Vancouver - 791 West Georgia Street
Tickets: $110; available online
BC Distilled
BC Distilled/Facebook
Canada’s biggest artisan and micro-distillery event continues to grow, with 12 new distilleries featured among the nearly four dozen slated to take part in this year's festivities. At this public tasting event, attendees will have the chance to sip and mingle, and the opportunity to chat with reps from the 40 distilleries pouring their spirits.
When: Saturday, April 14 from 6 to 9 pm
Where: Croatian Cultural Centre -3520 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Tickets: $69.99; available online
29th Annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards
For nearly three decades, the Vancouver magazine Restaurant Awards have recognized the people and places who make this city a food lover’s paradise. This year, for the first time in its history, the Restaurant Awards will be open to the public. Your ticket gets you a taste of eats from finalist restaurants, plus a seat for the awards.
When: Monday, April 16 from 1-5 pm
Where: Sheraton Wall Centre Vancouver - 1088 Burrard Street
Tickets: $40; available online
Tasting Plates - Vancouver's East Village
Explore the East Village neighborhood while tantalizing your taste buds at selection of restaurants, cafes, and a brewery. Your "passport" to the event allows you to roam from venue to venue trying their "tasting plate" for the evening. Stops include local faves Andina and Al Buco, plus more.
When: Wednesday, April 18 from 6-10 pm
Where: Starts at The Narcissus - #109 1701 Powell Street
Tickets: $35-60; available online
Osoyoos Oyster Festival
Oysters. Photo via Pixabay.
Looking for a weekend getaway centred around food and wine? The seventh annual Osoyoos Oyster Festival offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy outstanding dining experiences, tastings of oysters from around the world, and glasses brimming with award-winning South Okanagan wines, ciders, beers, and spirits. This is a multi-day event packed with food and drink gatherings like the Brews & BBQ party, a gala dinner, and numerous partner dinners held at stunning local venues.
When: April 18-22, 2018
Where: Various venues in Osoyoos, BC
Tickets: Each event ticketed individually, bundles available. More info online.
40th Annual Vancouver Greek Food Festival
Get ready to eat, eat, eat, and say OPA! to all the delicious food from Vancouver's vibrant Greek community. It's the 40th annual go-round for this popular event that also features displays, and live entertainment.
When: April 20-23
Where: Hellenic Community of Vancouver - 4500 Arbutus Street
This Sandwich, That Beer Throwdown
The "This Sandwich, That Beer Throwdown" returns for a delicious day of inspired beer and sandwich pairings. Nine restaurants are teaming up with nine breweries to throw down, all to raise funds for Hives for Humanity. Each team will need to use 1kg of Hives 4 Humanity honey in their pairing.
When: Sunday April 22 from 1-5 pm
Where: The American - 926 Main Street
Tickets: Details to come
Sakura Night Gala
The Sakura Night Gala will bring together several of Vancouver’s top restaurants in an evening honouring incredible Asian-fusion flavours. Paired with B.C. craft beers, wines, and even some premium matcha Gabaron green tea, Sakura Night is promising an evening of undeniable good taste.
When: Sunday, April 22 from 6:30-9:30 pm
Where: Stanley Park Pavilion – 610 Pipeline Road
Tickets: $160 plus tax. Ticket sales end Wednesday, April 18 at midnight. Purchase tickets online here.
The Greasy Spoon Supper Series Diner
Photo courtesy Royal Dinette
Royal Dinette’s executive chef Eva Chin, wine director Claire Saksun, and Savio Volpe’s sous chef Melanie Witt team up to present an island vibes-inspired volume 38 of The Greasy Spoon Supper Series Diner, benefiting A Better Life Foundation. The four-course, family-style menu features Hawaiian dishes based on Chin’s childhood memories interpreted with Witt.
When: Monday, April 23; two seatings ( 5-7:30 pm and 8-10 pm)
Where: Save On Meats - 43 West Hastings Street
Tickets: $95; available online
Traditional Dim Sum Cooking Class
Learn the secrets behind making traditional Chinese Dim Sum and two of the most popular dishes in Cantonese cuisine. Grab a few friends and family and be prepared to have a fun battle in the kitchen.
When: Saturday, April 28 from 3-5:30 pm
Where: Fortune House Seafood Restaurant - 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby
Tickets: $69; available online
Sidra & Pinxtos
In honor of BC Cider week, Orchard & the Sea will be hosting a Sidra & Pintxos night along with Txotx Imports. Experience a Basque Pintxos restaurant with some authentic sidra and import craft ciders.
When: Saturday, April 28 from 7-11 pm
Where: The Orchard & the Sea - 55 Powell Street
Tickets: $45; available online
