We already knew it, but now so does the rest of the world. In a first for Vancouver and for Canada, Botanist Bar at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel has won the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award, given by North America’s 50 Best Bars.

This prestigious award recognizes the single-best hospitality experience across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

It was voted on by 260 members of the North America’s 50 Best Bars Academy, which comprises bartenders, bar owners, drinks media and well-traveled cocktail connoisseurs. They recognized Botanist—which also recently earned the MICHELIN “Remarkable Cocktail Award”—as having forged “a culture of exceptional hospitality that sets it apart.”

“Winning the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award is a distinct and completely humbling honour,” says Botanist head bartender Jeff Savage, who leads the bar under the guidance of creative beverage director Grant Sceney. “We have cheered from afar watching bars we deeply admire receive this accolade, and to be a part of the conversation alongside them is a gift. Hospitality is truly the most important aspect of what we do at Botanist. It’s ingrained in every decision we make. It’s truly a gift to be recognized as a leading bar in Canada, and to win an award for something so important to us is an experience beyond words.”

This is the first in a series of special pre-announced awards in the month leading up to the second annual announcement of North America’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier. (North America’s 50 Best Bars is part of 50 Best, which also oversees The World’s 50 Best Bars, Asia’s 50 Best Bars, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and The World’s 50 Best Hotels.)

Currently, eight Canadian bars sit on the inaugural 2022 list, including Vancouver’s Keefer Bar.

North America’s 50 Best Bars 2023 will be announced at a live awards ceremony taking place at Hacienda Los Picachos in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 6:30 pm Pacific Time. Follow along at facebook.com/50BestBars/ and the 50 Best Bars TV channel on YouTube.

—by Joanne Sasvari