ThereB次元官网网址檚 a new upscale sports bar in town.

On Wednesday, May 22, The Palms Restaurant and Lounge, located on Douglas Street at the Hotel Rialto, announced on Facebook that The Palms B次元官网网址淕ame SevenB次元官网网址� Sports Bar is now open, just in time for the Stanley Cup finals, NBA finals, and the upcoming Olympics.

While owner Rob Ekstrom said itB次元官网网址檚 an early soft opening and they still want to get their menu and operations in order before their hard launch, he said the doors are now open.

B次元官网网址淐ertainly, everybody is welcome,B次元官网网址� Ekstrom said.

Those familiar with the Palms restaurant will know it as a long room with a horseshoe-shaped bar in the middle. A wall now exists on the Douglas Street side of that bar, separating the room into the old dining room from the wall to the Douglas Street windows, and the new sports bar.

The atmosphere is casual yet sophisticated, with large paintings, modern furniture and the elegant details of the heritage building it shares with Hotel Rialto.

Ekstrom wanted to distinguish that The Palms is not part of the hotelB次元官网网址檚 operations, as many people think, but he thought having a sports bar in the space would cater well to the hotel guests.

B次元官网网址淲e are an independent business, but I love being in the Hotel Rialto. ItB次元官网网址檚 a beautiful boutique hotel. I love the ownership and the management, and we try to be good partners with them.B次元官网网址�

A frequent traveller himself, Ekstrom thought it would be beneficial for hotel guests to have a place where they could have a bite to eat, and watch the game.

The other reason for opening a sports bar was to better utilize the space, creating a more intimate dining room as the restaurant prior was B次元官网网址済iganticB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渨asnB次元官网网址檛 always full.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a better dining experience for my guests,B次元官网网址� said Ekstrom. B次元官网网址淪o now IB次元官网网址檓 giving people another reason to come to The Palms. WeB次元官网网址檝e got excellent cocktails, weB次元官网网址檝e got a wonderful food program. Now guests can have an upscale pub experience.B次元官网网址�

Ekstrom found the Victoria bar scene had limited options for watching sports and now aims to create his own niche in the scene, which has been supported by feedback from his regular guests and friends.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 old school. I remember some of the old beer parlours and stuff like that that were early sports bars. None of them exist anymore. YouB次元官网网址檝e got some restaurants, and certainly, the Sticky Wicket has a games room where they show sports events and stuff like that. Truly, I donB次元官网网址檛 really want to compete with those guys. I think theyB次元官网网址檙e looking to serve a different demographic.B次元官网网址�

As per the name B次元官网网址淕ame SevenB次元官网网址�?

B次元官网网址淚 am a real, real sports fan, but I donB次元官网网址檛 really tie my allegiance to a lot of teams B次元官网网址� But what I absolutely love is potential sports history. And every time thereB次元官网网址檚 a game 7, thereB次元官网网址檚 potential for something to happen in that event that could be sports history. So I have a real hard time not paying attention to Game 7 or their equivalent. So I thought that would just be a real fun name.B次元官网网址�

Once the new menu gets executed, guests will be able to enjoy rotating sports bar features of classic pub fare with an elevated twist, made by executive chef John Waller. Items will include crispy chicken sandwiches, nachos, ribs and burger options, alongside the restaurantB次元官网网址檚 regular full menu.

The sports bar has a new draft beer selection with taps to be rotated out quarterly. Currently from Vancouver Island Brewing Company, the bar has West Coast IPA, Mystic Haze Pale Ale, Beach Shack Guava Blonde Ale and Dominion Dark Lager. From Small Gods Brewing Company, it has Neverending Pilsner, Rascal King Hazy IPA, Elbow Room Peach Tea Gose and Blue Runaways Elderberry Pink Grapefruit Farmhouse Ale.

B次元官网网址淚 hope itB次元官网网址檚 going to become an important little meeting place for people that like to participate in watching sports,B次元官网网址� Ekstrom said.