CHEF HARRIS SAKALIS NAMED NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF OF
FAIRMONT WATERFRONT
-The Fairmont Waterfront will continue to focus on sustainable, locally sourced
cuisine—including ingredients from the hotel’s rooftop garden-
Fairmont Waterfront is proud to announce the appointment of Chef Harris Sakalis as the hotel’s new Executive Chef. With over 25 years of international experience and a deep commitment to sustainability and local sourcing, Chef Harris is poised to lead the Fairmont Waterfront’s culinary program into an exciting new chapter.
Originally from Greece, Chef Harris’ passion for cooking was sparked in childhood kitchens and later honed in Michelin-starred restaurants after completing advanced training at the Culinary Institute of America in New York.
His career has taken him from the Caribbean to the Middle East, before joining the Fairmont family in Bermuda. Since then, he’s led kitchens at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and Fairmont Vancouver Airport, before arriving at Fairmont Waterfront. Known for his “simple but sophisticated” culinary style, Chef Harris blends his Greek roots with the bounty of the Pacific Northwest, placing sustainability and local sourcing at the heart of his menus.
“I’m honoured to join the team at the Fairmont Waterfront,” said Chef Harris Sakalis, Executive Chef of the Fairmont Waterfront. “Vancouver’s incredible local ingredients and diverse culinary culture offer endless inspiration and I look forward to creating memorable dining experiences that celebrate sustainability, seasonality, and bold, honest flavours.”
Chef Harris will oversee all culinary operations at ARC Restaurant, as well as catering and banquet services throughout the hotel. His appointment marks an exciting new chapter for ARC, which continues to build its reputation as one of Vancouver’s most vibrant and welcoming dining destinations, focusing on fresh, local ingredients, including those grown on the hotel’s rooftop garden.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Chef Harris Sakalis to the Fairmont Waterfront team,” said Mike Pagnacco, Director of Food & Beverage at the Fairmont Waterfront. “His global culinary experience and passion for locally inspired cuisine align perfectly with our commitment to exceptional, sustainable dining. We’re excited for the fresh creativity and leadership he brings to our kitchen, and we know our guests will love what’s to come.”
ARC Restaurant offers a quintessential West Coast dining experience, where handcrafted, urban artisan dishes are thoughtfully prepared using locally sourced ingredients—including herbs and honey harvested from Fairmont Waterfront’s own rooftop garden and beehives. Complemented by panoramic views of Vancouver’s harbour and mountains, ARC delivers a culinary experience as memorable as its surroundings. For further information, please visit: www.arcdining.com.
About Fairmont Waterfront
Experience pure coastal luxury and West Coast wellness at Fairmont Waterfront, where breathtaking harbour and mountain views meet a seamless blend of urban sophistication and natural wonder. Centrally located in downtown Vancouver, steps from Canada Place, Gastown, and the Stanley Park Seawall, the hotel offers an authentic gateway to a city surrounded by wilderness. Discover the rooftop garden, one of Vancouver’s first green roofs, and its honeybee apiary, with ingredients featured in ARC Restaurant + Bar’s Province to Plate menu. Recharge with wellness activities like poolside meditation, sound bathing, and polar plunges, or relax by the heated rooftop pool. Consistently ranked among Vancouver’s top luxury hotels, Fairmont Waterfront celebrates the unique harmony of city life and nature that defines Vancouver.
