Housed inside the basement of the Rosewood Hotel Georgia in a space thought to have had the first licence in Vancouver post-Prohibition in 1927, Prophecy is a downtown bar that celebrates its colourful past while championing contemporary cocktail making.

Inspired by timelessness and texture, the space has been beautifully restored with diffused lighting, angled mirror, illuminated quartz, marble tables and different styles of seating areas to offer guests a relaxed but opulent experience within its hallowed walls. A digital art display only adds the theatre, as does a live band.

The bar’s core aim is to offer a thoughtful and safe third space for its local community and visiting guests, that takes them out of their current situation and provides an opportunity for rejuvenation and retrospection.

The cocktail programme is led by Jeff Savage and is centred around the idea of “The Shared Story” – the connective narrative that binds humans together in their common experiences. Inspired by artists, poets, writers, musicians and communities, the cocktail menu is focused on storytelling and each cocktail is themed beautifully and thoughtfully, using intriguing and often challenging ingredients.

After being offered a ‘community cheers’ (a low or no ABV drink on arrival) and a bowl of locally made hickory sticks, guests are provided with a menu which features a flavour matrix to help them discern which drinks might suit their palate. Gastronomically driven, the cocktails play on classic formats with unusual flavours.

The Wabi Sabi Martini features redistilled matcha gin, hinoki wood, saline and aromatised wine; Secret Garden combines fino sherry, pea and mint distillate, green chilli, green chartreuse, alternative acid and clarified pea stock; while the Washoku comprises a5 Waygu fat-washed Japanese whisky, peated Scotch, a housemade maillard reaction distillate and kokuto black sugar.

Garnishes and glassware are not overdone but are peppered throughout the menu to provide some theatre. The Kelpie is served in a handblown glass that has been melted onto driftwood, while the Cavalier Martini includes 10g of caviar, crisps and creme fraîche and is poured tableside. Shared cocktails are encouraged too, such as the What’s the Tea which mimics a full tea service, and the Hands that Cast the Net designed for two or four with crushed ice and poached prawns.

Beyond the opulence, the team works hard with its community and organisations too. For charitable initiatives it provides funding, networking opportunities, community engagement and other forms of support to many different groups, including Good Night Out, Vancouver Neighborhood Food Network, A Better Life Foundation, QMUNITY, and the Safe Spaces Program.

Local events are also a tie in and Pride, Jazz Fest, and Global Chef’s Exchange feature on its annual calendar of events. Fostering creativity, hospitality and community are all part of Prophecy’s ongoing legacy.