Salt is a tasting room specializing in artisanal cheese, small-batch cured meats, and a dynamic array of wines, beers and sherries. Guests assemble a Tasting Plate from our chalkboard's selection of 10 cheeses, 10 meats, and 10 condiments. The wine list is dynamic and constantly evolving. Global in nature, one can always expect a sampling of vinous delights from our own backyard, or your favourite wine regions the world-over. The selections change constantly, making it almost impossible to have the same Salt experience twice.
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Nestled in Gastown’s historic Blood Alley, Salt Tasting Room’s unique approach to wine, cheese and charcuterie makes the narrow, brick-walled bar a destination for anyone looking for a fashionable night out — with an interactive twist.
“Here, people can ask questions and learn about our wines without feeling intimidated,” says owner Sean Heather, who opened Salt in 2006 in response to what he observed as a lack of approachable wine bars in Vancouver.
At Salt, everyone is welcome — from wine and food aficionados to beginner sippers and every day diners. Seated at a long communal table, patrons design their own sharing plates from a chalkboard menu of meats, cheeses and condiments. Next, knowledgeable servers arrange a trio of wines — called a “flight” — to match. Unless you would like to choose your own, of course.
Tailored to customers’ personal tastes, flights of local and imported wines arrive with “cheat-sheets” detailing the names and origins of each. “When you don’t understand the wine you’re drinking, you’re not really having fun,” says Sean, who hopes these cheat-sheets help customers navigate future trips to the liquor store, too.
You have to remember when going here that this is a wine tasting room, not a place to have dinner. The wine list is imaginative and approachable. The service on a good night is excellent, on a bad night is so-so, but the staff have always been very helpful with the wine choices, pairings, and flight recommendations. The food is charcuterie, not full meals. Use this place to meet up for a pre-dinner drink, or to end off the night with some wine appreciation.
OK, so it could use a bit more ambiance, but who cares. It's never been touted as a "restaurant". It's a wine and cheese bar, that's it. If you want to go to a neat place to have a dring before dinner, or a late night snack, it's perfect. As for the fact that it's in an alley.... whatever! If that's really so intimidating for you, perhaps you should stay home and have a latte in your safe livingroom... ;)
