Vancouver is bereft of good rooftop bars.
Now let me caveat that statement.
I do not consider a patio on the third floor of a restaurant a rooftop bar. I’ll use Black and Blue as an example. It’s a fantastic spot and they have fantastic food. One of my favorite restaurants in Vancouver. But the third floor of a building with high-rises all around and no view to speak of does not a rooftop bar make.
So I was rather pleasantly surprised to discover Lavantine Rooftop Restaurant and Sky Bar. And that name is actually pretty apt. It is on the 15th floor rooftop of the Azure Hotel in Vancouver. Unfortunately though there’s still not much of a view. Those same pesky high rises.
Like Black and Blue it has a sliding glass roof so that you can enjoy it year round. However I was told by a friend that in the winter, when the roof is closed, it can be a pretty noisy atmosphere.
We are definitely in the upper class of establishments here but we are fortunate enough to be in time for happy hour small plates are reasonably enough priced.
I’m going to try two of them today. The tuna tartare and a lamb burger.
I’ll admit I was a little surprised when a tagine was presented to me. I don’t remember ordering any middle Eastern food. It turned out not to be a full tagine, just the top cover, and then as the tagine was lifted it all made sense. The wonderful aroma of smoke reached my nostrils. Nice presentation.
Everything on this plate worked perfectly. The smokiness hit strong at first, then faded. The citrusy marinade with a perfectly textured tuna had a nice spicy kick. The fresh, tangy creaminess from the creme fraiche and the sweetness and texture from the pomegranate seeds rounded it all out. Easily the best tuna tartare I’ve ever eaten.
When it comes to a burger, if lamb is an option it’s always my first choice. Don’t get me wrong. Nothing wrong with a good beef burger. But lamb elevates it to another level.
Other than the pickle, which was easy to fish out, this burger was excellent. The patty itself had a really great char, all the condiments worked really well and the bun was super fresh. Really hard to beat that for $19.
I really enjoyed Lavantine. The vibe, food, and service were all excellent. It really is a great spot to spend a couple hours.
And while it technically meets the definition, what Vancouver really needs is a true rooftop bar where you can sit and enjoy the fantastic views the harbour provides. Hopefully someone has one in the works.