An Intimate Escape in Bustling Old Strathcona

Tucked just off Whyte Avenue, Coterie is the kind of place that slowly reveals itself. The exterior offers an unassuming door on the side of a strip mall but step inside, and the mood entirely shifts. Dark, cozy and quietly elegant, the wine bar has been drawing guests in since it officially opened in November 2023.

For owner Dominique Moquin, Coterie was born out of a desire to return to the parts of hospitality she and her husband, Joshua Meachem, love most. “We’ve been in the industry a very long time,” she says. “We have owned a couple of restaurants, including some large ones, and we were really excited to go back to our roots serving, bartending, and really connecting with our clientele.”

That return to roots shaped everything about Coterie. The space is designed to foster conversation not just at the table, but across the bar. “We wanted to create a small, intimate atmosphere where we could really get to know the people that come through our doors and build our regulars that way,” Moquin explains. Wine, shareable plates, and a boutique feel were always central to the concept.

While the vision has remained consistent, the menu has been allowed to evolve. “It really depends on who’s working with us at the time and what they’re passionate about, because that translates to the table,” Moquin says. Over the past two and a half years, Coterie has become a space for exploration, with rotating dishes and wines that keep things fresh. “That’s also what’s fun and what gets people coming back. Everything’s kind of new and exciting.”

What hasn’t changed is the cozy vibe with the design leaning into rich green tones and a subtle nod to Art Deco. “We wanted it to feel inviting and warm, somewhere people want to spend a few hours and have an escape from everyday life.”

That sense of escape is deliberate. “It’s not a speakeasy necessarily, but when you come in, it’s a completely different vibe from what people expect,” Moquin says.

Since opening, Moquin and Meachem now balance multiple projects, but their presence is still felt. Front-of-house manager Kortney Price is there every day, welcoming guests and guiding them through the experience. “She’s such a perfect example of someone who represents our brand,” Moquin says. “She has stories about the winemakers and really creates great conversation.”

Perfect for date nights and catch-up conversations, Coterie offers an evening filled with rotating wine flights, seasonal small plates, and the kind of atmosphere that invites you to stay a little longer.