Garfinkel's Whistler — Restaurant in Whistler Resort Municipality

I came to whistler for a few days of mountain biking. Asking some of the locals for a fun spot to spend some time led us to Garfinkles. The night started out slow but picked up towards 11 pm. We hit the dance floor and started to have a good time. A bouncer came up and told me that some guys wanted to beat me up and that they had told me to "step off" as he said. He told me if I said another word to him I would be kicked out. After pleading with this bouncer in regards to who was endangering myself he could do nothing but recite the laughable line that I would be removed if I kept talking to him. He could not muster any statement to resolve the issue so I approached the fellows, whom to the best lf my knowledge he was refering to, introduced myself and promptly apologized for any offense I had displayed towards them as I was confused. They too were confused as to what I was talking about and promised me this was a complete falsehood. We laughed it off and had a brief chat about where we we're from. I returned to the women I was dancing near and recited my apology to them for my actions, again, extreme confusion. I proceeded to get the manager (paul) as I was slightly concerned as this employee had verbatim told me I was going to be "beat up". Myself and the manager approached this bouncer. He explained that he was looking out for me and my well being. The manager did not provide any further exposure to the situation so I went and sat down by the bar for some time until I felt comfortable to return to the dance floor. Following this incedent I proceeded to have a mediocre time dancing as I was afraid any action of mine would incur the wrath of a mysterious gestapo who would endanger my well being. The women I was dancing near had explained this confrontation was due to me displaying above average dance performance. I find this treatment of a customer completely juvenile and un-just but I digress to refrain from a monotonous speech on employee control.

So all in all this place is a small bar which plays some form of the top - 40 and provides mild entertainment for a night in Whistler. The bartenders we're friendly and helpful to myself and my co-travelers as we had opened a tab for the night. I never use google reviews but I felt I had to share my hilarious experience in this small town. This place was useful to burn a few hours but beware of the staff's...

I am rarely inclined to leave a review like this but I felt in this instance I would be remiss not to. I was recently visiting whistler and upon inquiring with locals, was quickly directed to Garfinkel’s night club as a “happening” place to go that evening.

So respectively, I took that advice and went, not really expecting much out of the typical night club experience. I certainly was not expecting to have such a positive experience before I even entered the door or the bar.

What has motivated this review is directly related to one staff member working that night on location. While the entire experience was fine by “clubbing” standards (especially for whistler) it was staff member Marco that made this experience particularly stand out.

I have a lot of experience going to different clubbing venues, and more often than not the staff working the door are the LEAST inviting people you come across that work there at any venue. Not this night however. Marco greeted myself and my group with so much enthusiasm. I have never felt so welcomed at any clubbing venue in my travels. He was friendly and lively, even giving recommendations of places to visit during our stay in whistler. He did not merely rush us in, as most do, but took the time to connect with our group. He especially made my brothers night, a man who rarely ever enjoys going out. I did not know it was possible to feel so attended to at the entry of a club. Take note all bar locations in whistler, this is the kind of energy and welcome that makes a trip memorable. We certainly enjoyed our time at Garfinkel’s, however it was most definitely largely due to our first interaction with Marco. I will be recommending this location to everyone whom may inquire. Absolutely worth the visit ! We will be...

I went to Garfinkel's the other night with a group of about 50 people and the night went well honestly. We danced and then went back to the hotel at around 1h00.

The next day I tried to go to another bar, just to find out that I was actually banned from all the bars in Vancouver. Garfinkel's had put in the system that I had stolen a bottle of liquor and now no clubs would let me enter. Obviously my friends and I were confused. We went back to Garfinkel's to talk to the staff. They told me to get out, that I stole the bottle of liquor the other night and that there was nothing they could do. I asked them if it could be a mistake and they became a little bit aggresive, telling me that it's not a mistake, that they recognize me and that I should get out right now. It took me about an hour to be able to talk to the manager and after a while he finally accepted to look at the video cameras to see if I really went away with my friends at the time I said I did.

Next thing you know, the manager comes back and tells me that I was right, that they were not sure who had stolen the bottle of liquor so they chose to ban the person who looked most alike. In the end they did apologize to me, but the fact that I almost got banned from all the bars in Vancouver because of Garfinkel's mistake kind of sucks honestly (and the fact they refused to hear me out at first).

I would not recommend this bar to anyone after such an event occured. Taking the chance to be banned from all bars in Vancouver is not worth the risk...