he Cellar is superb for jazz patronage and for sipping fermented grape liquids, just don't confuse it with the downtown meat-market of the same name; they're polar opposites. This cozy nightclub has been open for a while, and local A-listers have made themselves at home in The Cellar’s leather settees.

The Cellar Restaurant & Jazz Club can be found near the corner of Alma and Broadway, in Kitsilano, although not easily; part of the charm and enigma of the place is the inconspicuous little wire-banister staircase you have to lumber down in order to access the club. On a dark street with no other "nightlife" around, you'd have to guess where that black descent is going to take you, but once you reach the underground level, you're greeted with rich red carpeting and soft lighting to invite you in. Heavy shades of red warms everything from doors to walls to rugs, and photos of musicians in action grace the room.

On a rainy and otherwise boring Sunday evening, I checked out the show with two friends, all jazz fans. For a six-dollar cover, we were treated to a fun set of moody and experimental jazz by the Steve Amirault Trio, hailing from Montreal and on a cross-Canada tour.

My two companions and I sat at a small candle-lit table in front of a spotlit grand piano, while Amirault's fingers moved faster and more feverishly with every piece. The club is small, intimate, clean, and above all, a solid venue for the sound of jazz.

My friends enjoyed glasses of Caliterra Sauvignon Blanc (Chile), while I tried out the taps: all Russels: lager, cream ale, and pale ale (more beer selection in bottles). The red wine list is also varied in both geography and price (BC, South Africa, France, Australia, all between $30 - $100).