‘Tis the season to eat, drink and win at Christmas gift-giving – and with the 15th annual Dine Out Vancouver Festival fast approaching, now is the perfect time to give the gift of a Vancouver staycation. Thanks to festival-exclusive hotel rates and packages, paired with inventive culinary events citywide, you can gift-give (to others and yourself) without blowing your budget.
This year, more than 10 hotels in and around downtown Vancouver are offering special rates (priced at $110 and $140 CAD, or $83 and $105 USD; based on double occupancy) for guests who book a room between now and February 5, 2017. Visitors can further enhance their stay with a Dine Out package at one of six participating hotels, all of which combine overnight accommodation with dinners and perks (think welcome amenities, breakfast and complimentary valet parking). Guests who want to splash out on a headliner luxury vacation (hey, you work hard – you deserve it) can select from a tailored suite of Amuse-bouche Collection packages featuring extravagant culinary add-ons (available at OPUS Hotel, Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown and The Fairmont Waterfront). Rooms and packages are bookable now via the Dine Out website.
In addition to prix fixe dinners at more than 270 restaurants in and around Vancouver (many with suggested BC VQA wine pairings), food lovers can select from a roster of more than 40 events that include an Oceanwise Pop-up at the Vancouver Aquarium (sustainable, locally sourced menu paired with an interactive under-the-sea experience); a Robbie Burns Celebration (Scottish-themed feast at YEW Seafood + Bar along with a whisky masterclass led by award-winning bartender Lauren Mote and a special visiting guest who’s killing it in the spirits world); an Asian-inspired Lunar New Year feast at Heritage Asian Eatery (10-course, family style meal celebrating the Year of the Rooster); and more. Returning favourites include the Vancouver World Chef Exchange (welcoming star chefs from London, New York, San Francisco, Mexico City and Galway); a series of brunch crawls showcasing the most palate-pleasing haunts in Vancouver’s distinctive neighbourhoods; and others. And you won’t want to miss made-for-a-crowd experiences like the music-packed Tasters Tapas & Talent; a cozy Winter Beer Hall; Craft Beer & Tacos (a fan favourite pairing!) and more.
Still hungry? Extend your culinary staycation beyond Dine Out to food-focused experiences in and around the Lower Mainland using WestCoastFood.ca as your guide. The culinary portal highlights venues, activities, ingredients and chefs in Vancouver and neighbouring regions, acting as the ultimate maître’d in your hunt for authentic local food experiences.