Restaurant

Arcana Food and Spirits

Name: Arcana Food and Spirits
Address: 238 Abbott St, Vancouver, BC, V6B 2K8, CA
Price range: $$$$

Cocktail Bar•Vancouver•$$$$

Arcana Food and Spirits is one of the best cocktail bar restaurants in Vancouver for date night, especially if you want a strong option in Vancouver.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

Arcana Food and Spirits is what happens when a video game billionaire decides his real passion project is a Gastown bar modeled on a vintage French salon with a working Zoltar machine and tarot readers on rotation. Jason Kapalka — co-founder of PopCap Games, the studio behind Bejeweled and Plants vs. Zombies — opened this place in December 2023, and the concept is genuinely committed: occult theatrics paired with a kitchen that has no interest in irony. Daily Hive called it Vancouver's most occult cocktail bar; Vancouver Magazine credited it with some of the best cocktails in Gastown. The bar program is run by Chad Rivard, who came up at The Diamond, which in Vancouver is a real credential. If the premise sounds like a gimmick waiting to disappoint, the kitchen's ambition pushes back against that read. Head Chef Larcy Nugent is cooking upscale comfort food with French and Eastern European underpinnings — a combination that makes more sense on the plate than it does as a pitch. The Wildwood Mushroom Polenta anchors the menu: harvest mushrooms set in chive-infused polenta, finished with scallion emulsion, Romesco sauce, and Grana Padano. It's the kind of dish that signals what the kitchen actually cares about — technique deployed on ingredients that don't require it. The Salem Sliders are the tableside argument-starter: bison with mustard-gherkin relish and smoked cheddar, lamb with goat cheese and cucumber mint crème fraîche, or a vegetarian goat cheese build, all three on offer simultaneously. The Croque Sorcier — the menu's deadpan renaming of the Croque Monsieur — fits the room's sensibility exactly. The space runs about 70 people across two levels, which means it fills up and feels it. The move here is to arrive with a plan: book ahead, because the room is small enough that walking in on a weekend is optimistic to the point of fantasy. Sit downstairs if you want the full theatrical effect of the room — the two-level layout means the energy concentrates there. Order the Wildwood Mushroom Polenta and at least one round of Salem Sliders alongside whatever Rivard's bar team is running on the cocktail list. Tock handles reservations; use it.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•Vancouver guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

cocktail date night

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Taste ID

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Taste Score 7.9/10

Rating (Google) 9.2

618 reviews

Vancouver

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

7.9/10

Taste Score

Google 9.2 from 618 reviews

Best for

date night and cocktail

Price and pace

Splurge territory

Neighborhood

Vancouver | 238 Abbott St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2K8, Canada

Price

Splurge territory

Taste Score

7.9/10

Address

Vancouver | 238 Abbott St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2K8, Canada

Inside the restaurant

Photos of Arcana Food and Spirits

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Menu and ordering

Arcana Food and Spirits menu: what to order

Start with the dishes below, drawn from the restaurant details and TastyPals notes available on this page. Arcana Food and Spirits is listed in the Splurge territory price range. Menus, availability, and prices can change, so confirm current details before visiting.

Wildwood Mushroom Polenta

Salem Sliders

Croque Sorcier

Why go

What makes Arcana Food and Spirits worth the move

Arcana Food and Spirits looks like a good night-out option in Vancouver because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. Wildwood Mushroom Polenta and Salem Sliders also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 618 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.2 from 618 Google reviews

Best for

date night and cocktail

Style

Cocktail Bar in Vancouver

Spend

Splurge territory

Best for

cocktail date night

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.2 from 618 reviews

Popular dishes: Wildwood Mushroom Polenta, Salem Sliders, Croque Sorcier

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TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for Arcana Food and Spirits

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Google snapshot

9.2 from 618 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

No diner notes for Arcana Food and Spirits yet.

Nero Tondo operates out of a conviction that 18 seats and a single counter is enough room to say something serious.

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Directions

Address: 238 Abbott St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2K8, Canada
Price: $$$$
TastyPals score: 7.9/10
Google rating: 9.2 (618 reviews)
Cuisine: Cocktail Bar
Neighborhood: Vancouver

Read guide

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Arcana Food and Spirits serve?

Arcana Food and Spirits is a Cocktail Bar restaurant located in Vancouver, Vancouver. Arcana Food and Spirits is what happens when a video game billionaire decides his real passion project is a Gastown bar modeled on a vintage French salon with a working Zoltar machine and tarot readers on rotation.

What is Arcana Food and Spirits best for?

Arcana Food and Spirits is best for cocktail, date night. Arcana Food and Spirits looks like a good night-out option in Vancouver because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. Wildwood Mushroom Polenta and Salem Sliders also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 618 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Arcana Food and Spirits?

Arcana Food and Spirits is in the Splurge territory price range ($$$$). Google rating: 9.2 from 618 reviews

What should I order at Arcana Food and Spirits?

Start with Wildwood Mushroom Polenta, Salem Sliders and Croque Sorcier. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Arcana Food and Spirits worth visiting?

Arcana Food and Spirits holds a 9.2 Google rating from 618 reviews. Arcana Food and Spirits looks like a good night-out option in Vancouver because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. Wildwood Mushroom Polenta and Salem Sliders also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 618 Google reviews.

Where is Arcana Food and Spirits located?

Arcana Food and Spirits is located at 238 Abbott St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2K8, Canada. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Is Arcana Food and Spirits good for a date night?

Yes — Arcana Food and Spirits is tagged for date night dining. Arcana Food and Spirits looks like a good night-out option in Vancouver because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. Wildwood Mushroom Polenta and Salem Sliders also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 618 Google reviews.

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