The Freshly Caught Mussels That Won’t Break the Bank

Do you have a favourite happy hour spot? Your go-to after-work spot when you’ve been gazing longingly out your window all day? Well, that’s The Sandbar for me and my boyfriend. If we both finish work right on time (which is rare), we book it to make it to this happy hour!

The lounge is the only place where you can get The Sandbar’s happy hour, but it’s worth it! From 3 to 6pm, Monday to Friday, the Sandbar features their Mussel Mania deal, and it’s to die for! For only $15, you get a bucket of mussels, fries, and a pint of Granville Island beer. For the mussels, you have a choice between Thai curry, vindaloo, or provencal. Without fail, we get the provencal every time.

Piping hot, the mussels are drenched in a tomato provencal sauce with huge chunks of spicy chorizo sausage. The mussels taste freshly caught, with just the slightest hint of ocean salt. The tomato provencal sauce has just the right amount of garlic, and a hint of bay leaf.

I’m not much of a bread person, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t scrape the bowl to soak up all that extra goodness. If you’re looking for a dinner for two under $40, I’d recommend ordering the Sandbar’s wok squid as well. It’s on another level!

The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant is located right in the heart of Granville Island on the water. There’s free parking all over the place, so keep an eye out. As you walk in, there are tanks of local seafood and a staircase prompting you to head up to their guest services. The best way to describe The Sandbar is West Coast. Large wooden beams cross over the lounge and the downstairs dining area. A second set of stairs brings you to a higher vantage point, with more indoor seating, as well as a covered patio with a bar. The lounge is filled with high-top wood tables, big leather chairs, a fireplace, and windows on all sides. A larger bar in the centre separates the lounge from the full restaurant. And If you stay long enough, there’s also nightly live music!

There are also two boats that are home to The Sandbar – one that sits comfortably in the rafters, and another right outside the windows. Look out for it; it’s perched between the dock and the base of the Burrard Street Bridge.

If you want to check out The Sandbar’s happy hour, I’d recommend starting in the lounge for their Mussel Mania deal and then moving into the restaurant for the full West Coast experience. Try it. You won’t regret it.