Guu Garden is one of many iterations of izakaya restaurants in the Guu-Izakaya family, spread across Vancouver and Toronto. Guu Garden is a favorite, due to its hard-to-find location on the terrace of an office building on Nelson St. It really is like stepping into a secluded Japanese garden, with the added bonus of a wide variety of food and drink.

An izakaya is a Japanese drinking establishment that also serves substantial food alongside its drinks. The Guu concept is a Japanese tapas restaurant with an interactive alcohol list that allows guest to custom mix different types of sakes with fresh juice, as well as a selection of beer and wine.

The vibe is informal, the staff fastidiously attentive, and the clientele mostly Asian. The small dishes are incredible, with the pumpkin ball consistently ranking high as a palate pleaser.