Five Sails Restaurant

Both Blue Water Cafe and 5 Sails are the best Vancouver has to offer.

Both have fabulous food and excellent service; however, 5 Sails has a killer view by the Bay and its modern French food is excellent in presentation and taste.

It is more fancy than Blue Water Cafe and great ambiance.

The drawback is that this is a high end French dining and they should enforce dress code. On my last visit, the women were dressed beautifully but two men came in wearing just t shirt. The men should respect both the patrons and the restaurant by having proper attire.

Whenever I've come to Vancouver, I've stayed at the Pan Pacific Hotel and dined at their Five Sails restaurant on the final evening of my stay. This year was no exception but this time I was accompanied by my sister-in-law (SIL).

I brought a bottle of wine with me, a 2015 Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou from St. Julien that I purchased aboard the Koningsdam two days earlier. Five Sails has a $65 corkage fee if they don't have that wine in their cellar. This is one of my favorite wines and the sommelier was very gracious and opened it with flair and panache.

We chose seared foie gras ($34) and burrata ($26) as our appetizers and the duck three ways ($56) and the halibut ($49) as our entrees. Crispy fingerlings were our accompaniment.

The wine did not disappoint; it is one of my favorite wines from St. Julien, so smooth and seductive, smoky, black fruit with a great finish. My SIL was impressed with the wine; she thought it was fabulous.

If I see foie gras on the menu, I order it. It was fine and came with a large milk bread roll and decorated with pieces of apricot. The burrata was a beautiful presentation of cheese surrounded by sungold tomatoes, strawberries and decorated with basil and pickled pistachio with a Modena balsamic. It was one of the best versions of this dish in memory.

The Haida Gwaii halibut was herb crusted with a citrus dashi foam hiding roasted mushrooms and a tea butter fondue. The star of the evening was my Fraser Valley Duck, a seared duck breast, a confit leg and a large piece of foie gras. I can never have too much foie gras. The sauce was an orange Madeira jus. SIL saw fingerling potatoes and had to order it. This was like a poutine as crispy pieces of fingerling potatoes were topped with caramelized onion, Tete de Moine cheese and some pieces of braised short rib. It was a very good accompaniment.

We were too full for dessert, so I ended the meal with an Americano ($7).

Five Sails did not disappoint; I've been coming here since 2003, and it remains consistently good. Good views, good food ... Recommended!

Five Sails in Vancouver is a culinary gem that stands out not just for its breathtaking views but also for its exquisite cuisine and unparalleled service. Under the expert guidance of Chef Alex Kim, the restaurant offers a dining experience that is nothing short of extraordinary.

Upon entering Five Sails, you are immediately greeted by the sophisticated and elegant ambiance. The large windows offer panoramic views of the bustling harbor, majestic mountains, and vibrant cityscape, making it the perfect backdrop for a memorable meal. The décor is refined yet inviting, creating a serene atmosphere that enhances the dining experience.

The menu at Five Sails is a testament to Chef Alex Kim's culinary prowess. Each dish is meticulously crafted, showcasing a harmonious blend of flavors and artistic presentation. The seafood, a highlight of the menu, is incredibly fresh and prepared with precision. Standout dishes include the tender lobster, succulent scallops, and the perfectly seared pacific sea bass . My absolute favorite was the polenta. Crisp on the outside - buttery on the outside. The meat options, such as the lamb ; duck and beef looked equally impressive as it passed us on its way to other diners .

Our server, Martina, was exceptional. Her knowledge of the menu and wine pairings was impressive, and her warm, attentive service made us feel truly special. She anticipated our needs with grace and ensured that every aspect of our meal was perfect. The entire staff at Five Sails deserves commendation for their professionalism and dedication to providing a top-notch dining experience. They work seamlessly as a team to deliver a wonderful experience .

In addition to the delicious food and impeccable service, the views from Five Sails are simply stunning. Watching the sunset over the water while enjoying a gourmet meal is an experience that stays with you long after the evening ends.

In conclusion, Five Sails Restaurant offers an extraordinary dining experience in Vancouver. With Chef Alex Kim's culinary artistry, Martina's exemplary service, and the breathtaking views, this restaurant is a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy a superlative meal in a beautiful setting.

Beautiful bar with friendly staff inside the Pan Pacific hotel. Lovely spot to relax and look out over the harbor after a day of touring around the city.

Creative drink menu. The Mist, a signature cocktail, was a little sweet for me, but it was so beautiful, garnished with flowers and glitter, served with a misty-smoke, I drank it anyway. Staff was fabulous and shared great tips for places to visit during our visit. Recommend.

This is a wonderful restaurant with fabulous views of the Harbour. The service is definitely first class, but lacks personality. I felt like the staff were just going through the motions. The food was delicious, and everyone at our table loved their meals. But my halibut was a little on the dry side, and the sauce was runny. The garden salad was excellent, but my side of peas and mushrooms had very few peas. I love mushrooms, but this was a bit much. For the price of the meals, I expect perfection, and experience didn't quite meet that standard.

The views are spectacular, the food phenomenal and the service extraordinary. We arrived to the hotel after traveling all day and were quite hungry. Seeing the restaurant from the lobby, we decided to try it. I'm so glad we did! The chef took the time to make everything look and taste delicious. Save room for dessert because they are works of art!

Our visit to Five Sails during weekday afternoon tea at the Pan Pacific hotel was nothing short of delightful.

Food:
The food, elegantly presented on a 3-tier stand, was a feast for the eyes and the palate. From savory scones to delectable salad tarts and rich brioche, each bite was a testament to culinary craftsmanship. The surprise chocolate brownie, complete with a "Happy Birthday" message, added a sweet touch to our celebration.

Ambiance/ service:
Seated by the window, we were treated to breathtaking views of Stanley Park and North Vancouver, enhancing the already pleasant ambiance. Though the service was understandably slower due to limited weekday staff, our server was warm and accommodating throughout.

Parking:
For those driving in, parking at Canada Place is convenient, but a bit pricey. However, the accessibility of the Canada Line or Expo Line provides an excellent alternative to avoid traffic hassles.

Overall, Five Sails offers a memorable dining experience. A definite recommendation for any special occasion.

We came here last year as we were going on a one-way cruise. it was an amazing experience so we had to come again. As we are going on a cruise again, we had the privilege of staying at the Pan Pacific Vancouver hotel, where the Five Sails restaurant is located, and therefore chose to come here again. We are from Las Vegas, Nevada, so we are used to incredibly high-end fine dining, which is very expensive. Five Sails could easily arrival the best restaurants in Las Vegas at a fraction of the price, so this place is a serious gem.
To start with the appetizers, we got the scallops for the appetizer, which was incredibly delicious, with these delicious corn croquettes, as well as melon and fresh scallop. We also ordered the Foie Gras pate/terrine, and I will honestly say that it was just OK. We were a bit let down by this and it was the first dish ever the let us down at this restaurant. We would not order it again. It was also over $30 so for us it wasn't worth it at all. Prior to this, they brought a delicious small loaf of bread like a brioche that was absolutely delicious, as well as an amuse Bouche that was heavenly.
For our main meals, we chose to order the chateaubriand for two people. We did order it medium rare, which was perfect. It comes with the most incredible side of mashed potato, fresh vegetables, and we also ordered some mushrooms with peas as a side dish, which was incredibly delicious. The whole dish was out of this world. The meat actually melted in your mouth. It was divine. We would easily order this dish again. It was not cheap at about $170 for two people, but the quality of the dish explains the reason for this and it was top-notch. Highly recommended.
We were so full by this point, so we ordered one dessert to share. We ordered a soufflé with English cream with orange fusion. It was delicious! It came with the most wonderful ice cream side and it was a superb dessert. We did like the dessert shape like an apple, we had last year, a little better, but this was also very good.
At the very beginning of the meal, I did order a cocktail fall to the mist. It was a gin-based drink and absolutely delicious. I've included pictures of how gorgeous this drink is.
The service at this restaurant continues to be impeccable. I cannot say one bad thing. You ask for something, they are right there with it. It is not cheap, but it is well worth it and for the quality of food received, I believe it's very fair. We would easily come here a third time and a fourth and a fifth, and highly recommend it to anyone that would like to go there. The views from this restaurant are spectacular, and there's a reason it's one of the best in Vancouver.

There are things I absolutely LOVED about this restaurant, and then there are things that caused me to scratch my head and wonder. Overall, I had to give it 5 stars for the view, which is spectacular and the food, which was amazing. Once we sat down, we ordered our cocktails, and it took at least 25 minutes to receive them with only 3 other tables occupied in the restaurant at that time. That set the stage for the service throughout the meal. We had at least 4 different servers, and at one point, our drinks were served to another table. For the caliber of this restaurant, the service was disappointing. However, it did give us more time to enjoy the beautiful views. The other surprising thing is that there were no salads on the menu- a disappoitment. However, their bread service was fresh and warm, served with whipped butter and olive oil. The amousse bouche was a salmon pudding - delicious. Our main courses were the halibut and lobster - out of this world amazing! And the Honey cake had a combination of flavors and textures for the perfect savory and sweet ending to a great meal.

Usually restaurants with fabulous views rely on that one differentiator to carry them. However, five sails really delivers on the quality of the food as well.

What an absolute delight to dine here. The view is gorgeous as we got lucky with the weather. It didn't rain despite the forecast. It turned out clear and sunny. We made reservations weeks in advance as there were 5 of us. Only one bigger table by the window so book early. The other tables by the window were for 2-4 people.

Service was pretty good despite some mishaps ~ dropping of cutlery, mistakes in the bill. The staff were very genuine and affable.

I love how the menu is so different from the typical chain restaurants. Using local produce and protein, you get to try what the province offers.

We got started with the complimentary amuse bouche. It was an egg custard with fried onions and ikura, essentially a chawanmushi. Unexpected but good.

The bread was warm, fluffy and soft. The butter was whipped to an airy light texture and it went so well with the bread that I had 3 pieces in the end. The entire basket! The staff kept bringing us the bread without us asking. Maybe also because it did take a while for our entrees to be served.

The presentation for everything was carefully thought of. They paid attention to details. So you also got to eat with your eyes.

My friend had the brown cow and it was the prettiest brown cow I ever seen. Served in a crystal cut glass, the cocktail had a slice of dried orange on it. My iced tea was house-made using Earl grey tea and lemon. Very refreshing.

All of us enjoyed our mains.
- Haida Gwaii halibut (it was served with herb tea beurre fondue, custardy foam and roasted mushrooms)

- Peace River Lamb (served with roasted sweetbread and lamb sausage tartlet, sweet peas and lemon mint)

- Fraser Valley Duck (served with foie gras and confit, asparagus, Parisienne gnocchi, orange and Madeira jus)

The duck was delicious! It didn't look like a huge portion but I was full about 3/4 through and had to struggle to finish the last 2-3 slices of duck. The foie gras was Yums!

We also shared scallops which was cooked perfect. It was sweet and tender.

The desserts were not the usual chocolate layer or lava cake, cheesecake, carrot cake or apple pie etc.

The desserts were an art. Beautifully presented. If you like to post to the gram, get the Apple. It was Instagram friendly. Get ready to do a video. Sadly I didn't realize it was something unexpected.

The Apple was in a glass lid filled with smoke, so you would see the smoke escaping once the lid was taken off. Quite cool. The dessert was in the shape of an apple too.

We also had Honey (recipe from the pastry chef's Ukrainian grandma) which looked amazing. Raspberry vanilla tart was a seasonal (Spring) item. The Grand Marnier soufflé required 35-40 mins prep, so order early.

I was too stuffed and so had the trio of ice cream and sorbet. Again, not the typical flavors of vanilla, strawberry and chocolate. I had the brown butter and chocolate ice cream with a tropical sorbet. That was so refreshing with a mixture of fruits (coconut, banana, mango and Passionfruit).

Then we were surprised with a sweet ending from the restaurant. We were given mignardise of chocolate truffle and a citrus jelly.

This is a place I'll want to come back again. They also have afternoon tea on weekends. Reservations highly recommended.

Great views, amazing service, and delicious food! We booked a private room for a celebration and it was just perfect. Service was impeccable. The service here tops any other high end restaurant.

It's located inside the convention center - all the way to the top of the building.