1 of 4 2 of 4 A friend texted me recently, asking if I’d been to Meo. The new cocktail and snack spot in Chinatown was opened by powerhouse trio of Tannis Ling, Joël Watanabe, and Alain Chow (responsible for the impeccable vibes at Bao Bei and Kissa Tanto). “Seriously,” my friend wrote, “sexiest room in the city right now.
” Say no more! With that stamp of approval, we planned to meet there a few weeks later. Drawing initial inspiration from an image taken by celebrated local photographer Greg Girard (as Ling told us in this interview), the vision of Meo morphed into an ode to 1970s love motels—all soft pinks and light reds and dim lights and plush fabrics. The vibe is indeed sexy, but not in an over-the-top opulent kind of way.
It’s understated yet immersive—truly unlike any other room in Vancouver, with a playful food and drink menu to match. Charles Nasby The Turkish Spagliato offers a rose-water twist on an Instagram favourite, while the Meo Fashioned gives a classic cocktail a decadent spin with a wash of duck fat. To pair with these drinks, the absolute must-order—a dish that my friend insisted we get, because she’d had it before and needed me to experience it—is the Croquettas.
Ian Lanterman Taking its nods from Caesar salad, it has a roast chicken filling that is wrapped in breading and lightly deep-fried, then covered with Parmesan and served on a piece of crunchy romaine with a lemon wedge for squeezing on top. A drizzle of chile de arbol sals.