“We wanted to create something special and timeless,” says the owners of this exciting new concept.
Can a cocktail bar with food and live music shake Vancouver's reputation for being “uninteresting” and give the city's grown-ups a place to hang out?
The owners of an exciting new concept in the renowned nightlife space predict Prophecy will do just that.
For decades, fun-seekers have ducked beneath the Rosewood Hotel Georgia for booze and a lively night out, but in recent years the space has remained dark. In the latest version, the venue was prohibition. It's a classy Art Deco escape that aims to evoke a scandalous era when booze was a crowd pleaser.
“We realized there was a gap in the market.”
The pandemic ended the era of Prohibition, and after the bar venue got off to a false start under new ownership, the team at Vancouver's At Home Hospitality (Justin Mensah-Coker, Teddy Wilkie and Mike Rose) took over. Ta. This is the owner of Yaletown's cherished hangout, the Banter Room, and the crew that runs the Hotel Belmont's Living Room. They know a thing or two about creating a space for having fun.
When the space became available, At Home Hospitality “jumped at the opportunity” to create the concept, Mensah-Coker told VIA during a pre-opening walk-through of Prophecy.
“We realized there was a gap in the market,” he explains. “We wanted to create something special and timeless that not only fits the hotel's aesthetic, but also provides elements of entertainment and culture.”
Interior design that combines vintage and modern
Mensah Coker explained that Prophecy has been in the works for about a year, and how the team worked with a branding agency in New York to leverage their vision and come up with a mood board for the venue. . He then commissioned Vancouver's prominent design studio, Ste Marie, to design an interior that seamlessly weaves nostalgia and modernity.
Case in point: the furniture's textiles have a vintage feel yet contemporary shapes, and the walls are flanked by screens displaying striking photographs and modern art. Prophecy collaborated with Apollo on the artwork and also helped curate a library of images for a changeable, framed digital display. It's so vivid and well executed that you can't believe you're actually in that world. A gallery looking at prints.
The goal of the design was to offer “something completely different than anything Vancouver has seen before,” explains Mensah Coker.
That purpose is also reflected in Prophecy's overall philosophy, which is the power of space to bring people together, which Mensah-Coker says is a nod to more than 40 years ago, when the city was brimming with live music and nightlife. It was said to be a symbol of Vancouver.
Prophecy focuses on the middle ground between dining out and nightclubs
Prophecy staff tracked how people in Vancouver tend to split between two types of outing options: restaurants and nightclubs. The latter in particular may not be a place everyone wants to hang out, especially for those looking for something a little more sophisticated. Specifically, the sophistication of cocktails, food, live music, and more.
Prophecy's bar program is curated by award-winning, Michelin Guide-recognized Vancouver bartender Jeff Savage (Botanist Bar), with the venue secured by bar manager Nicole Court (Annalena, Featured) Masu. Frankly, the cocktail menu is a little nerdy and a little quirky, but it's indicative of what Prophecy is all about: storytelling.
Every drink has a story
The bar has a “cocktail book” divided into sections by style of drink (i.e. “Short Stories” for short and fast quaffs), and each item has a flavor category (spiritual, refreshing, herbal, or The drink menu reflects novels like The Outsider and Snow on the Cedar, or traditional Japanese tea ceremonies and other moments for English majors and history buffs. It's a very relaxing place.
Ultimately, the idea was to focus not only on the blend of spirits and flavors within the drink, but also on the storytelling element behind each recipe. And if every drink tells a story, those enjoying the drink (drinking or not) will share stories in conversation while sipping, or enjoy a night at Prophecy. You will have the opportunity to share stories to tell after your time.
Mensah Coker explains that the team sources glassware from all over the world and that part of the drinks presentation will be very exciting for guests.
Food menu includes share plates and hearty mains
In conjunction with the cocktail program, Prophecy is working with the hotel to execute the menu. Mensah-Coker describes the menu as “internationally influenced light bites and shareables.”
“We really want part of the energy and atmosphere to be community,” he added, emphasizing that Prophecy's food menu is rooted in “family-style” dining. Heartier main course dishes will also be available, he notes, making it easy for Prophecy to satisfy guests' desire for a hearty burger or steak dinner.
Although Prophecy is located underground, the At Home Hospitality team didn't want the venue to feel hidden away. They don't lean into the space's old identity or smuggling motifs.
“We want to be noticed,” Mensah-Coker says. “Come, sit down, enjoy a meal or cocktail and enjoy the vibrant environment.”
Live music and DJs set the mood at Prophecy
There will be live music to enliven the warm room (which still has a long central bar, a seating area on a raised platform, and a bookable back area with pocket doors). Weekdays are full of upbeat jazz, but on the weekends, live DJs pump up the beats into the night, bringing a moody nightlife energy to his Prophecy, with an emphasis on genres like afro, jungle, and house. Masu.
At Homes Hospitality's philosophy is to provide “unpretentious hospitality.” As Mensah Coker explains, that means the venue is an upscale cocktail bar, yet intimate, a place where Vancouverites and visitors can move around and feel welcome. .
Therefore, there is no strict dress code. However, Prophecy recommends leaving things like flip-flops, gym equipment, and sports jerseys at home. Instead, take advantage of the concept of hitting the town and dressing your best.
If you don't want to maintain club time, don't worry. Prophecy will offer cocktail service (with happy hour menu) from 4pm to 6pm daily before transitioning into the evening. Business hours are until midnight Monday through Wednesday, 1 a.m. Thursday, 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12:30 a.m. Sunday.
Mensah-Coker and the At Home Hospitality team are excited to open after months of work bringing their “passion project” to life.
Prophecy will be available to the public on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Reservations are now available on the Prophecy website.
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