Gastown is the soil from which the seed of Vancouver grew. So important to Vancouver was the area around the famous, patina’ed statue of Gassy Jack, for whom the area is named, City Hall proceedings were once held under a tree at that very spot following the great fire of 1886. Exposed brick loft apartments in high-cieling’ed, 19th century warehouses, craft markets featuring First Nations artistic wonders, pubs, clubs and haute cuisine; Gastown is a staycation! Haute cuisine is a perfect segway. Since 1988 the famous Water St. Café has been nestled on the corner of Cambie and Water in the ground floor of the Edward Hotel which opened in 1906. The hotel was built in the Edwardian style for Swedish national Charles Edward Beckman and its beautiful architecture and enviable location along bustling Water St. has allowed businesses to flourish there for over a century and Water St. Café for 33 years and counting!

When I was a teen I would have done just about anything to meet Jennifer Anniston. Little did I know all I needed to do was drop $0.70 for a bus to Gastown. Her highness has been known to dine at the café and it was a backdrop in her classic romcom, blockbuster Love Happens. With her signature haircut on my mind we were whisked cheerily to a beautiful 4 seater on the patio shotput distance from Vancouver’s most photographed attraction, nearly every year, the Steam Clock. We sat for our 7:00 reso a shade early and were treated to the steam powered horns whistling their tune to signal 7 bells.

Our table was separated from the spirited group in the booth beside us expertly by crystal clear flexiglass hung with care and with aesthetic in mind; the perfect first impression! The perfect second impression? Steamclock Caesars! Old Society East Van Vodka, Clamato, fresh lime and secret spices; a solid 9/10! Paired with a Bison Carpaccio drizzled with mouthwatering truffle aioli we sat back and watched the smiling faces stopping to gaze at the steam clock.

Our very outgoing server Cari (sp) brought our main courses next with a smile and some info about their daily happy hour with live music, 3-6 everyday. I’ve been a passerby and had to stop a minute and appreciate as the sun barrelled down Cambie Street and musicians plug in under a perfumed tree, socially distanced from their head-nodding admirers. Another visit is in order! We ordered the steak and fries and a beautiful seafood gnocchi. An 8 oz New York rare on crisp, light, well-browned fries, very good! The tiger prawns were fresh and the gnocchi was light and fluffy and bathed lightly in a creamy dill sauce. On par with a similar dish I was served at a trattoria whose name I’ll never remember in the mountainside near Asiago, Italy. Practice makes perfect for this eatery going strong in its third decade!

With Venice and Asiago, and my 2 months living there a few summers ago, on my mind I ordered an Aperol Spritz as an aperitif and enjoyed the slow dimming of the day. A Water St. Sangria later and we‘re cordially bid adieu and it’s time to explore. Do yourself a favour this weekend and go see for yourself!