The Moon Martini Bar & Restaurant opens in Gastown on October 23, with two distinct experiences under one roof: a social martini bar and seasonal, borderless restaurant built around an open kitchen.
Conceived as a place to land, The Moon is an escape from the everyday, and one to return to time and time again – whether settling in for a chef-guided dinner, a few plates from the à la carte menu, or a martini to start or end the night.
Two Rooms, One Roof
Spanning 1,632 square feet, The Moon is home to two rooms with distinct experiences. In the 27-seat Dining Room, the kitchen sits fully open at the centre of the experience. A seasonally evolving à la carte menu can be explored dish by dish, or guests can leave their meal in the hands of Chef Felix Maristany, who will curate a multicourse selection of dishes. At the 11-seat chef’s counter, diners sit directly facing the line, with a front-row view of the craft and technique behind every plate.
Moon Bar is where The Moon begins: a lobby bar that's as much a destination as the Dining Room beyond it. Intentionally intimate and made for dropping in, it's a contemporary take on the classic martini bar. Martinis anchor the program: the classics executed with precision alongside rotating, unexpected variations. Signature cocktails and spirit-free drinks round out the list, with bar snacks made to be enjoyed alongside. The entire program draws on seasonal ingredients shared with the kitchen.
Wine, sake, and tea each have a place of their own at The Moon. The beverage program extends beyond cocktails with a wine list centred on organic producers, particularly smaller and more intentional wineries, alongside a diverse selection of sake and a thoughtfully developed tea list in partnership with O5 Tea. Across all three, the focus is on discovery, character, and selections that feel considered without being predictable.
To mark The Moon’s opening, the team has partnered with BC producer Ursa Major to create Good Job, a limited-edition 50/50 Chardonnay and Muscat made exclusively for the restaurant. Produced from a single barrel, the wine reflects a shared approach to organic farming, 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," said Co-Owner Wyatt Rybchinsky.
Meet The Moon
Head Chef Felix Maristany leads The Moon's culinary program, drawing on memories of the places he's lived, travelled and cooked – from a Cuban-American upbringing in Miami to renowned kitchens in Spain – to shape a globally informed menu. Through fermentation and preservation, he captures seasonal ingredients at their peak and carries them through the year. A graduate of Vancouver's Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, he has spent decades in some of the city's most acclaimed kitchens, serving as Sous Chef at Cioppino's before becoming Chef de Cuisine at MICHELIN-starred Kissa Tanto.
Claudia Fandino, General Manager & Wine Director, leads The Moon’s hospitality and beverage program. For nearly two decades, she has amassed experience across Vancouver’s food, wine, and creative communities, including roles at MICHELIN-starred Published on Main, Barbara, and Burdock & Co.
Bar Manager Zoe Bates has designed beverage programs at Ellipsis, The Westin Bayshore, and Sula. In 2026, she earned national recognition as a top-four finalist in World Class Canada, solidifying her place among the country’s top bartenders. Along the way, she’s built a reputation for technical precision and an infectious enthusiasm for hospitality – traits that she brings to the cocktail program at The Moon, balancing expert skill with a sense of curiosity and play.
Under the Same Moon
While each room has its own character, a shared design language connects The Moon and Moon Bar. In the Dining Room, natural materials, textured finishes and directed lighting create a calm backdrop that keeps the focus firmly on the food and service. Moon Bar has a richer, more intimate character, with antiqued brass, hammered iron, walnut and teal soapstone bringing warmth and depth, and low banquette seating encouraging conversation and connection.
Both spaces and brand identity were designed by Item Design Studio in collaboration with Coquille Creative Inc., with artwork by Jean Huang, Ami Sangha Studio, Yurii Andreichyn and Rina Ota.
Made in Gastown
Gastown is central to The Moon’s story. Co-owners Sonia Symoom and Wyatt Rybchinsky had lived in the neighbourhood for years before securing the space, and it was here that their idea began to take shape: a neighbourhood restaurant and bar where first-time guests would quickly become regulars.
"The moon is a universal symbol of wonder," said Sonia Symoom, Co-Owner. "It belongs to everyone, and it changes night after night. Our menu works the same way: it's borderless, drawn from nostalgia and the places we've been rather than a single cuisine. Something familiar, with room for the unexpected, and a reason to keep coming back."
The Moon Martini Bar & Restaurant opens October 23 at 59 Powell Street in Gastown. Be among the first to know when reservations open by signing up for The Moon’s mailing list at themoonyvr.com.