French Cocktails & Spritz at Vogue Cafe

What the list looks like

The cocktail menu is short and intentional — nine drinks at $13, built from the same bottles you'd find behind a bar in Lyon or Bordeaux. No house-made syrups with clever names, no smoke guns. Just the standards that have anchored French apéro hour for generations, poured in a room that smells like butter and onion broth.

The spritz family

Three spritzes sit side by side. The Aperol Spritz ($13) follows the 3-2-1 rule: three parts prosecco, two parts Aperol, one part soda, orange slice floating. It's bitter, bright, and low enough in alcohol to carry you through a long afternoon on the covered patio.

The Hugo Spritz ($13) swaps Aperol for St-Germain elderflower liqueur. Floral, slightly sweet, mint garnish. It drinks easier than it should — watch the second one.

The Paris Spritz ($13) uses Grand Marnier instead. Orange oil, cognac backbone, drier finish. This is the one you order when the wind comes off the Fraser and you want something with weight.

All three are built in the glass over fresh ice. No pre-batching, no tap lines.

Kir Royale and the Chambord Royale

A Kir Royale ($13) is crème de cassis topped with sparkling white wine. The cassis here is L'Héritier-Guyot — the same bottle French bars have stocked since 1841. The ratio matters: roughly one part liqueur to five parts wine. Too much cassis and it's cordial; too little and it's just fizzy white. The bartender gets it right.

The Chambord Royale ($13) swaps blackcurrant for raspberry liqueur. Same sparkling base, brighter perfume, a touch more sweetness. If you've only ever had Kir with crème de cassis, this is the variation worth trying.

Cognac Highball — the sleeper

St-Rémy brandy, soda, orange twist. $13. A classic French highball that rarely gets menu space outside France. The brandy is VSOP-grade, the soda is aggressive, the orange peel is expressed over the drink so the oils hit the surface first. Sip it slow. It opens as the ice melts.

Gin & Soda French Style

Bombay Sapphire, St-Germain, soda. $13. The elderflower liqueur softens the gin's juniper without hiding it. Think of it as a Tom Collins that went to finishing school. Light, aromatic, dangerous in hot weather.

The after-dinner pair

Shaft ($13) — Grey Goose, espresso, Kahlúa. Essentially a vodka espresso martini without the shake. The espresso comes from the same machine pulling your post-dinner cappuccino. Rich, caffeinated, dessert in a glass.

Caramel Café ($13) — espresso, Baileys, house-made caramel. Sweeter, creamier, the one you order with an éclair au chocolat ($10) on the side.

Spirits by the pour

If you'd rather build your own, the back bar is open: Grey Goose, Cazadores reposado, St-Rémy, Grand Marnier, Chambord, Baileys, Crown Royal, Bombay Sapphire, Aperol, L'Héritier-Guyot crème de cassis, St-Germain, Kahlúa. Singles $6, doubles $9. Add a Kronenbourg 1664 ($9) on the side if the evening calls for it.

When to come for a drink

The licence runs until midnight, though the kitchen closes at 8:30pm. The side patio stays covered and quiet after the dinner rush — red-checkered tablecloths, string lights, a dog bowl by the door. Weeknights after 7pm you'll find a stool at the small indoor bar without waiting. Weekends fill earlier; reservations take 7–10 guests for private dining, 10+ for event enquiries.

What people ask

Is there a happy hour?

No formal happy hour. Cocktails stay $13 all day. Wine by the glass is 6oz $11 / 9oz $15.

Can I get a Kir with still wine?

That's a Kir, not a Kir Royale. The menu lists the Royale (sparkling). Ask the server — they can usually do either with the same cassis.

Are the spritzes made with prosecco or sparkling wine?

Sparkling white wine, poured from the same bottles used for the 9oz wine pours (Country Vines Back Forty, BC).

Do you do non-alcoholic versions?

Heineken 0.0 ($9) is the only listed NA beer. For spritz-style zero-proof, ask the bar — they have San Pellegrino Aranciata, tonic, and the syrups to improvise.

Next step

Walk in for a seat at the bar or the covered patio. Reserve online or call (604) 370-4444 for 7+ guests. Open daily 10:30am–8:30pm, licence until midnight.