(LanaLous / The Furniture)
If you ever find yourself wandering through the eastside of downtown Vancouver with a craving for something a little wild, a little warm, and a lot rock and roll, let your feet lead you to 362 Powell Street. Right there, between industrial buildings and whispers of the past, you’ll find LanaLou’s Rock n’ Roll Eatery. This is not only a restaurant. It is a living, breathing piece of the city’s soul where music shakes the walls and the comfort food is as real as the stage lights.
LanaLou’s opened its doors in 2010 with a mission that was equal parts simple and bold. It set out to be a place where music and food live side by side. No velvet ropes. No dress codes. Just good vibes, better meals, and unforgettable nights. From day one, it was different. And it has stayed that way.
At the center of it all is Lana herself. Yes, she is real. Yes, she is very much involved. She is not one to hide behind an office door or a clipboard. Lana books the bands, welcomes the regulars, dims the lights, and sometimes probably fixes a fuse or two when the amps blow out. She is the reason the space feels like more than just a venue. She makes it feel like a second home for artists, music lovers, and curious wanderers.
The decor inside is something out of a dream you might have after watching a rock documentary and eating too much cheese. There are church pews for seating, velvet chairs that look like they were stolen from a haunted mansion, and picnic tables that have seen both first dates and last-call confessions. The walls are adorned with oddities, vintage posters, and more personality than you can process in a single visit.
And the sound. LanaLou’s is a stage for the strange and the soulful. One night, you might find a punk band screaming their truths into the mic. Another night it could be stand-up comedy, an open mic full of heartbreak ballads, or a jazz trio. If you are looking for a sterile, polished concert hall, keep walking. If you are looking for something real, you are in the right place.
The food is definitely part of the experience. We are not talking greasy fries that taste like regret. The kitchen produces dishes like quinoa bowls, hearty burgers, and vegan comfort food that sticks with you. Whether you are fueling up before a show or licking sauce off your fingers after one, you will be well fed.
LanaLou’s is about entertainment, but it’s also about connection. The venue takes part in local initiatives like the Dine Railtown campaign, working alongside other neighbourhood spots to celebrate and uplift the local food and culture scene. It hosts fundraisers, private events, drag shows, art nights, and anything else that brings people together.
Even when the amps are quiet and the floor is a little sticky from last weekend’s chaos, LanaLou’s still hums with energy. It is a refuge. A time machine. A community center dressed up like a rock club. It is the kind of place you find once, tell your friends about, and then kind of wish you had kept it secret.
https://lanalous.wixsite.com/lanalous
Written by Alana Black | Evolution Media
Contact: ablack23@my.bcit.ca