A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

New, Two-Level Brix & Mortar Opens In Yaletown This Friday – Sneak A Peek Inside

XMG_9273

Restaurateurs David Hannay and Patrick Mercer have been fixtures in Yaletown since 1999, when they first opened Brix at 1138 Homer Street. In 2005, they connected Brix to the space underneath it 1137 Hamilton Street and created a cocktail bar there called George. Yup, that was 10 years ago.

Fast forward to today, and it’s time for a change. As of this Friday, the two establishments will combine as one entity, albeit with two personalities and two entrances. And the 230 seat behemoth will be known as Brix & Mortar.

George is getting most of the attention in the renovation. Its 38 seat, people-watching patio is being completely refitted with blue banquettes, slate grey tables, an extended awning, and  – wait for it – a series of three, 7-tiered chandeliers. “We’re not going up against any of our neighbours’ patios. We’re going up against the one upstairs at Brix.” Patrick explains, referring to the transportive, glassed-in courtyard that’s been a perennial shortlister in the city’s best patio rankings for over 15 years. As you can see from the photographs, the interior is getting a complete redux, too, complete with brand new butcher block tables, banquettes, light fixtures, and a new nook or two.

These will no doubt to give it a more casual feel than the old Brix space upstairs, which will retain it’s white linen tablecloths, arched tunnel access, and general ivy-covered, brickish awesomeness. It’s one and the same restaurant, however, up and down.

XMG_9256

“We wanted to kill George.” Patrick half-jokes, adding that its final end presented an opportunity for him and David to revitalize Brix as well. “Brix opened in the last century,” David reminds me. Personally, I don’t see it as that much of a radical shift, but rather a rebranded consolidation of what Patrick and David have already been doing for a long time (ie. good food and drink with a slice of sophisticated swank). Twas ever thus. From the inside, however, it must seem like quite the transition.

Chris Bisaro – who has been at the restaurant for a decade – has created a brand new menu, and it will be the same for both rooms. Likewise bar manager Chris Mosey’s cocktail list. Bonus: bartender Jonathan Smolensky is making his return to the space for a couple nights a week after spending the last few years at Hawksworth. Take a closer look below…

  • XMG_9256
  • XMG_9312
  • XMG_9273
  • XMG_9308
  • XMG_9307
  • XMG_9306
  • XMG_9274
  • XMG_9281
  • XMG_9297
  • XMG_9277
  • XMG_9300
  • XMG_9298
  • XMG_9303
  • XMG_9288
  • XMG_9291
  • XMG_9282
  • XMG_9293
  • XMG_9305
  • XMG_9309

EXPLORE THIS NEIGHBOURHOOD

Osteria Elio Volpe Officially Opens In Cambie Street Village

The time has finally come: Osteria Elio Volpe will open at 540 West 17th Avenue this Thursday, March 14th - take a look at what you can expect...

New Chinatown Bar, Meo, Set to Officially Open March 13th

The highly anticipated retro-inspired cocktail bar brought to us by the team behind Bao Bei and Kissa Tanto (Tannis Ling, Joël Watanabe and Alain Chow) is on track to open doors next week.

Good Thief is Coming to Main Street

Scout has toured Good Thief, a new concept by Amélie and Vincent Nguyễn, the sibling duo behind the celebrated Anh and Chi. Although we're sworn to secrecy on the finer points, we can confirm that the "thrilling extension of their vision" will be very, very cool.

Slo Coffee Aiming to Bring a New Pace to the Fraserhood by Summertime

By late spring or early summer, Fraser Street is expected to welcome the new café inspired by the Japanese idea of wabi-sabi and the universal desire to just slow the fuck down.