Botanist restaurant review - Vancouver, Canada

The Jim Cheng-designed Fairmont Pacific Rim has long been Vancouver’s most gorgeous hotel. But its cavernous lobby – a see and be seen spot for local politicos, Hollywood stars and corporate party people – was crying out for a more intimate space. Enter Botanist – the latest creative offspring of Vancouver based restaurant designer wunderkind Craig Stanghetta and his Ste Marie team.

More than mere eatery, Botanist marries different eras – notably the 1920s and the 1980s – to create a unique contemporary ambiance that reads like the Miami Babylon club in Scarface designed by Gio Ponti for a West Coast client.

Similarly, the elevated West Coast fusion cuisine pairs French and Mediterranean elements with fresh local ingredients.