One of Vancouver’s most celebrated restaurants is bringing together culinary talent from Vancouver and Mexico City for a special two-day Día de los Muertos celebration.
On November 1 and 2, Botanist at the Fairmont Pacific Rim will mark its fifth annual Día de los Muertos event with a six-course dinner, creative cocktail pairings, and a one-night bar takeover.
This year’s celebration brings together chefs from Botanist and Gastown’s Chupito, alongside bartenders from Mexico City’s internationally recognized Form + Matter.
The event honours Día de los Muertos, a Mexican tradition that celebrates and remembers loved ones who have passed away through food, family gatherings, music, and storytelling.
A Six-Course Dinner Bringing Together Vancouver Chefs
On Sunday, November 1, Botanist executive chef Amanda Healey will host former executive chef Hector Laguna and María Ponce of Chupito for a collaborative dining experience.
Laguna helped establish Botanist as one of Vancouver’s leading restaurants before departing earlier this year. His return will reunite him with the restaurant where he spent nearly a decade.
Meanwhile, Healey, who took over as Botanist’s executive chef earlier this year, will celebrate her first Día de los Muertos at the restaurant.
Ponce, originally from Navojoa, Sonora, leads the kitchens at Chupito and La Taqueria. Her cooking blends traditional Mexican flavours with seasonal ingredients from British Columbia.
Together, the chefs have created a menu that combines Mexican culinary traditions with West Coast ingredients.
Highlights from the six-course menu include scallop aguachile with serrano peppers, green apple and ikura, as well as a wagyu sope with black beans and salsa macha.
Guests can also look forward to pork belly with fermented peach mole and an arroz tumbado featuring lobster tail and sablefish.
Healey will prepare a lamb loin course with poblano verde and seasonal vegetables. To finish, Botanist executive pastry chef Chad Yamagata will serve a mango dessert with chile, lime and sorbet.
For Healey, the evening carries a meaning beyond the food.
“Día de los Muertos is about honouring loved ones who have passed, and food is often at the heart of how they’re remembered,” she said.
One of Mexico City’s Top Cocktail Bars Is Coming to Vancouver
The culinary collaboration is only part of the celebration. Botanist Bar will welcome José Olivas of Form + Matter, a Mexico City cocktail bar that has quickly gained international recognition.
Located in the Roma Norte neighbourhood, Form + Matter was founded by Olivas, David Rocha and Po Tsai. The team developed its approach after working at Handshake Speakeasy, another internationally acclaimed Mexico City bar.
Form + Matter currently ranks No. 13 on North America’s 50 Best Bars list for 2026. It also secured the No. 59 position on the World’s 50 Best Bars extended ranking.
The bar has attracted attention for its experimental cocktails, innovative techniques and glass-walled laboratory.
For the November 1 dinner, Olivas will join Botanist head bartender Justin Powell and Chupito bartender Tadia Rosen to bring their respective cocktail styles to the evening.
Guests can add a curated cocktail pairing to the six-course experience.
The collaboration also brings together two established Vancouver cocktail destinations. Botanist Bar ranked No. 38 on North America’s 50 Best Bars list this year, while Chupito has become a Gastown favourite for Mexican-inspired cocktails.
A Día de los Muertos Bar Takeover on November 2
The celebration continues on Monday, November 2, with another opportunity to experience Form + Matter’s cocktails.
This time, the action moves to The Lobby Lounge & RawBar at the Fairmont Pacific Rim.
Bartenders from Form + Matter and Chupito will take over the space for a one-night pop-up featuring specially created cocktails, themed live music and entertainment.
The evening offers a more casual way to participate in the festivities without committing to the full tasting dinner.
Reservations are recommended, although walk-ins are also welcome. A two-cocktail experience costs $40 per person, plus applicable taxes and gratuity.
The two-day event continues a tradition that Fairmont Pacific Rim has developed over the past five years. Previous celebrations have featured visiting culinary and cocktail talent from Mexico, including Hanky Panky, Baltra Bar and ARCA.
How to Attend Botanist’s Día de los Muertos Celebration
Both events take place at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in downtown Vancouver.
November 1: Six-Course Día de los Muertos Dinner
- Location: Botanist, 1038 Canada Place, Vancouver
- Date: Sunday, November 1, 2026
- Price: $189 per person, plus taxes and gratuity
- Optional cocktail or wine pairing: $89 per person
- Reservations: Botanist Día de los Muertos dinner
November 2: Día de los Muertos Cocktail Pop-Up
- Location: The Lobby Lounge & RawBar, 1038 Canada Place, Vancouver
- Date: Monday, November 2, 2026
- Price: $40 per person for two cocktails, plus taxes and gratuity
- Reservations: The Lobby Lounge Día de los Muertos event
With chefs and bartenders coming together across two cities, this year’s celebration offers Vancouver diners an opportunity to experience Mexican cuisine, cocktails and culture while honouring the traditions behind Día de los Muertos.
