Capones Restaurant and Jazz Club (website, map, 1141 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-569-1770) is one of Vancouver’s hottest places for live jazz music in the downtown core.
Located in the trendy Yaletown shopping and restaurant district (which is accessible via the Yaletown-Roundhouse Canada Line train station), Capones features live jazz music 7 days a week combined with their upscale and sumptuous food reminiscent of the great pizza, pasta, and other meat and seafood specialties found in New York’s fine jazz eateries.
Capones recently underwent a major renovation and features a brand new bar area. I haven’t seen it yet and am looking forward to checking it out soon!
I visited Capones a few months ago. For an appetizer, we ordered the baked brie cheese which was topped with fresh sweet blueberries (pictured below). For the main course we tried their pastas, the Carbonera fettucini and the seafood fettucini (also pictured below). As usual the food was very delicious and the portions were just the right size – not too big to be uncomfortable but still enough to be heartily satisfying.
Prices are reasonable considering the restaurant’s location and the quality of the food. A meal tends to be around $20 to $40 per person depending on whether you order appetizers or drinks.
The music that night was provided by Phyllis Adelyne, an accomplished jazz singer with a warm personality and a classic sound drawing back to greats like Ella Fitzgerald.
I can’t wait to see what great performers and tempting dishes Capones has in their lineup next. Highly recommended.
Baked Brie Cheese from Capones Restaurant and Live Jazz Club in Vancouver BC Canada.
Carbonara fettuccini pasta from Capone's restaurant and Live Jazz Club in Vancouver BC Canada.
Frutti di mare (seafood) fettuccini from Capones restaurant and live jazz band club in Yaletown, downtown Vancouver BC Canada.
Phyllis Adelyne singing jazz at Capones Restaurant and Live Jazz Club in Vancouver BC Canada.
Calhouns Bakery and Cafe (web site, map, 3035 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone 604-731-7062) is a large barn-like restaurant in the Kitsilano neighborhood that is open 24 hours and serves a variety of pre-prepared entrees such as the Perogies (around $7.00, pictured below), desserts, coffee, and alcoholic beverages.
At Calhoun’s, pick out an entree from the deli-style refrigerated display case, and then pay first before eating. If they’re not too busy they’ll bring the food out to your table once they heat it up, or else they’ll put it on the counter beside the espresso machine.
Calhouns also offers a catering service (more details) to the Vancouver area. My office uses them sometimes for catering lunch meetings.
Calhouns has a bakery on site, and their sourdough bread is incredibly fresh. They make some of the best sandwiches in town, and I usually order the Shrimp Sandwich with Avocado ($7.50, also pictured below). Every month I look forward to eating the shrimp sandwich after an evening of performing music with the Sybaritic String Band. Calhoun’s has live jazz music on Tuesday and Sunday evenings, and Latin dancing on Thursday nights.
Located near the University of British Columbia, Calhoun’s is a popular hangout and studying place for UBC students. They have Wifi internet access available.
For another photo of the shrimp sandwich, please view Part 1.
Perogies with bacon, sour cream and salsa ($7.00) from Calhoun's Bakery and Cafe in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Shrimp Sandwich ($8.00) from Calhoun's Bakery and Cafe in Vancouver BC Canada.
Market Square (map, 560 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC, Canada) is “one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world”, according to their website. Much like Pike Place Market in Seattle, Market Square is a place you don’t want to miss. Over 35 unique shops and restaurants surround a large courtyard that has frequent live music and events.
Below is a photo essay from my visit to Market Square today. The sushi pictured below was from Asahi Bubble Tea (#69 Market Square, phone 250-382-2305) and was delicious!
Bill Johnson, blues guitarist, performing at Market Square in Victoria
Popcorn Machine at Market Square in Victoria
Popcorn Machine Detail
Sushi from Asahi Bubble Tea and Japanese Food ($9.95)
No smoking sign in Market Square
Garden in Market Square courtyard
Seagull and Market Square sign
Musicians from the Victoria Conservatory of Music Summer Jazz Workshop Student Ensemble, getting ready to perform.
