No seaside metropolis sizzles quite like Vancouver. Maybe it's the Canadian addiction to a $2 coin called the toonie, or the lime- and puce-colored high-rises built by Hong Kong "zillionaires" to brighten foggy days, or possibly it's the runaway Hollywood productions shooting all over the landscape and cashing in on exchange rates. Or maybe it's just the fact that you can spend three glorious days at the Metropolitan Hotel. This intimate refuge enjoys a prime downtown location in the heart of the entertainment and shopping district. Reflecting president Henry Wu's spiritual approach to the hotel business, the guest is greeted by black stone lions at the entrance which were quarried for a temple in Tien Jin province and guarantee to guard against evil spirits and bring good luck. A 12-panel Coromandel screen on the second floor landing also ensures good fortune. The Metropolitan's mission statement: build a Feng Shui refuge and they will come.
Even
Confucious said that man does not live by Feng Shui alone. There's
also Diva at the Met, the highly acclaimed restaurant combining
light wood, bronze detailing, and splashes of color to achieve a
whimsical, almost dream-like effect. It serves contemporary, international
food deeply rooted in the products of the Northwest. Chef
Dino Renaerts leads the culinary cast behind the 140-seat restaurant
and bar. The restaurant offers three tasting menus — $28 Lunch Prix Fixe, $38 Dinner Tasting and $65 Six-Course Tasting.
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