MIRAAS
Fine Persian Dining on Denman

by Michelle Livingstone
(click images to enlarge)

Time moves fast on Denman Street, and so do the businesses. The flux and flow of new ventures is a thing most locals are used to. We tend to work on the ‘Don't get too comfy, it will probably close just as you fancy a night out there again.’

Pomegranate was one such eatery. I still remember their delicious risotto. It had a good run of seven years on Denman, but threw its towel in the ring in 2017.

**A dining interior both cozy and elegant.**

It makes one wonder what sort of Faustian pact one needs to make in order to keep a venture going.

And all too sadly the turnover time for replacing failed businesses on Denman Street seems to have slowed down to the good old speed of ‘stop’.

Recently another lovely place closed its doors. The Jungle Room, which opened in April 2023, was amazing, and I was saddened to see it bow out so quietly, in October 2025. But what impressed me is that this great space was snapped up and transformed itself into a very swanky upmarket Persian restaurant, seemingly overnight.

My partner and I stumbled upon this delightful place quite by accident one dusky Friday evening a few weeks back. We had been planning to have some Mexican food, but as it was closed, we dove into the newly opened Miraas.

The second of their restaurants, Miraas began welcoming customers on January 12 of this year, after doing so well with their first restaurant, located in West Vancouver. It's fair to say that these folks are no newbies when it comes to sharing their love of fine Persian food.

The decor is still very much Jungle Room, which with its many plants and rich dark walls, provides a cosy, and intimate dining experience. I found this particularly lovely on that dusky Friday evening, sitting in a comfy seat, sipping a drink, watching all the vehicles sit in their busy lanes on Denman Street, their occupants looking in at us longingly, no doubt wishing they could swap places.

On the night we went we had great service and nice ambient music. The restaurant was buzzing with people, and it was only 5.30 p.m. Replete with beautiful little flower arrangements on the tables, it was a little slice of heaven in a bustly part of the West End.

The creamy garlic hummus was excellent, and a big portion too, (you bet we took the rest home) and it was served with a flavoursome flatbread. My partner had the Barley soup, which again was delicious. We then moved onto sharing the main course of Baghali Polo, a classic fragrant Persian rice dish,with fava beans and dill. Beautifully turned out, especially with the rice being served Tahdig style (where it is crisped on the bottom of the pan and turned out like an upside down pudding). This perfectly complimented the rack of lamb. For drinks, we had sparkling water and both opted for margaritas, one spicy and one normal for the soft English lass in me.

A lot of people will remember the original space as The Dover Arms, a well loved local pub, and a big hit in the neighborhood, from its launch in 1972, after legislation ending the exclusivity over sales of draft beer, until its sad demise in April 2017. Many happy memories of sitting outside on the sidewalk on Pride Day with a refreshing beer, enjoying the colourful and lively parade.

A far cry from the ‘old man's pub’, as we used to nickname it, I found myself looking at the spot where live bands would once play, but instead of being wistful, I was delighted by a trio who were sitting in a comfy semi circle banquette seating arrangement and were having a lovely time.

The word ‘Miraas' comes from an Arabic-originated Urdu noun, meaning heritage, often referring to cultural values passed down through generations. The co-founder and director, Mohammad Salmani, and restaurant and catering manager Reza Ghasemi seem to have the drop on this, with their website mentioning that Miraas is, “More than just a restaurant, Miraas is a celebration of Persian culture, hospitality, and exceptional flavors.”

In 2025, the renowned worldwide food platform, Restaurant Guru, recognized Miraas West Vancouver as a recommended restaurant. One truly hopes that Miraas in the West End continues and gets another shout out with Restaurant Guru in 2026. If our experience is anything to go by, I foresee it being a fine mainstay of Denman Street.

Miraas Restaurant and Bar
961 Denman Street.
778 918 8085
Website