Mintara on Burnaby Mountain will get a new patio this year with space for 50 guests.
It’s part of upgrades to the elegant mountaintop restaurant, after the city acquired it in 2019.
City staff said the new patio will complement the nearby Playground of the Gods sculpture and enhance the views towards the Vancouver skyline.
The 2,000-square-foot patio will be enclosed with “fully operable glass panels,” so that it can be used in all seasons, which will also make the restaurant more profitable, according to a staff report.
A full bar and barbecue section will make it “an ideal venue for weddings and other significant events.”
Council approved the detailed design at its meeting March 11.
Construction is expected to begin in September this year, and the goal is to finish most of the work in December.
The construction cost is estimated at $2.63 million, and staff expect to recoup the investment in about 6.5 years.
Bob Farahani, director of project management in the city’s parks department, told council the restaurant generated $1.1 million in its first year open as Mintara.
He said the events aspect of the restaurant (such as wedding bookings) generated $700,000 and the restaurant side generated $350,000.
With the new patio capacity (50 seats, with 120 seats indoors), staff expect the restaurant revenue to increase.
The next phase of the restaurant upgrade will be to build a gazebo on the southeast or northwest side of Mintara.
Staff will report to council separately on the plan for the gazebo at a later date.
