The Bee's Knees Cafe
1139 W Pender St, Vancouver BC V6E 2V2 · Food Service Establishment 1
Inspection summary
The Bee's Knees Cafe has been inspected 12 times by Vancouver Coastal Health since September 26, 2022. The most recent inspection, on June 30, 2026, found no infractions.
3 of 12 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 4 inspections with 10 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Cleaning and sanitizing and Food temperature control.
Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.
What these findings mean
Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.
Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk
Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.
Recorded 8 times across 8 separate inspections, most recently on June 17, 2026. For example:
Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk
Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.
Recorded 5 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on June 17, 2026. For example:
The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
Food temperature controlHigher risk
Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.
Recorded 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on December 20, 2025. For example:
Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk
This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.
Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 18, 2023. For example:
Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
PestsHigher risk
Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.
Recorded once on June 17, 2026. For example:
The premises is free of pests.
About this data
These results come from Vancouver Coastal Health, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.
12 inspections
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
5 infractions
- The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
- Operator of a food service establishment has developed, maintained, and followed approved written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur.
- Operator of a food service establishment has approved written procedures to ensure the safe and sanitary operation of the establishment.
- The premises is free of pests.
- Premises has signs of rodent activity.
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
5 infractions
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
- Potentially hazardous food is not stored, displayed or transported at a temperature of 4°C or below.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Operator of a food service establishment has developed, maintained, and followed approved written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur.
- Operator of a food service establishment has approved written procedures to ensure the safe and sanitary operation of the establishment.
- Routine
3 infractions
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Chemicals, cleansers and similar agents are kept separate from food.
- Routine
2 infractions
- A Certified food safety training course has been taken by the operator and food handlers of the food service establishment.
- No employee present holds a valid FOODSAFE or equivalent certificate while the Owner/Operator is absent.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
- A Certified food safety training course has been taken by the operator and food handlers of the food service establishment.
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
3 infractions
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- A Certified food safety training course has been taken by the operator and food handlers of the food service establishment.
- No employee present holds a valid FOODSAFE or equivalent certificate while the Owner/Operator is absent.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
- Routine
3 infractions
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
- A food service establishment must have written procedures to ensure the safe and sanitary operation of the establishment.
- Sanitizer levels are not being monitored and recorded.
- Routine
6 infractions
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Equipment or materials not required for the operation are stored on the premises.
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
- The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Routine
5 infractions
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Equipment or materials not required for the operation are stored on the premises.
- A Certified food safety training course has been taken by the operator and food handlers of the food service establishment.
- Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
- Potentially hazardous food is not stored, displayed or transported at a temperature of 4°C or below.
- The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Sanitizing solution is not present or at an improper concentration.
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Routine
4 infractions
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Construction or alteration have occurred without approval.
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- Food is not protected from contamination during transportation, display, storage or preparation.
- Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
- Potentially hazardous food is not stored, displayed or transported at a temperature of 4°C or below.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing station is obstructed or being used for other purposes.
- Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
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