Angeleno - October 2005

The Radar Weekender
by Brad Johnston

Trendy Yaletown
The dotcom age transformed the former warehouse district of Yaletown into a bustling urban centre, then went bust. The area has since reemerged as the city's epicenter of dining and drinking (as well as a hotbed for new condos), with local fashion boutiques and trendy salons filling the occasional gaps. The two most serious restaurants in Yaletown are perhaps Elixir (Opus Hotel, 322 Davie St, 604.642.6787) and Blue Water CafŽ (1085 Hamilton St, 604.688.8078). Elixir is a vibrant French bistro where Chef Don Letendre serves Left-bank-worthy moules frites and delicious duck confit to a boisterous crowd that spills out into the Opus Lounge while deejay keeps the mood festive until the wee hours. Just around the corner, Blue Water is a sprawling seafooder with two bustling display kitchens, one for fanciful Kyoto-style cuisine and sushi by chef Yoshihiro Tabo, and modern French-Canadian fare by chef Frank Pabst. It's hard to go wrong with either menu, or a combination of the two.

Colour-coded rooms
Nothing else comes close to the 97 room Opus Hotel in terms of style, scene or location. Exhibitionists will love the bathrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows - directly in front of the toilet and shower - that overlook one of the busiest intersections in Yaletown. But because some guests are pee shy, there are 16 different room styles, most of which feature more "traditional" facilities. Guests can choose among five different colour schemes, including a vibrant, eclectic green or a dark, soothing blue. The hotel's own Mercedes is available for complimentary chauffeur service to nearby restaurants and shops (322 Davie St, 604.642.6787, www.opushotel.com).