Laowai

Vancouver, Canada

While the entrance to Chinatown's Laowai evokes all the typical clandestine embellishment of modern speakeasies - the gateway is by a freezer door in sister restaurant BLND TGR - the evocative, opulent interiors at the bar are a far cry from the Edison bulb and suspender vernacular so prevalent across North America. Instead, the atmosphere speaks to the glamorous trappings of 1920s Shanghai, dripping with a glitzy mix of velvet, copper, gold, emerald-hued malachite and rich leather. An impressive list of Baiju options keeps the drinks programme tethered to its geographic origins, and the cocktail list is similarly transportive, with each creation inspired by the stories of notable figures from Chinese (and sometimes Chinese-adjacent) history and featuring ingredients like bamboo, ginseng, lychee and sichuan peppercorn. Bonus: most of the cocktail ingredients are sourced locally, for sustainability reasons. No reservations.

Key Information

• Average price per cocktail $16
• Tue — Sun
• Visit Laowai's Website

Location

251 E Georgia St, Chinatown, Vancouver, British Columbia, BC V6A 1Z6