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Road to the Games | Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games | CBC B.C. Feature

Ranking the Hospitality Houses

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pavilions.jpgHitting all of the hospitality houses in and around Vancouver is an Olympic-sized job. With so much to do and so little time, we decided to check out the houses getting the most buzz and help you pick the best place to show your Olympic colours.

 

We chose to profile five houses getting a lot of buzz. We've given you a brief a profile each, including the average line-up and the cost of one beer.

Irish House

620 Nelson Street, Vanocuver (map)
  • Cover: $10 before 7 p.m., $20 after.
  • Price for 1 beer: $8 for domestic, $9 for premium.
  • Signature food:  Irish Stew for $9.50, Steak & Guinness Pie for $8.50.
  • Line-ups:  After 2 hours after 4 p.m. A VIP Bracelet is availablefor $100 for the day, which allows you to enter a shorter line.
  • Capacity: The pavilion holds 700 people, and on average 3,500 people visit each day.
  • Ranked: #5 cheapest, #2 party potential, #3 shortest line (tied with Atlantic Canada House).
 
Minoru Arena, 7551 Minoru Gate, inside the Richmond O-Zone, Richmond (map)
  • Cover: Free.
  • Price for 1 Beer: $4.50.
  • Signature food:  Stamppot (A traditional Dutch dish comprised ofmashed potatoes mixed with vegetables and topped with bacon) for $7.50.
  • Line-ups:  Unless you're Dutch, during a medal ceremony they can bevery long. Regular wait times have been up to 3 hours, and that's onlyafter you clear the line to get in to the Richmond O-Zone.
  • Capacity: Holds 3,500.
  • Ranked: #1 cheapest, #1 biggest party potential, no ranking for shortest line as lineup varies drastically.

Alberta House
South-west corner of Robson and Beatty, Vancouver (map)

  • Cover: Free.
  • Price for 1 beer: $6.75.
  • Signature food:  Albertan comfort food, ex. Cowboy Trail Chilli $8.25, Prairie Chowder $8.25, all food under $10.
  • Signature drink: Wild-boar bacon-infused "Hogwild" Bloody Caesar for $6.75.
  • Line-ups:  On average, no more than 30 minutes.
  • Capacity: Holds 140 people. Hundreds visit each day.
  • Ranked: #3 cheapest, #4 biggest party potential, #1 shortest line.


Swiss House
1696 Duranleau Street, in Bridges Restaurant, Granville Island, Vancouver (map)

  • Cover: Free.
  • Price for 1 beer: $7 for domestic, $7.50 for Carlsberg, $8 for Guiness.
  • Signature food:  Swiss-style cheese fondue for two $44, Raclette $12, Chocolate fondue for two $20.
  • Line-ups:  Busiest during the dinner hour where waits are between 1and 2 hours for the restaurant and bistro, 1 hour for the bar.
  • Capacity: The bar holds 100 people. On average 2,000 people visit each day.
  • Ranked: #4 cheapest, #5 biggest party potential, #2 shortest line.


Atlantic Canada House
1585 Johnston Street, in the Arts Club, Granville Island, Vancouver (map)

  • Cover: Free.
  • Price for 1 beer: $5.75 (they have 14 varieties).
  • Signature food: Free samples of potatoes and various seafood:lobster, mussels, oyster, scallops. The regular Arts Club menu is alsoavailable.
  • Line-ups:  At their busiest, 2 to 3 hours.
  • Capacity: The Lounge, the only space open in the evenings, holdsbetween 200 and 250 people. They average 5,000 people visiting per day.
  • Ranked: #2 cheapest, #3 biggest party potential, #3 shortest line (tied with Irish House).
Wewant to hear from you. Which hospitality houses have you been to? Whichones were worth the lineups? Which had the best food or the best party?

Comment or continue readin Ranking the Hospitality Houses.