There aren’t many locations in Vancouver the place you may hang around with an natural cold-pressed juice within the morning, a cocktail within the night, and a meal at any second that may appease any urge for food or dietary want. The truth is, there’s just one place — and it’s Kevin & Kevin.
So once I discovered I’d be not solely be visiting the stylish bar, however would additionally see its transformation into a trendy cocktail lounge in real-time, you could possibly say I used to be fairly excited.
Strolling as much as Kevin & Kevin on a sunny Friday afternoon, I used to be immediately drenched in mild and the all-encompassing aesthetic particulars. The inside is so stylish and cute, you virtually suppose to your self “is that this for actual”?
Kevin Frank, proprietor and founding father of Kevin & Kevin, introduced the dynamic house to life from the inspiration he gathered whereas travelling by Scandinavia. He aimed to create an area reflective of the atmospheric, loungey espresso retailers and health-focused cafes he visited in Iceland and Norway. Kevin needed to create a one-stop-shop, a spot the place one can have a juice and get work completed and meet mates on a Friday night time, have drinks, and indulge within the joys of being social.
“I form of thought that there was one thing lacking in Vancouver, and even in Canada,” says Kevin. “You’ve obtained loads of cocktail bars the place it’s form of loungey, however nothing on the more healthy aspect. So I believed, let’s carry this sort of idea right here, tweak it somewhat bit, and have a juice bar with a wholesome menu.”
This idea is one which Kevin says is standard in Europe in addition to Australia. “They’ve juice bars and cocktail lounges at night time, which I believed was actually cool, as a result of it’s form of all a few steadiness, proper?” When steadiness seems to be and tastes like this, we fully agree.
The setting is playful to the following diploma, with suspended cocoon swings and picket ring chairs making the house really feel like a classy jungle health club for adults. Vibrant particulars fill every nook of the house, from the eating room to the communal high-tops to the lounge boasting purple cubicles with marble tabletops.
The inside was curated by Kevin and options many items by native designers, such because the assertion mild fixture within the lounge space. Once you go to subsequent, ask your self for those who see a cluster of rainclouds or jellyfish. I used to be incorrect in my guess, however it’s a shocking chandelier nonetheless.
It’s a troublesome steadiness to be a spot that’s equally as becoming to come back to for a wholesome brunch whereas learning or late-night drinks with mates (did we point out there’s a dwell DJ?) — however Kevin & Kevin nails that concord.
The restaurant affords a wide selection of natural, cold-pressed juices from the Inexperienced AF to the Primary B*tch, which style as contemporary as they’re shiny. “You’d be shocked how many individuals purchase juice at 10 pm earlier than they go residence. They’ll have one earlier than they go away, they usually’ll have one within the morning,” says Kevin.
Because the solar units and the room takes on a purple, the music goes up, candles are lit, and also you’re in the very same spot yet one more realm. Someway, the playful green-scaped lounge has grow to be much more stylish.
For meals, Kevin & Kevin lacks no selection. It doesn’t matter what your dietary restrictions are, not solely is there one thing for you however there are alternatives.
From a weekend brunch menu so famed that it virtually all the time requires a reservation, to dinner mains and share plates that includes Vancouver favourites like tuna-tataki, a prosciutto flatbread, and vegan nachos, the kitchen affords quite a lot of crowd-pleasers.
Kevin even claims that some say the double cheeseburger is one of the best they’ve ever had. So naturally, as somebody who loves something between a bun and has had many burgers, I needed to attempt it. It didn’t disappoint within the slightest, and I really want that no matter was in that Okay&Okay Secret Home Sauce was not a secret.
“You include a bunch of individuals — not everyone’s vegan, not everyone’s vegetarian, and a few like their meat dishes,” says Kevin. “So we actually fastidiously selected quite a lot of every class to supply to everyone.”
Shocker, the total drink checklist is just not sparse, both. Kevin & Kevin affords quite a lot of home cocktails, that includes an extended checklist of classics and in-house creations. Kevin additionally vouches for his or her espresso martini to be one of the best within the metropolis, as a ton of analysis went into making the favored favorite a top-tier drink on the restaurant.
Kevin & Kevin’s huge signature cocktail menu has been curated by Adam Domet — an award-winning mixologist and bartender at Pourhouse Restaurant.
Most uniquely, nevertheless, is the lounge’s “Get Juiced” checklist — that includes upscale combined drinks complemented by a beneficiant splash of house-made, natural pressed juice.
“I don’t know of anyone who does that,” says Kevin. “For me, if I’m gonna have a cocktail and I do know there’s an natural, cold-pressed juice as the inspiration? I’ll take that.” Similar right here, Kevin — and I personally advocate the Strathcona Dawn.
And you’ll anticipate extra thrilling ventures from the Kevin & Kevin model this 12 months. The Jungle Room — a high-end cocktail lounge idea that may supply related wholesome choices in the course of the day and an elevated cocktail lounge within the night — is about to open within the West Finish later this 12 months. Kev’s Juice, a direct-to-consumer juice line providing supply and subscription providers to contemporary juices and plant-based-milks, can also be within the works.
Because the night time carries on, mates meet mates and the music and laughter get louder. The house fills, and it’s obvious — for a lot of causes — why Kevin & Kevin is a frequented vacation spot.
To be taught extra, take a look at the menu, or make reservations, go to kevinandkevinjuice.com.
Kevin & Kevin
Tackle: 488 Gore Ave, Vancouver
Hours:
- Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 10 am to 4 pm
- Thursday: 10 am to 9 pm
- Friday and Saturday: 10 am to 12 am