Best Bite: Hidden wine bar brings touch of France to North Vancouver

Wine flights, vintage motorcycles and a great view of the waterfront add to the cool vibe inside North Vancouver's Le Café Brocante A couple of vintage motorcycles plus a great view of the waterfront add to the Instagram-worthy feel of North Vancouver's Le Café Brocante. | Bianca Bujan 1 / 1 A couple of vintage motorcycles plus a great view of the waterfront add to the Instagram-worthy feel of North Vancouver's Le Café Brocante. | Bianca Bujan Advertisement It takes us a minute to spot the sandwich board out front – we're distracted by the row of buzzing patios that line Esplanade Avenue near the North Vancouver waterfront. We climb a narrow staircase and it feels like we're entering some sort of speakeasy. When we reach the top, we gasp in unison. 'Isn't this place so cute?' a woman asks us, recognizing our surprise. Like us, she's enjoying a girls night out with friends, and they too have just discovered this spot. I'm here with two friends at Le Café Brocante, a hidden wine bar one of us had spotted on Instagram. We're told to grab a seat, browse the menu and order at the counter – it's pay-as-you-go here. The light-filled loft has high ceilings and a wall of windows showcasing stunning views of the Vancouver skyline directly across the water. Inside, the walls are covered in retro décor, two vintage motorcycles sit on display and giant wine barrels are stacked at the back. A bouquet of empty wine bottles sits propped in the centre of the room, adding to the charm. Located in North Vancouver's Brewery District, on the second floor above La Cervecería Astilleros, Le Café Brocante has transformed the former Garden of Granite Winery space into a Provençal-inspired wine lounge. Garden of Granite was known for its small-batch B.C. wines, and that winemaking story continues here: Le Café Brocante operates as a boutique winery and wine bar, with its wines still sold under the Garden of Granite label. The business is part of the Lone Tree Cellars family, which also includes the brewery downstairs. The menu leans into French-inspired, wine-friendly fare: cheeses, charcuterie, baguettes, sausages and flatbreads designed more for grazing than a traditional sit-down meal. For drinks, I opt for the mix-and-match wine flight, featuring three pours, three ounces each. The Pinot Gris, rosé and Cabernet Sauvignon make the perfect tasting trio. Because I'm all about the bites, my friends and I share a selection of snacks, including Fromage, a pair of cheeses with fig jam, dried fruit and crispy baguette; Baguette et Beurre, sliced bread with a flight of creamy butters, including garlic and Herbes de Provence; and the 'Garage' Charcuterie, with prosciutto, olives and a shower of Grana Padano piled over a bed of salty potato chips. Hungry, we also share the Sucre, Sale flatbread, topped with red sauce, a trio of salami, mozzarella, banana peppers and hot honey. After some snacks, I try the Brocante Spritz – because hey, I'm not driving and it's Saturday night. This refreshing blend of St-Germain, Lillet, Herbes de Provence, pink peppercorn and sparkling brut is a lovely way to cap off the evening. By the time we leave, the room is packed. Funky music fills the air, with groups of friends and couples chatting, sipping wine and enjoying the city views. On our way out, I notice a fridge stocked with wine available to take home. Noted for next time. Best Bite: The 'Garage' Charcuterie was the perfect pairing with my flight of wine, crunchy, salty, and just sophisticated enough. So nice, I ordered it twice. Bianca Bujan is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in National Geographic and Food & Wine. She is a Lonely Planet guidebook author and cookbook contributor. As the food columnist for North Shore News, she writes about local food and the stories behind it. Contact: [email protected]