The Moon

Neighbourhood: Gastown
Address: 59 Powell St, Vancouver, BC

“The moon is a universal symbol of wonder. It belongs to everyone, and it changes night after night.”

For The Moon Martini Bar & Restaurant, this sentiment extends throughout every facet of the concept. Conceived as a place to land, The Moon welcomes guests into two distinct experiences, with two rooms each expressing their own unique character beneath the same roof.

Moon Bar serves as an entry point, a contemporary reiteration of the classic martini bar and a destination in its own right. Having placed as a top-four finalist in World Class Canada and developed the phenomenal bar programs at Ellipsis, The Westin Bayshore, and Sula, Bar Manager Zoe Bates now brings her passion for hospitality and dedication to her craft to Moon Bar. The menu is dedicated to classics executed with precision and care, alongside unexpected variations that will rotate regularly. Signature cocktails and spirit-free options round out the program, along with a thoughtful selection of wines centred around organic producers dedicated to a deliberate approach to their craft. A diverse selection of sakes and a tea list curated in partnership with O5 Tea broaden the offerings.

In celebration of the opening, The Moon has collaborated with BC producer Ursa Major Winery to develop Good Job, a 50-50 Muscat and Chardonnay blend made exclusively for the restaurant. Produced from a single barrel, the wine reflects a shared approach to unorthodox thinking and meticulous execution.

“We named it Good Job as a nod to striving, momentum, and achievement, and to celebrate the 18-month journey of bringing The Moon to life,” says co-owner Wyatt Rybchinsky.

Although the bar and kitchen occupy different spaces, the beverage and culinary programs remain in constant conversation. Seasonal ingredients are shared between the two, and the kitchen’s focus on fermentation and preservation also informs the approach to drinks.

While there remains a tangible flow between the spaces, the dining room offers a distinctly different atmosphere. The intimate, 27-seat space encircles a central open kitchen, placing the preparation and presentation of each dish at the heart of the experience. An 11-seat chef’s counter offers an even closer view of the action, with diners seated directly opposite the kitchen line.

At the centre of the culinary program is Head Chef Felix Maristany, whose globally informed approach draws on his Cuban-American upbringing in Miami, as well as memories of the places he has lived, travelled, and cooked throughout his career. His experience spans from renowned Spanish kitchens to some of Vancouver’s most acclaimed restaurants, including Cioppino’s and Kissa Tanto. His menus resist the boundaries of a single cuisine, instead finding inspiration in lived history and nostalgia. At The Moon, Chef Maristany has tapped into his expansive range of experience to create menu designed to evolve with the seasons, using fermentation and preservation techniques to capture ingredients at their peak and carry their character forward throughout the year.

Guests can explore the à la carte menu dish by dish, or leave the evening in Maristany’s expert hands with a tasting menu. The format offers flexibility while keeping the kitchen central to the experience, whether diners arrive with a particular appetite or a willingness to see where the meal leads them.

Designed by Item Design Studio in collaboration with Coquille Creative Inc., the interior spaces establish a shared aesthetic language while allowing each room to express its own identity. In the dining room, natural materials, textured finishes, and directed lighting create a serene backdrop that places emphasis on the food and service. The central open kitchen further reinforces that focal point, bringing the craft of cooking into the room and allowing its gravity to set the tone.

Moon Bar, by contrast, takes on a richer, more intimate character. Antiqued brass, hammered iron, walnut, and teal soapstone lend warmth and depth to the space, while low banquette seating encourages conversation.

Residents of Gastown themselves, co-owners Sonia Symoom and Wyatt Rybchinsky were committed to bringing their vision to life in the neighbourhood they live and breathe every day. Having resided in the area for years before securing the space, the pair developed the idea to create somewhere that gives first-time visitors a reason to become regulars.

With its combination of a chef-led dining room, a martini-focused bar, and a beverage program that extends into wine, sake, and tea, The Moon is designed to accommodate different ways of spending an evening. Its two rooms offer distinct experiences, but the underlying intention remains the same: a neighbourhood gathering place shaped by hospitality, thoughtful execution, and the pleasure of discovering something new.

The Moon Martini Bar & Restaurant opens October 23 at 59 Powell Street in Gastown. Service will run from Thursday to Sunday, 5pm to late. The Moon will be accepting reservations, and welcomes walk-ins as well.

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