Bin 941


New Year's: champagne. Christmas: eggnog. St. Paddy's Day: green beer. Tuesday night: rubbing alcohol and a laundry list of regrets. Valentine's Day: ever-flowing wine. Not to be drunkenly confused with Bin 942(don’t make that rookie mistake), Bin 941 is nothing short of charming. The small space maximizes its potential with mirrors and artistic glass wall mountings, elegantly reflecting the candlelit ambiance. The place has laid-back vibe that can calm even the most stressed-and-depressed snob in the city. Here, there are many places to rest your wares: from the comforts of plush booths, cleverly tucked at the window's edge, to small and intimate tables that make cozying up a welcome option, to a bar rail that winds its way into the furtive-make-out privacy of a secluded back hallway. It feels as exclusive eating deep inside as it does sitting out front. Feel free to get mentally lubricated at Bin 941, but be sure buy a crate of Tylenol and Pepto-Bismol for post-grape imbibing. 941 Davie Street, 604-683-1246




Bin 942

Alright, so you to convince your Valentine’s Day date that you’re cool, but you’re far from hip? The only solution is to go to a bar so trendy and stylish that you’ll seem cool by association. There are a few options in Vancouver that should set you straight, but Bin 942 is probably the best option available. Just knowing that this spot exists gives you instant cred with all the local scenesters (provided you don’t tell them that you discovered the place on the internet of course). You’ll also be dining on Chef Gord Martin’s delicious tapas all night long, which encourages sharing food with your date. Dishes like saffron and chorizo mussels and Santa Fe flavoured Confit of Duck will melt both your mouths simultaneously. Play things right and you’ll soon be exchanging more than just food with that special someone. Your date will probably realize that you’re not as cool enough for Bin 942 eventually, but the illusion should at least last for the duration of your special night. 1521 West Broadway, 604-734-9421




Bishop's


Bishop’s is a spot designed for the classic Valentine’s Day date. The two-storey eatery is filled with generous tables draped in white and topped with the requisite flowers and candles. Though the space between tables is hardly vast, dim lighting virtually isolates each couple from the rest of the room. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy some good food and wine while getting lost in your date’s eyes and sweet whispers. Unless you’re ugly and a poor conversationalist of course, in which case this place is only going to accentuate your flaws and ruin the evening. Executive Chef Dennis Green will provide the sumptuous meals, world-class wines, and generous deserts necessary to facilitate a romantic evening for two, so make sure that you carry your weight. The only thing capable of destroying a romantic dinner at Bishop’s is you. Be prepared. 2183 West 4th Avenue, 604-738-2025




Blue Water Café


Blue Water Café has fast become one the top seafood spots in all of Vancouver. Chef Frank Pabst and cut master Yoshi Tabo have combined forces to give diners the best seafood the city has to offer. Raw or cooked, East or West, they do it all. This all but guarantees a fantastic dining experience for any Valentine’s Day date. The low-lit dining area with classically styled furniture and modern dishware provides the perfect atmosphere for quiet, private dinner conversation. The open kitchen offers plenty of entertainment and conversation on normal nights, but might prove a bit distracting if your date has ADD. Be sure to keep that in mind before venturing to Blue Water on the big day. You can’t afford any mistakes after last year. You know what I’m talking about. 1095 Hamilton Street, Yaletown, Vancouver, BC. 604-688-8078.