Cin Cin

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A winding stone staircase carries you up from the energy of Robson Street and into a different register entirely. At CinCin Ristorante + Bar, the room opens onto views of a lively open kitchen, a striking heated terrace, and a private wine room that has hosted countless group celebrations. The setting is contemporary yet timeless — qualities that also describe the Italian cuisine served here.

The Chef and His Philosophy

Executive Chef Andrew Richardson came to CinCin by way of a career that spans a Michelin-starred kitchen in Newcastle, a stage at The French Laundry, and senior roles at some of Vancouver's most respected tables. His guiding principle is direct: "I believe in simplicity, and the interaction of absolutely prime ingredients on the plate — the passionata, as the Italians say. Less is often more, especially in Italian cookery." That ethos shapes every plate, from pastas hand-made in house daily to proteins finished on the Grillworks Infierno, a two-metre grill and rotisserie that adds a distinct layer of smoke and char. A heritage wood-fired oven is equally central to the kitchen's identity — so much so that Richardson's cookbook, CinCin: Wood-Fired Cucina, won the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards for Best Italian Cuisine Book nationally, with a foreword contributed by the internationally acclaimed chef Francis Mallmann.

Wine, Bar, and the Team Behind Them

The wine program at CinCin has earned repeated recognition from the Vancouver International Wine Festival, including Platinum Wine Program Excellence Awards, and consecutive Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence. Wine Director Shane Taylor — BC Sommelier of the Year 2017 through the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers — brings the same storytelling instinct to the cellar that Richardson brings to the kitchen. Alongside him, Assistant Wine Director Jamie Lauder has built a loyal following over more than two decades at the restaurant. The bar adds craft cocktails and a renowned grappa collection to round out the experience.

Recognition

CinCin's consistency across decades of Vancouver dining has drawn recognition from OpenTable's Top 100 Best Restaurants in Canada, multiple Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards for Best Italian, and, most recently, a fork from Gambero Rosso — Italy's most authoritative food and wine guide — underscoring that the Italian cuisine here is taken seriously well beyond the Pacific Northwest.

For a private event, the wine room provides an intimate backdrop. For an evening out, the heated terrace above Robson Street remains one of the city's more memorable places to sit.