Emerald cocktail

Some of Vancouver’s most eclectic lounges aren’t often found in the most obvious of places. When you think of drinks and appetizers, many of the well-knowns come into play around Gastown and on Commercial Drive.

And although the Emerald Supper Club and Lounge has been open for four years now, I recently entered its unassuming upstairs interior to be transported back to an old Vegas-style room with a glorified spirit-forward cocktail menu.

Emerald Supper Club

Chinatown has seen a resurgence of great dining spots so it comes as little surprise that Emerald owners Rachel Zottenberg and David Duprey (the creators of Uncle Abe’s, The Narrow Lounge and This Monkey’s Gone to Heaven curio shop on Main Street) saw the former dim sum restaurant’s interior as a great spot for a multi-room lounge.

The Emerald Supper Club-1

The bar evokes a cool yet unpretentious vibe with one-of-a-kind lighting fixtures, artwork and decor throughout (ladies, check out the cool curio glass case in the washroom).

There’s actually three rooms starting off with the main lounge. Doors off to the side lead to a dining room with dark leather banquettes and vintage lighting fixtures.

Emerald Supper Club

This space is great for hosting parties, corporate and community events, with a mixture of seating and space to spread out.

Emerald Supper Club

The Emerald’s bar staff will mix up the drink of the guest’s choosing into a vintage crystal decanter together with big ice ball cubes — and a candy bar station as well. Candy and cocktails, bang!

A smaller room in back has a tiny stage, perfect for the Emerald’s weekly array of local dancers, musicians and comedians as well as karaoke and cabaret nights.

The Emerald Supper Club-2
[Grilled lemongrass chicken salad, crispy fried cauliflower, homemade hummus and chips, veggies]

The happy hour menu features tasty snacks priced at $5 each (the crispy fried cauliflower served with smooth peanut satay sauce is highly additive), hummus, chopped veggies and homemade chips, sliders (with meat and chickpea options), hot wings as well as a few salads (offered during happy hour for $10 each).

Emerald Supper Club
[Spring canapés]

Speaking of happy hour, the 5 to 7 pm specials (on food plus 50% off cocktails) run Tuesdays through Fridays. On Tuesdays, it’s happy hour all night!

On a warm early summer evening, I found the Ginny Hendrix a smooth, thirst-quenching experience (Hendrick’s gin, cucumber, mint, soda and Taboo Absinthe).

Emerald Supper Club
[The Bramble]

Other drink favourites include Moscow Mule, hibiscus-infused margarita, lavender-infused gin with fresh lemon juice and champagne, gin basil smash, Bramble and Earl Grey Old Fashioned.

If you’re not the cocktail type, the bar is stocked with beer on draught, in bottles and cans, plus a good range of red, wine and bubbly BC + international wines to pair with some of those tasty nibbles.

The Emerald Supper Club is located at 555 Gore Avenue in Vancouver. Non-watermarked images courtesy of Emerald Supper Club.

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