The West End food scene has seen constant changes, with new openings and closures making headlines over the past year.
And unfortunately, another beloved spot has quietly disappeared.
Arike, a highly-rated Nigerian-inspired restaurant, has shut down.
This marks the loss of one of the few places in Vancouver that seamlessly blended Pacific Northwest ingredients with the bold herbs, spices, and rich flavour traditions of African cuisine.
Since opening in 2019, Arike gained a dedicated fan base, largely from word of mouth, as its semi-hidden location and minimal social media presence gave it a true hidden gem status.
But from the reviews, it was clear Arike was loved for its food and service.
Despite flying under the radar for many, Arike was recognized as the best African restaurant by Vancouver Magazine and even earned a spot in the Michelin Guide Recommended list in 2022 and 2023.
The exact closure date remains unclear, as the restaurant’s last Facebook post was in March 2024, and its last Google review was from April 2024.
While we were preparing this report in early February, the restaurant’s Instagram profile was still operational, but it has now been deactivated at the time of publishing.
Arike’s unit has now been replaced by a new Vietnamese restaurant called Pho in Love.
This is an unfortunate loss for Vancouver’s dining scene, where Nigerian and African cuisine remains rare.
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Address: 1725 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6G 1W5