If Middle Eastern food is your favourite cuisine, we’ve got an exciting opening to share with you. Beloved Toronto restaurant and bar The Haifa Room is coming to the West Coast with a brand new dining concept called Haifa Bar, and it’s launching in Vancouver this month. On the menu? Everything from their signature Fennel and Apricot Labneh to their fresh-made hummus.
“Spirit of co-existence”
The eatery is named for the port city of Haifa, which has been home to Arabs and Jews living and working alongside each other for centuries.
The founders of The Haifa Room happen to be close friends from both Palestinian-Muslim and Israeli-Jewish backgrounds.
In June of 2021, Waseem Dabdoub, Fadi Hakim, Yossi Misrahi Eastwood, Daniel Suss, and Mark Kupfert came together to open their Toronto take-away window in an effort to celebrate co-existence through delicious food.
It wasn’t long before the falafel and sabitch pita sandwich spot turned into an acclaimed eatery with new signature dishes.
“We had many conversations about the food, about whose parents’ falafel or hummus is best,” says co-founder Hakim, whose father was born in Haifa. Kupfert agreed: “We must have tried dozens of family recipes, from Yossi’s Safta’s Zhug to Waseem’s father’s Knafeh.”
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According to the restaurant, the Vancouver eatery will feature an expanded menu showcasing local BC ingredients and their beloved family recipes. As well, guests can expect elevated service and an extensive wine and cocktail list.
For those looking to grab a quick bite, Haifa Bar will include a take-out-only menu filled with street-food delights.
Originally scheduled to open in July, Haifa Bar encountered construction delays that placed its opening in the midst of the tragic conflict in Gaza.
“At first, words failed us. We’re devastated. We all have family members living in Palestine and Israel,” said Hakim. “As we grapple with the situation, we grieve for all the civilians, our helplessness. For now, our focus is connecting people through shared experience and finding a commonality between people through food.”
Location & info
Situated on the ground floor of the Deloitte Summit building, Bar Haifa will contain 55 indoor seats, including a cocktail bar, a chef’s table, banquette seating, an open kitchen, and a spacious outdoor patio that will double its seating during the summer months.
Bar Haifa will officially open its doors in downtown Vancouver on Friday, November 24th, and will be open from 11 am to 10 pm from Monday to Thursday, and until 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bar Haifa
When: Opening Friday, November 24th
Where: 410 West Georgia Street
