The creators of The Haifa Room, a cherished Middle Eastern establishment in Toronto’s Trinity Bellwoods neighborhood, are unveiling their latest West Coast venture, Bar Haifa, in Vancouver on November 24.
The coastal city of Haifa, Israel, has long been a hub where Arabs and Jews coexist harmoniously. Inspired by this spirit of unity, a group of close friends and experienced restaurateurs, representing both Palestinian-Muslim and Israeli-Jewish backgrounds—Waseem Dabdoub, Fadi Hakim, Yossi Misrahi Eastwood, Daniel Suss, and Mark Kupfert—joined forces to establish a take-out window in Toronto during the pandemic. This initiative, named The Haifa Room, transcended its initial offerings of falafel and sabich pita sandwiches.
With the addition of Chef Jason Hemi, the establishment evolved into a casual 28-seat restaurant, earning acclaim for dishes such as Fennel and Apricot Labneh, Kofta, Boneless Lamb Shoulder, and Signature Fresh-made Hummus.
Collaborating on the menu, the partners engaged in lively discussions about their respective family recipes, including everything from Yossi’s Safta’s Zhug to Waseem’s father’s Knafeh.
The Vancouver location will introduce an expanded menu highlighting the region’s terroir, emphasizing fresh seafood and local ingredients. Additionally, it will offer a dedicated take-out street food menu. Bar Haifa in Vancouver will prioritize service, boasting an extensive wine and cocktail selection curated by a team of local experts. Cassandra Mosher, renowned for her roles at Bao Bei, Como, and Bacaro, will be the General Manager, and Alex Thornley, from Published, Bar Susu, and Como, will join as the Wine Director.
Situated in downtown Vancouver at the ground level of the Deloitte Summit building on Georgia at Homer, Bar Haifa will feature 55 indoor seats, including a cocktail bar, chef’s table, banquette seating, and an open kitchen. Additionally, a spacious outdoor patio will double its seating during the summer.
Originally planned for a July opening, construction delays pushed the launch to mid-November, coinciding with the tragic conflict in Gaza and Israel. Faced with the somber reality, co-founder Hakim expressed the team’s deep sadness and solidarity with their family members in Palestine and Israel. Despite these challenges, their focus remains on fostering connections through shared experiences and finding common ground among people through the medium of food.
For the latest updates and information, visit barhaifa.com, or follow @barhaifa on Instagram.
