For years, Cranked Espresso Bar has been a bright daytime hub in Whistler’s Rainbow neighbourhood—a spot where locals can grab their morning coffee, meet for lunch and settle into its easygoing atmosphere. Now, for the first time since the pandemic, Cranked is dipping its toes back into evening service with a brand-new weekly offering: charcuterie and wine night.
The event made its debut this month, running Thursday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m. It has drawn a crowd of regulars and curious newcomers; Whistler Writers Festival founder Stella Harvey is one of the former. She recalls pre-pandemic evenings at Cranked being a space for musical acts and Writers Fest readings. She’s grateful for the return of that evening space in Rainbow.
“The food was excellent, the casual service welcoming and it was a lovely evening,” Harvey wrote to Pique. “Cranked has remained a coffee, breakfast and lunch spot, but I’m so glad to see them return to this evening service.”
That sense of reconnection is exactly what Whistler Foods’ general manager, Alastair Cray, and Cranked owners Grant and Hilarie Cousar (who also run Hunter Gather, Mile One, Routes Eatery and the Daylodge Café at Whistler Olympic Park) had in mind.
“Our aim was to create a casual, welcoming space in the quieter Rainbow neighbourhood where locals could gather and connect,” Cray said. “With such a strong base of regular customers, we wanted to respond directly to their interest in seeing more from Cranked in the evenings.
“A charcuterie and wine night felt like the perfect way to reintroduce evening service—something approachable, social and tailored to the community.”
Cranked manager Natalia Lukasikova agreed, noting the pilot evenings have offered something deeper than just food and drink.
“There is a special atmosphere that comes with these later hours,” she said. “Conversations flow naturally, and it feels more like a gathering than just a quick stop for a coffee in the morning.”
The boards themselves are designed with intention.Each one highlights the best of British Columbia, from artisan cheeses and cured meats to pickled vegetables and spreads. To complement them, Cranked is pouring VQA wines and a small list of cocktails, keeping the pairings both thoughtful and unfussy.
Guests can order a two-person charcuterie for $19 or a four-person board for $28, alongside smaller bites like freshly baked sourdough focaccia ($5) or a dish of olives ($9). To drink, two glasses of wine are priced at $11, and cocktails start at $12—a lineup that keeps the evening both accessible and indulgent.
“The focus is twofold: providing a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere right here in Rainbow, and showcasing the very best of B.C.,” Cray explained. “We aimed to thoughtfully curate charcuterie boards paired with VQA wines and feature cocktails, celebrating local flavours and the region’s unique wine culture.”
For Whistler, where many of the après and dinner options lean toward bustling village venues, the event offers something distinct. Tucked away in Rainbow, it feels more like a neighbourhood gathering than a night out—low-key, intimate and distinctly local.
For now, Cranked has just one more charcuterie and wine night planned for Thursday, Aug. 28, after which the team will pause to reflect on how the pilot has been received.
“We’ll take some time to evaluate how it resonated with our community and consider how evening programming might fit into our regular offerings,” Cray said. “We do have some exciting ideas in the works for winter and beyond—so locals can definitely watch this space.”
For longtime regulars, the return of evening service marks a welcome revival of what Cranked once offered: a place to gather after hours, with good food, good drink and the kind of community spirit that makes Whistler’s smaller neighbourhoods shine.
Charcuterie night might be the first step, but it seems clear the evenings at Cranked are only just beginning.
