Learn to shuck oysters, cook fresh pasta or mix Halloween cocktails, with harvest festivals and special dinners filling the calendar.<\/p>\n
October brings plenty of reasons to book a table, and a few to put on an apron.<\/p>\n
Visiting chefs from San Francisco, New York, Winnipeg and Atlanta are joining Vancouver kitchens, while local restaurants are teaching the finer points of oyster shucking, pasta making and cocktail mixing.<\/p>\n
There are less elaborate outings, too: a $40 Mediterranean lunch buffet, a month of $22 burgers in Langley and an apple festival with plenty to taste. Here\u2019s what\u2019s coming up across Metro Vancouver, with a wine-tasting detour into the Fraser Valley.<\/p>\n
Early October: a birthday, a kitchen party and an oyster lesson<\/p>\n
Bar Tartare turns three<\/p>\n
Bar Tartare celebrates its third birthday with rare cellar bottles, discounted staff picks and a birthday menu jointly created by Go Flying Squirrel, Stretch & Fold and Mak N Ming. The collaborative kitchen takeover and wine specials run from 5 p.m. until late. Come for dinner and a glass, or find a bottle to take home.<\/p>\n
When: Sunday, Oct 4, 2026, 5 p.m. until late<\/p>\n
Where: Bar Tartare, 54 Alexander St.<\/p>\n
Details: Birthday announcement<\/p>\n
From Farms to Forks<\/p>\n
Growing Chefs\u2019 annual kitchen party pairs local chefs with farmers and food producers for an evening of tasting plates and drinks at A-OK Commissary. The open kitchen puts the cooking in view, while the fundraiser supports food education and meal programs for children and families. Fred Lee and Margaret Gallagher host, with live music from Josephine Choi and the Raymundo Trio.<\/p>\n
When: Oct 4, 2026, 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: A-OK Commissary at Aritzia, 611 Alexander St., Vancouver<\/p>\n
Cost: $250\u00a0per person<\/p>\n
Fanny Bay Oyster Master Class<\/p>\n
This 14-person class in Fanny Bay\u2019s private Kelp Room combines a seafood dinner with a practical lesson. Guests get 12 oysters to practise shucking, plus an oyster tasting, grilled oyster starters, a Sea\u2019cuterie board and beverages. Gloves and an oyster knife go home with you.<\/p>\n
When: Oct 7, 2026, 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Fanny Bay Oyster Bar, 762 Cambie St.<\/p>\n
Cost: $159 per person, all-inclusive<\/p>\n
Thanksgiving week<\/p>\n
Thanksgiving at Provence Marinaside<\/p>\n
Provence gives diners six days to fit in a Thanksgiving meal. Chef-owner Jean-Francis Quaglia\u2019s three-course menu begins with pissaladi\u00e8re topped with caramelized onions, olives, anchovies and arugula. Roasted turkey breast and leg roulade follow with mashed potato, carrots, turkey jus and cranberry sauce, before pumpkin and pecan cake finishes dinner.<\/p>\n
When: Oct. 7 to12<\/p>\n
Where: 1177 Marinaside Crescent<\/p>\n
Cost: $69 per person,\u00a0reservations at 604-681-4144<\/p>\n
Minami\u2019s Thanksgiving Bring Home Bento<\/p>\n
Minami\u2019s Thanksgiving bento combines shio koji duck breast, Butler steak, garlic butter jumbo prawns and miso garlic mash with a selection of sushi and sashimi. The $160 spread serves three to four, with a Green Tea Opera Cake available for an additional $40.<\/p>\n
When: Pickup Oct.\u00a09 to 11,\u00a0pre-order before Oct.\u00a09<\/p>\n
Where: Minami, 1118 Mainland St.<\/p>\n
Cost: $160,\u00a0optional cake $40. Order at 604-685-8080 or [email\u00a0protected]. Also available through Uber Eats and DoorDash Oct.\u00a09 to 11<\/p>\n
Fort Langley Cranberry Festival<\/p>\n
Fort Langley\u2019s annual harvest celebration offers a daytime outing built around the cranberry, with a vendor market and seasonal food. Visitors can also check the separate program at Fort Langley National Historic Site, where activities include cranberry bannock and demonstrations; regular admission applies at the historic site.<\/p>\n
When: Oct 10<\/p>\n
Where: Fort Langley<\/p>\n
Details: Festival updates and historic-site activities<\/p>\n
Published on Main welcomes State Bird Provisions and Deer + Almond<\/p>\n
Three chefs and three cities meet at Published on Main when Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson welcomes Stuart Brioza of San Francisco\u2019s State Bird Provisions and Mandel Hitzer of Winnipeg\u2019s Deer + Almond. The one-night collaboration takes the form of a multi-course tasting menu inspired by Vancouver, San Francisco and Winnipeg, with beverage pairings included.<\/p>\n
When: Tuesday, Oct. 13<\/p>\n
Where: 3593 Main St.<\/p>\n
Cost: $300 CAD per person, plus tax and gratuity.\u00a0Beverage pairings included<\/p>\n
Three visiting-chef dinners with Visa Infinite<\/p>\n
The Visa Infinite Dining Series has three Vancouver collaborations this month. Tickets are available to eligible Visa Infinite, Visa Infinite + and Visa Infinite Privilege cardholders. All three dinners begin at 6:30 p.m., with canap\u00e9s, a multi-course meal, cocktail and wine pairings, and gratuity included.\u00a0Taxes are extra.<\/p>\n
\n\tVij\u2019s \u00d7 Adda, Oct 15: Vikram Vij welcomes Chintan Pandya, the James Beard Award-winning chef behind New York\u2019s Adda, for a menu exploring regional Indian cooking. Each couple receives a signed copy of Vij\u2019s My New Indian Kitchen. $275 per person,\u00a03106 Cambie St.
\n\tL\u2019Abattoir \u00d7 Island Restaurant Collective, Oct. 20: Jasper Cruickshank hosts Warren Barr of Pluvio, Ross Bowles of Fox & Monocle, Oliver Kienast of Wild Mountain and Corbin Mathany of Ugly Duckling. Pacific seafood, foraged ingredients and Vancouver Island wines guide the evening. $275 per person,\u00a0217 Carrall St.
\n\tElem \u00d7 Lazy Betty \u00d7 Shokunin, Oct 27: Vish Mayekar cooks with Ron Hsu of Atlanta\u2019s Lazy Betty and Darren Maclean of Calgary\u2019s Shokunin. The dinner also celebrates Hsu\u2019s Down South + East, with a copy for each couple. $300 per person,\u00a02110 Main St.
<\/p>\n
Details and booking information: Visa Infinite Dining Series<\/p>\n
Mid-month: whisky, pasta and the autumn harvest<\/p>\n
The Dalmore Scotch Dinner<\/p>\n
The Dalmore\u2019s national brand specialist Emma Coady hosts a five-course dinner in Fairmont Hotel Vancouver\u2019s Studio. A welcome cocktail precedes dishes including hamachi tartare, butter-poached lobster and venison, paired with whiskies including The Dalmore 35 Year Old.<\/p>\n
When: Oct.\u00a015, 6:30 to 10 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 900 West Georgia St.<\/p>\n
Cost: $450 per person, plus tax and service charge,\u00a019+<\/p>\n
Italian Kitchen Pasta Class<\/p>\n
Learn to make potato gnocchi, ravioli du dauphine and either fettuccine or spaghetti, then sit down to a Pasta Tower featuring the results. The afternoon includes a welcome Prosecco or non-alcoholic cocktail, wine with dinner, and an apron and pasta cutter to take home.<\/p>\n
When: Oct. 17,\u00a02 to 5 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Italian Kitchen, 860 Burrard St.<\/p>\n
Cost: $165 per person, plus tax and gratuity<\/p>\n
UBC Apple Festival<\/p>\n
UBC Botanical Garden\u2019s annual apple celebration is a chance to taste beyond the supermarket varieties, browse fruit displays and buy apples and trees. Food vendors and children\u2019s activities make it a full afternoon outing. Book the optional Tasting Tent separately from festival admission.<\/p>\n
When: Oct.\u00a017 and 18, 2026, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: UBC Botanical Garden, 6804 SW Marine Dr.<\/p>\n
Cost: Online admission $15 for ages 8\u201364, $14 for ages 65+; children seven and under free with a ticket. Tasting tent admission is an additional $12 for ages eight and up. Onsite admission costs more<\/p>\n
Swallow Tail Wild Mushroom Dinner<\/p>\n
Swallow Tail\u2019s communal supper brings mushroom season to a Mount Pleasant home kitchen. The multi-course wild mushroom dinner includes a mushroom talk, with guests bringing their own wine.<\/p>\n
When: Oct. 17 and\u00a018, 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Swallow Tail Supper Club, 495 E 20th Ave.<\/p>\n
Cost: $176.55 per person including fees,\u00a0BYOB.<\/p>\n
D\/6 Halloween Cocktail Masterclass<\/p>\n
D\/6\u2019s seasonal class covers three Halloween-inspired cocktails, each served with a themed canap\u00e9. Mixologists lead guests through the techniques, and recipes are provided for anyone planning to repeat the exercise at home.<\/p>\n
When: Oct 18,\u00a05 to 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: D\/6 Bar & Lounge, 39 Smithe St.<\/p>\n
Cost: Listed at $75 per person<\/p>\n
Late October: radicchio, a lunch buffet and a little mystery<\/p>\n
Bold Flavours at Burdock & Co.<\/p>\n
Chef Andrea Carlson hosts FarmFolk CityFolk\u2019s radicchio celebration at Burdock & Co., bringing farmers, guests and seven local chefs together over seasonal tasting plates. Inspired by Feast of Fields, the 90-minute experience invites guests to browse stations showcasing varieties of B.C.-grown radicchio. Sea Cider and B.C. wines are part of the lineup.<\/p>\n
When: Tuesday, Oct 20, 5 to 9:30 p.m.,\u00a090-minute tasting sessions<\/p>\n
Where: Burdock & Co., 2702 Main St.<\/p>\n
Cost: $60 plus Eventbrite fees, according to\u00a0the event listing<\/p>\n
Penfolds dinner with Peter Gago at Mott 32<\/p>\n
Penfolds chief winemaker Peter Gago joins guests at Mott 32 for a multi-course dinner paired with wines from the Australian producer. The evening offers a chance to explore the wines alongside the winemaker behind them.<\/p>\n
When: Oct.\u00a020<\/p>\n
Where: Mott 32, 1161 W Georgia St.<\/p>\n
Cost: $495 per person, plus taxes and gratuity<\/p>\n
JJ\u2019s Mediterranean lunch buffet<\/p>\n
Vancouver Community College\u2019s JJ\u2019s Restaurant offers a Mediterranean lunch buffet for $40, a considerably smaller commitment than many of the month\u2019s tasting menus. Reserve ahead and watch VCC Culinary Arts for the menu closer to the date.<\/p>\n
When: Oct. 22, lunch.\u00a0Choose a time when booking<\/p>\n
Where: JJ\u2019s Restaurant at VCC, third floor, 250 West Pender St.<\/p>\n
Cost: $40 CAD per person,\u00a0prepaid reservation<\/p>\n
Miku \u00d7 Suntory Whisky Dinner<\/p>\n
Miku\u2019s private Blue Sky Room hosts an evening of Japanese whisky pairings, moving from Toki with sashimi to Hibiki with wagyu and Yamazaki 12 with dessert.<\/p>\n
When: Oct. 22,\u00a07 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Miku, 200 Granville St., #70<\/p>\n
Cost: $200 per person, plus tax and gratuity<\/p>\n
Castle Confidential<\/p>\n
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver\u2019s 14th-floor Heritage Suites become the setting for a 90-minute mystery created with Vancouver Mysteries. Guests follow clues and meet characters while enjoying three themed drinks, before a reception with canap\u00e9s. Non-alcoholic options are available.<\/p>\n
When: Oct. 22 and 23, timed bookings<\/p>\n
Where: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 900 West Georgia St.<\/p>\n
Cost: $160 per person, including tax and service charge,\u00a019+<\/p>\n
Haunted Cellar Afternoon Tea<\/p>\n
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver gives afternoon tea a Halloween twist with roast beef and caramelized onion bites, smoked salmon croissants with apple and pumpkin seeds, and sausage rolls with beet ketchup. Themed sweets include the Sorcerer\u2019s Cauldron and Black Widow, while seasonal teas and cocktails are available \u00e0 la carte.<\/p>\n
When: Selected dates through Oct.\u00a018: Thursdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Fridays to Sundays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Also available Thanksgiving Monday, October 12. Oct.\u00a021 to November 1: Wednesdays to Sundays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 900 West Georgia St.<\/p>\n
Cost: $75 per adult,\u00a0$40 per child. Reservations recommended<\/p>\n
All month: burgers and a Fraser Valley tasting route<\/p>\n
Langley Burger Month<\/p>\n
Nineteen independent restaurants are serving special $22 burgers throughout October. Collect stamps as you go and vote for your favourites, with a portion of proceeds supporting the Langley Food Bank.<\/p>\n
When: Oct. 1 to 31<\/p>\n
Where: Participating Langley restaurants<\/p>\n
Cost: $22 per featured burger<\/p>\n
Fraser Valley Wine Passport<\/p>\n
The $30 passport covers tastings at 13 wineries, three cideries and one distillery across Langley, Surrey and Abbotsford. Non-alcoholic options are available at every stop, and half the passport price supports local food banks. Check each producer\u2019s hours and tasting arrangements before setting out.<\/p>\n
When: Oct. 1 to 31<\/p>\n
Cost: $30 including tax, available from participating businesses while supplies last<\/p>\n
A fixture in Vancouver\u2019s food and hospitality scene for decades, Cassandra Anderton tells the stories of the chefs, producers, and places that define our city. She is the publisher and editor of Good Life Vancouver and a member of both the B.C. chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier and the Chefs\u2019 Table Society. Whether she\u2019s exploring B.C.’s wine regions or scouting the best new table in town, Cassandra\u2019s work is a love letter to the “good life” in the 604 and beyond.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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