Typically, the Sipping Spotlight feature tends to showcase incredible bars and cocktail lounges from around the globe, but with COVID-19 making it difficult to travel and in the spirit of supporting our local businesses, we’re highlighting one of our favourite local watering holes.
Grapes & Soda is an intimate space located in the South Granville neighbourhood. Directly next door to its sister restaurant Farmer’s Apprentice, this 30 seat wine bar is one of the best places in Vancouver to get a drink.
In the same spirit as Farmer’s Apprentice, Grapes & Soda focuses on a fresh, local, farm-to-table philosophy. They have an ever-changing and curated list of natural, organic and biodynamic wines, create cocktails, and rotating local beer all paired with seasonally inspired small plates.
Grapes & Soda is one of those places that feels intimately familiar and is comfortable enough to spend hours with friends, or just sitting at the small bar watching bartender Satoshi Yonemori craft the perfect cocktail.
It’s those cocktails that keep bringing us back to the space. They are creative and innovative, ranging for simple twists on the classics to completely original creations. There is always something new to try, and often you’ll find a number of pre-batched cocktails in adorable little glass bottles ready to go. Don’t be fooled, those pre-batched cocktails are often some of the best available.
Despite being critically acclaimed (both the bar, and Satoshi himself) the space never feels overcrowded, thanks in part to the design and the conscious decision to limit the total capacity to 30 people (even less likely due to Covid now).
Grapes & Soda is one of those places we’ve desperately been missing, and most certainly will be at the top of the list to return to over and over again.
Ale/Sessions 