I want to give this wine bar a 4 or 5 star rating I really do....  And maybe someday I can come back and change the rating.  But like others here, while I love the concept and so close in Vancouver, the owner is super stilted and unfriendly.  I have gone back multiple times with  friends and never once have they  recognized that we return  on a semi regular basis.  We keep hoping things will change with  the brusque owner  so we can  enjoy a cozy wine bar in our neighborhood . The owner seems annoyed anytime you act interested in the  wine or ask questions. Maybe she needs to hire someone else to run the business that actually likes to talk about wine with customers who are at a WINE BAR....
Review Source:I've lived in downtown Vancouver for about two years now and am constantly on the look out for cozy little neighborhood hangouts, such as Niche. My fiancee and I enjoy this place as a relaxing impromptu date night or a stop over on our way to dinner. Â I really like the 1/2 glass option for $4 as it allows you to taste a few, or if you're only in the mood for a little bit of wine. We usually get a cheese plate; the extra creamy Delice is my favorite. Â It seems a lot of people are unhappy with the service, but I've always found them to be accomodating, or they just leave us alone, which is kind of why we go there.
Review Source:I've been to Niche about five to six times...I'm desperately trying to find a local wine bar that my wife and I can hang out at on a regular basis. The pros: Wine by the bottle (love that they have Spanish, French and South American varietals),the tarts and summer salads are refreshing on summer nights. The cons: it's a huge one and I hate to be so blunt...the Service. I have never felt welcomed at Niche...I've been in by myself and I've been in with my wife and I feel like an outsider. I consider myself a serious wine drinker (a true oenophile) and on one occasion I tried to strike up a conversation with a lady about Rhone wines...I got a lecture. No thank you-I've been to too many wine regions around the world where the conversation is genuine and the owner smiles at ALL guests. It's to bad because this wine bar is located in a perfect location and they serve some nice wines (at times). We will never be back...six times is enough.
Review Source:This is a very small cozy wine bar with a neat black raven/bird decorative theme. Â The have a great selection of wines by the half glass and glass. They have a fairly limited selection of beer. Â They offer small bites and tarts to snack on. Â There is ample seating at the bar, but limited away from the bar. Â
We sat at the bar and received a brusque welcome and a strained smile. Â Not feeling particularly welcome, we soldiered on and ordered the rioja, an amber ale, some bread and oil. Â The service was fast, but distracted and not exactly pleasant. Â Sitting at the bar, we had a direct view of the dish washing area, scrubbers and tupperware. Â All of their prep and cooking happens behind the bar, but is a fairly unattractive set-up. Â Being that most of the customers face that area, it might benefit from a bit of an overhaul. Â
The wine was delicious, but the unwelcoming staff and bar seating view kind of dampened my enthusiasm for this wine bar.
I have read the other reviews and wonder why my experience has been so different. Â I have been to Niche 3 times now and each time, I have enjoyed the wine but the service is questionable. Â
This past visit, I had family in town and really wanted them to enjoy a wine bar that is a bit like some we have visited together in New York. Â We got there late - about 20 minutes before closing. Â We were greeted with a firm, "we are closing and you cannot order anything from the kitchen. Â We can pour a 1/2 glass of wine." Â I enthusiastically said we were there to share Niche with some out of town family and would love to just have a glass and be on our way. Â The person looked at us and I asked if we could just quickly see the menu. Â She pushed them over to us and walked away. Â
Really, I wouldn't think twice about this because we did get there close to closing time, but this is the 3rd time I have been greeted there in this way. Â I will continue to give this place a chance because it is local, and hey, it's a wine bar and I love my wine! Â
It is my hope that the service becomes warmer, and that my choice to support Niche is considered worth accommodating with a smile and a "welcoming" attitude.
My mother in law introduced me to this place a few months ago. She enjoys their sparkling wine menu, most of which they serve by the glass, which is unusual. We both had a glass of sparkling wine, and we shared a cup of Marcona almonds, and some bread with olive oil. Everything was good, including the service.
In all honesty, Niche was just a bit too serious for my tastes. It the perfect spot for an intimate evening, maybe a first date. I suppose I just prefer a place that rocks a little harder. Don't let my rock and roll lifestyle detour you from trying this place though, it may just be your new favorite wine bar.
This is a great little wine bar, one that helps downtown Vancouver keep getting more and more appealing. Â They have a nice, though not super extensive, list of wines, and the people there are very knowledgeable and helpful. Â If you're not sure what you like in a wine, they're great at guiding you toward ones you might enjoy. Â And if you don't like wine at all, they do also offer beer, sodas, coffee, and tea (although wine is, obviously, the main focus and has the biggest selection).
The atmosphere is cozy, and you can sit at the bar, a table, or on couches and stuffed chairs. Â It's a great place for a casual get together with friends or a night out. Â Also, they have GREAT food! Â The bread with truffle butter is delicious, the olives are perfectly spiced, there is a wonderful selection of cheese, and the tarts of the day (thin crust topped with cheese and various veggies/meats) are always superb - I've eaten that for dinner more than once! Â I'd highly recommend that others do the same.
If Vancouver took the time to count its blessings, Niche would be at the top of the list.
Great wine selection, a small, but interesting beer selection, wonderful ambiance, tasty food, live music, art...what else do you want?
If you are intimidated by wine, don't be. Just let the experts here set you up with a well-matched pairing of wine and cheese or meats and you won't be disappointed.
I'm going to miss it when I leave!
Saturday evening last, the place was packed. Great selection of wines, and an interesting selection of beers. Four of us sat at an elevated table in the corner of a 1936 building that featured original, rough hewn floors, naked walls, and superior ambiance. Located adjacent to an art gallery, and next door to the beautifully restored Kiggins Theatre, Niche is a very comfortable venue. Live music was a real plus. Food was yummy, and prepared especially for each guest. Niche is not, by any means, inexpensive, but it does offer a high-quality experience. Service was friendly and accommodating. Highly recommended!
Review Source:This quaint little place has the true vibe of the Pacific NW. It has nice decor and a cozy atmosphere. It's adjacent to an art gallery so you can have your wine and browse the art. It's location in downtown Vancouver is very near other art galleries and cool shops.
We had the classic tart, which is like a pizza with extremely thin crust. They make it right in front of you and put it in the over sized toaster oven which I thought was ultra cool. The tart was very good. It was full of flavor which I didn't expect.
I had the blush my husband had a Riesling. They were both awesome. I would have had more, glad I didn't because I thought we were getting the $4 glasses but our ticket showed $8 glasses. Hmmmm.
I'll check out their special events when they have them.
Great wines. Â I'm a rank amateur, but they've got it in spades. Â I had a wonderful red with complex flavors from Argentina, and a few others. Â Proscuitto is great. Â So is the sopressatta. Â They have great cheeses.
ALL the beers they serve are real. Â No children's beers in this place. Â The lightest thing was an IPA.
All in all, a great place to get started on an evening out.
Atmosphere is cool. Â More like a wine store, (which it is) than a bar.
it is NOT a cheap place to eat and drink however. Â 1 person, 3 glasses of wine, and one beer, and one appetizer plate with an extra side of hazelnuts. Â $53.
I would/will go back.
I'm glad that this place is in Vancouver! This classy little wine bar has a great selection of wine and nibbles. They offer daily specials and  unique seasonal selections of food and drinks. The staff is warm and friendly. The tarts are ridiculously yummy! It can be a little pricey and get a little crowded sometimes but its definitely worth it. Check them out!
Review Source:Niche is the perfect spot to go for a special date or outing with friends without going broke. Â The decor is clever, artsy and comfortable all at once. Â We like that wine is offered by the half glass allowing for more sampling. Â The food was spectacular, we sampled a cheese and tried the wild mushroom tart and cheesecake shooters, all were terrific, the tart was extraordinary. Â You can trust the friendly staff's recommendations. Â We will definitely be returning.
Review Source:Hello Yelpland,
This is your Duchess (of Niche)....I would like to invite you to my favorite little haunt in Vancouver. Awesome snacks, great  prosecco and fun ladies to help you select a new favorite wine. So come on down but save me a seat because once word gets out this place will be hard to get into.
The original tart is a MUST! Gruyere cheese bubbling on top of smoked prosciutto YUM. You will love it!!! Good cheeses and salumi also.
See you there!
Great place to unwind with a nice glass of wine. Â The prices are great and the selection is even better. Â Not to many local wines but the regions this wines are bottled from show in taste, smell, and color. Â A great place to sit down and enjoy a glass or bottle with a side of bread and cheese platter. Â Best note about this place is each wine is great alone without the help of food but the apps complement and not over power. Â Great place to stop by.
Review Source:Good wines at fantastic prices in downtown Vancouver! Â Most bottles, yes bottles, are only $16 with a small $5 corkage fee if you decide to stay and enjoy. Â Otherwise you can take with and enjoy elsewhere. Â The atmosphere is not typical Vancouver which is a nice surprise. Â Vancouver has been in serious need for a place exactly like this.
I recommend a bottle of Malbec and the Classic Tarte (it's more like a pizza) with a side of olives. Â They also serve a variety of great cheeses from around the world among a handful of other salads and tapas. Â
Definitely worth the stop if you're looking for a hip-ish place to relax in Vancouver and enjoy some vino and fantastic food.
Welcome to the new Vancouver. Wine bars, art galleries, convenience stores stocked with locally produced/grown food...and Niche is leading the way as one of the vanguards of this movement.
Great food, a small, well-considered wine selection and numerous pours by the glass. The shop is operated by Leah (gallery owner & cycling aficionado ) & Lynn (wine maven) and the two ladies are very fine hosts who eagerly share their respective passions and expertise.
You'll be hard pressed to find a better place to entertain company and clients or unwind after a long day. Head on down to Uptown and have a sip or three at Niche!
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