By Charlotte Ahern (August 2026)
Hydra Estiatorio is an upscale Greek and Mediterranean restaurant in Downtown Vancouver’s financial district.
Set inside the EXchange Hotel, Hydra is part of Executive Table Group, whose downtown restaurant collection also includes the nearby Alouette Bistro and Parker Rooftop.
Explore Hydra’s Food, Drinks, Happy Hour and Pricing, or continue reading for the full experience.
Hydra Estiatorio: Modern Greek Dining in Downtown Vancouver
Hydra restaurant offers contemporary Mediterranean dining. It feels like Vancouver’s take on the glossy Greek international restaurant Estiatorio Milos, with a chic aesthetic, well-plated food, and thoughtful service.
Hydra brings together Greek influences, fresh seafood, and a beautiful design across two floors, moving from after-work drinks to dressed-up dinners.
Part of Executive Table Group
Executive Table Group operates eight restaurant concepts within British Columbia, each connected to a hotel owned by its hotel company.
The group’s strength is that its restaurants don’t feel like generic hotel dining. Hydra feels like its own Mediterranean world, Alouette has a dark French-bistro personality, and Parker brings Gatsby-style glamour to a rooftop setting.
Executive Table Group's most established city dining rooms feel like restaurants with hotels attached, not the other way around.
Two Floors, Two Moods
Hydra has two experiences under one roof. Downstairs, the Wine Bar is the more casual side of the restaurant, suited to spontaneous drinks and light bites.
Upstairs is where Hydra puts on the full performance. The main dining room is brighter, grander and more dressed up, making it the better choice for a full dinner.
The Dining Room: Glossy & Greek
The main space is large, with high ceilings, Aegean blue and neutral tones, and a bar with fish-scale-like tiling that contributes to the marine theme.
Custom porcelain fish-shaped light fixtures hang overhead adding special details that make the restaurant’s design memorable. By the hostess stand at Hydra’s hotel entrance, there’s a raw bar displaying seafood on ice.
Downstairs, the lower-level Wine Bar has its own entrance on West Pender Street and a more intimate, relaxed atmosphere. A gorgeous curved staircase takes centre stage, with tables wrapping around and another bar running along one side.
The lower room feels softer and more informal than the main dining room, with a different aesthetic: warm wood tones and moodier lighting.
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Hydra’s Private Dining
For private events, the upstairs Cabana is one of the restaurant’s strongest features. Floor-to-ceiling glass and natural light prevent it from feeling closed off from the main room. Guests experience the energy of the busy restaurant while still having a private space that can be decorated to suit the occasion.
Tip: The private dining space seats up to 30 guests. It’s a great choice for corporate events or stylish dinner parties.
Food Highlights
Hydra’s strength is seafood. One of the hottest items on the menu is the whole fish for two. Guests select their fish from the raw bar and have it grilled or baked in sea salt. Then the fish is deboned, dressed and plated tableside. It’s a little dinner-craftsmanship show cooked to perfection.
The lamb is another strong choice, prepared in the classic Greek style and served with lemon potatoes.
From the smaller plates, the spread platter with warm pita is a strong way to start, letting you taste a bit of everything.
Tip: For a fire show, order the Saganaki. It’s a classic Greek favourite, set alight at the table because sometimes cheese deserves an entrance.
Aegean Style Drinks
A restaurant with a Wine Bar needs a strong collection, and Hydra does. The list includes international labels, BC and Greek wines, and Champagne.
Hydra’s signature cocktails are also worth trying. They all follow a Greek theme, with playful spins on traditional cocktail favourites. The Mykonos Margarita is a refreshing, holiday-coded choice, and it’s blue!
Tip: Greek wine can be iffy and unfamiliar. Ask the sommelier for their recommendations.
Parking at Hydra Estiatorio
Parking isn’t one of Hydra’s charms. Metered spaces around the financial district are in high demand throughout the day. You might be lucky, but if not, several paid parkades operate nearby.
The EXchange Hotel has self-parking and valet parking, but rates are expensive.
Waterfront Station is within walking distance, making SkyTrain one of the easiest options if you’re coming from out of town. For those not close to a SkyTrain line, rideshare or a taxi may be the best move over driving.
Happy Hour at Hydra
Happy Hour is definitely worth visiting Hydra for. It runs daily from 3:00 to 6:00 pm, and then again later from 9:00 pm until close.
Wine and bubbles start at around $7, cocktails at $9 and martinis and spritzes at $12. There are food options too, including oysters, calamari and sliders, priced around $14 per dish.
Pricing & Dining Details
Hydra sits in the $$$$ category. It’s not cost-effective. It’s a restaurant suited for splurging.
Small plates generally sit in the high teens and $20s, and mains move upward from there. Whole fish, seafood towers and platters push the bill higher.
Hydra regularly participates in dining festivals like Vancouver’s Dine Out and offers special menus throughout the year. Keep an eye out for those as a cost-savvy way to experience the restaurant.
Reservations are easily available through OpenTable. Hydra has ample space and can often be booked at the last minute.
Tip: Happy Hour is a great date option and a more affordable way to experience Hydra.
Service & Atmosphere
Hydra has an experienced team, and many of the same staff members have been working there across our visits over the years. That continuity creates confidence.
The matching dresses and suits worn by the service team add a touch of refined polish.
Guests generally make an effort when dressing for Hydra. Its location in the financial district draws in plenty of suits. Smart casual attire works, but dressing up in heels and a dress does not feel excessive at Hydra either.
Hydra carries weekend vibes throughout the week, with an upstairs dining room that rarely feels short on atmosphere.
Who Is Hydra Best For?
The restaurant works really well for upscale business lunches and dinners due to its proximity to Downtown Vancouver‘s business district. Hydra also works well for romantic dates, happy-hour drinks after work, and celebrations.
Similar Restaurants in Vancouver
Lavantine Rooftop is next door on West Pender Street and offers another glam-style Mediterranean experience. Lavantine leans more towards Eastern flavours in a garden-style rooftop. Expect quite a different menu than Hydra, but a similar aesthetic.
Within Executive Table Group, Alouette Bistro offers French food in a darker, more traditional-looking dining room. Parker Rooftop delivers the Executive Table Group’s glossier party personality.
Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar inside the Sutton Place Hotel has a somewhat similar feel to Hydra, though its cuisine is West Coast rather than Mediterranean.
Why Hydra Earns Its Place on VBR
The Hydra experience feels distinct. Delivering an impressive two-level design, it feels like one of Vancouver’s prettier restaurants. The venue is large enough to book without much trouble, yet it’s always busy enough to feel like a city hotspot, making it a reliable Vancouver staple.
Address & Hours
Hydra Estiatorio Mediterranean & Wine Bar
475 Howe Street, Vancouver
Wine Bar Entrance: 825 West Pender Street
Open daily from 6:30 am to late.
Weekend brunch: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Happy Hour: Daily, 3:00 to 6:00 pm, 9:00 pm to close.
Editorial Disclosure: Details are accurate at the time of writing. Features may form part of paid or hosted editorial partnerships and reflect Charlotte Ahern’s independently-curated selection, based on her editorial standards and personal taste.
Charlotte Ahern
Charlotte covers Vancouver’s dining scene, focusing on vibe, design, service, and the dishes people book tables for. Her work is highly selective, centred around elevated spaces where the experience goes beyond the plate.
