Today we had an engagement at Fairmont Pacific Rim. The hotel was launching their latest art exhibition on their mezzanine, and we were to attend the festivities.
In order to make a day of it, we decided to first have lunch at the hotel’s lobby lounge. Where we were delighted to discover that they have a private room and use it for ourselves.
Located in the front corner of the entrance, you have the option for pulling the chartreuse drapes shut, in order to maintain privacy, or pull them open for additional lighting. The room sat up to six comfortably across a leather sectional and stylish peridot sofas. The space is meant for socializing with coffee and side table surfaces to graze off of.
We began the evening with a couple of their new luxury cocktails. At $98 a glass this is not for the faint of heart. The Caviar Martini is a showstopper featuring the exclusive Belvedere 10 Vodka, which is rare, as a vodka that is aged for that long. This is mixed with Vermouth Aroma, Liquid Olive, and Caviar. The Vermouth aroma is spritzed over the cocktail table side, as an added touch.
The cocktail itself is smooth and velvety on the lips with the caviar great to tone and temper it. The olive was a pleasant surprise to end on. It popped with juices like a bubble tea juice pearl, but with everything you like about a briny olive.
Another stunning cocktail is the Champagne Supernova. At $38 a glass, this is the second priciest cocktail on the menu. Although a lot more affordable by comparison. This time prepared with regular Belvedere Vodka, Veuve Clicquot, Raspberry, Vanilla, Acid, and Shimmer Dusted Raspberry. Glittery in a Barbie pink, this is a fun one. I have never seen such a sparkly cocktail. It had the texture of smooth mousse-like bubbles on the tongue, with an effervescence kiss on the lips. The sweet and tart raspberry flavours makes this a fun and fruity patio drink.
Together, these made for great starter drinks, but seeing as we would be having sushi for lunch, we paired it with their Sencha Fukujyu Cha. This is a natural leaf tea that is sweet and grassy. Its subtle flavours didn’t take away from the gentle nature of the sablefish below.
Worth mentioning is that all three of the Fairmont properties in downtown Vancouver offer complimentary bar snacks with your drink order. Something that is no longer a common practice, and something I appreciate, even if it is just bulk rice crackers and corn nuts.
The Miso Pacific Sablefish Bento Box is only available Monday-Friday between 11:00am-3:00pm. There are four variations to the box and each includes Traditional Miso Soup with the option to upgrade to their scallop version for $5 more. The soup was rich and full bodied with plenty of seaweed sheets to chew through for textural interest.
The sable fish is incredibly tender, it had the perfect texture and taste to best highlight the fish. I enjoyed it with the side of cold soba noodles for a thicker chew and a more fulsome bite.
The box also includes a sesame vinaigrette, coleslaw cut Cabbage Salad and a couple of pieces of fresh salmon over seaweed in their Salmon Zuke Don. The salmon was so lush that it did not feel raw in the mouth.
The Sushi Roll is on rotation and today it was Negitoro, minced raw tuna with fragrant green onion. Plus a creamy aburi with the spice of a jalapeño slice.
We also tried one of their lunch platters. With a few options we went for the Pac Rim Lunch Platter for more food and for more sharing. This is a collection that includes Spicy Tuna Roll, Salmon Avocado Roll, 4 Pieces of Nigiri, 4 Pieces of Sashimi, and a miniature Poke Don. Clean flavours of fresh fish and rice at the perfect temperature. We ate the plate clean and there were no complaints.
Having the private room and the temperature of the meal at room, meant we got to take our time and really enjoy the space first and foremost, with the food and drink elongating the stay and furthering the experience.
Fairmont Pacific Rim Lobby Lounge
1038 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B9
(604) 695-5557
lobbyloungerawbar.com
