50 Best Bars Vancouver Events: Fairmont Pacific Rim Hosts Global Cocktail Stars
Vancouver’s cocktail scene is about to get a serious injection of global talent.
As North America’s 50 Best Bars returns to the city this April, Fairmont Pacific Rim is turning its bars into an international stage, hosting a lineup of acclaimed bartenders from around the world for a series of limited-time guest shifts.
Running April 21 to 23, 2026, the programming will take over both Botanist Bar and The Lobby Lounge & RawBar, offering Vancouverites a rare chance to experience some of the most celebrated cocktail destinations without leaving the city.
A global cocktail takeover, no passport required
The three-day series brings together top bars from Seoul, New York, Toronto, Mexico, and the Caribbean, each stepping behind the bar for one-night-only collaborations.
Highlights include:
- April 21, 2026, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Toronto’s Library Bar and Mother take over The Lobby Lounge & RawBar
- April 21, 2026, 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Seoul’s Zest, making its first Vancouver appearance, joins the Botanist Bar team
- April 22, 2026, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: New York City’s Clemente Bar appears at Botanist Bar
- April 22, 2026, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: The Lobby Lounge & RawBar hosts the Caribbean Cocktail Tour featuring Library by the Sea, Bon Vivants, and La Factoria
- April 23, 2026, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.: Botanist hosts ARCA from Tulum and Mecenas from Guadalajara for a six-course tasting menu with cocktail pairings
Most events are available on a first come, first served basis, while reservations are required for the April 23 tasting menu experience. That makes this one of those weeks where it may actually pay to be spontaneous, or at least very organized.
These collaborations are meant to showcase distinct points of view, from Zest’s sustainability-driven approach to fine drinking to the art-led cocktail storytelling behind Clemente Bar. The April 23 finale raises the stakes further with a six-course dinner from ARCA chef-owner José Luis Hinostroza and Botanist executive chef Hector Laguna, paired with cocktails from Mecenas and ARCA.
For guests, that means limited-edition drinks, international talent behind the bar, elevated food pairings, and a front-row seat to one of the most important weeks in bar culture this year.
If you have been looking for an excuse to revisit Botanist or linger a little longer in the Lobby Lounge, this is it.
Collaboration Schedule
April 21, 2026
The Lobby Lounge & RawBar
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Library Bar and Mother from Toronto
James Grant and Massimo Zitti
Botanist
7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Zest from Seoul, South Korea
Do Hyung “Demie” Kim and Yongjin “Noah” Kwon
April 22, 2026
Botanist
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Clemente Bar from New York City
Jay Reingold and Wilmer Reyes
The Lobby Lounge & RawBar
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Library by the Sea, Bon Vivants, and La Factoria
The Caribbean Cocktail Tour
April 23, 2026
Botanist
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
ARCA from Tulum and Mecenas from Guadalajara
Six-course tasting menu by ARCA’s chef-owner José Luis Hinostroza and Botanist’s executive chef Hector Laguna, with cocktail pairings by Mecenas and ARCA
When and Where
When: April 21 to 23, 2026
Where: Fairmont Pacific Rim, 1038 Canada Place, Vancouver
Reservations: Reservations can be made online for the April 23 dinner. Other events are first come, first served.
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Disclosure: This article is based on a press release provided to Good Life Vancouver from the Farimont Pacific Rim and has been edited for style, clarity, and length. This post was prepared with editorial assistance from AI and reviewed by Cassandra Anderton prior to publication.
