the Opus Bar in Yaletown
The West End is the center of Vancouver’s LGBTQ community. Wander along Davie Street, where a brightly painted rainbow crosswalk marks the intersection at Bute Street, to find a variety of gay-friendly pubs and lounges.
Night owls, take note: Vancouver isn’t a party-all-night city. Most bars and lounges close at 1am Sunday through Thursday and at 2am or 3am on weekends.
HIGHLIGHTS
S MOST SCENIC VIEWS: If you were any closer to the water at LIFT Bar & Grill, an upscale waterfront pub overlooking Stanley Park, you’d be swimming (click here).
S BEST THEMED NIGHT OUT: The elegant Prohibition Lounge has a Roaring Twenties theme, with music several nights a week (click here).
S BEST SECRET DRINKING HIDEAWAY: Settle around the fire pit for cocktails at posh outdoor Reflections Lounge, hidden on the fourth floor of the Rosewood Hotel Georgia (click here).
S FRESHEST COCKTAILS: The talented mixologists at The Pourhouse are always creating something new for guests to sip (click here).
S WHERE TO PAIR WAFFLES WITH CRAFT BEER: Beer and waffles? At 33 Acres Brewing, the weekend waffle brunch draws legions of fans (click here).
S WHERE TO HANG OUT ON A BLUE-SKY DAY: Head to the friendly pub Tap & Barrel for B.C. beer and wines on their sunny patio (click here).
the Tap & Barrel, overlooking False Creek
S COOLEST COCKTAIL LOUNGE: The Opus Bar resembles a trendy living room, where well-dressed young people gather in the curvaceous lounge chairs in front of the fireplace to chat over creative cocktails (click here).
S BEST PLACE FOR A GEEKY GOOD TIME: As “Vancouver’s Original Nerd Bar,” Storm Crow Tavern hosts trivia nights, provides stacks of board games to play, and shows sci-fi (never sports!) on their TVs (click here).
Downtown and the West End Map 1
PUBS
S LIFT Bar & Grill
Enjoy one of the best views of Vancouver while you raise your glass at LIFT Bar & Grill, an upscale waterfront pub and Pacific Northwest eatery on Coal Harbour that draws a mix of visitors, local businesspeople, and after-work meet-ups. Look across to Stanley Park as you take your craft beer, B.C. wine, or favorite cocktail on the terrace, where, if you were any closer to the water, you’d be swimming.
MAP 1: 333 Menchions Mews, 604/689-5438, http://liftbarandgrill.com; 11:30am-late Mon.-Fri., 11am-late Sat.-Sun.
Jonnie Fox’s Irish Snug
Amid the nightclubs along Granville Street downtown, Jonnie Fox’s Irish Snug is a classic Irish pub, where a diverse crowd settles in at the bar or wooden booths for a whiskey or a pint. Irish breakfast (served all day), Yorkshire pudding, and steak and Guinness pie add a Gaelic twist to the otherwise standard pub menu.
MAP 1: 1033 Granville St., 604/685-4946, www.johnniefox.ca; 11:30am-1am Sun.-Thurs., 11:30am-2am Fri.-Sat.
LIVE MUSIC
The Commodore Ballroom
First opened in 1930, The Commodore Ballroom downtown hosts live concerts in its art deco-designed ballroom, featuring performers as diverse as the Tragically Hip, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry, and drawing crowds of over 900. Its original “sprung” dance floor, which cushioned dancers’ feet with a layer of horsehair, was one of the first such floors in North America.
MAP 1: 868 Granville St., 604/739-4550, www.commodoreballroom.com; tickets $20-45
The Roxy
Head to The Roxy, a dark neon-lit club downtown on the Granville strip, when you want to dance. Their rockin’ house bands play several nights a week, drawing a young partying crowd; the club accommodates 200-plus people. Sunday is country-and-western night.
MAP 1: 932 Granville St., 604/331-7999, www.roxyvan.com; 8pm-3am daily; cover $5-13
COCKTAIL BARS AND LOUNGES
S Prohibition Lounge
Elegant Prohibition Lounge at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia has a Roaring Twenties theme, with music or DJs several nights a week. Wear something stylish when you stop in to sip the daily punch, try an absinthe tasting, or go for a classic cocktail, like the Scofflaw (rye, dry vermouth, lemon, and house-made grenadine) or the Jazz Singer (gin, maraschino, lemon, cherries, and bubbles).
MAP 1: 801 W. Georgia St., 604/673-7089, www.prohibitionrhg.com; 5pm-1am Tues.-Thurs., 5pm-2am Fri.-Sat.
S Reflections Lounge
Secreted away on the fourth floor of the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, the posh outdoor Reflections Lounge, where you can sip your wine or classic cocktail on teak couches around a fire pit, brings Los Angeles glamour to downtown Vancouver. Because the lounge is exposed to the elements, it’s typically only open April through October.
MAP 1: 801 W. Georgia St., 604/673-7043, www.rosewoodhotels.com; 11:30am-10:30pm daily Apr.-Oct.
Bacchus Lounge
Polished Bacchus Lounge at the Wedgewood Hotel is appropriate for cocktails and quiet conversation with a colleague or a consort. Don a cocktail dress or suit, then sink into the leather chairs or velvet banquettes and listen to the live piano music every evening.
MAP 1: 845 Hornby St., 604/608-5319, www.wedgewoodhotel.com; 2:30pm-midnight Sun.-Wed., 2:30pm-1am Thurs.-Sat.
Gerard Lounge
Styled like an English club room, with dark wood paneling, leather chairs, and oriental rugs, Gerard Lounge at the Sutton Place Hotel has a popular happy hour (3pm to 6pm daily), where the after-work crowd loosens their ties over craft beer flights and discounted highballs. With french fries that are hand cut and crispy chicken wings spiced with sambal chili, the bar snacks go beyond the ordinary.
MAP 1: 845 Burrard St., 604/642-2900, www.suttonplace.com; noon-late daily
Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar
Quiet enough for conversation (except maybe on Saturday evenings when musicians perform live jazz), snug Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar serves creative cocktails, craft beer, and a long list of wines by the glass to a hip crowd. During the day, you can pop in for a coffee, linger with your laptop, or tuck into a plate of pasta. In the evening, arancini, charcuterie plates, or wine-poached mussels make a snack or a light meal.
MAP 1: 900 Seymour St., 604/632-9560, www.uvavancouver.com; 11:30am-2am daily
GAY AND LESBIAN
Celebrities Nightclub
Davie Street, in the West End, is the center of Vancouver’s LGBTQ community, where nightspots include Celebrities Nightclub, a frequently packed party-hardy dance club that’s open to all, known for its light shows and booming sound system. Stereotype Fridays (9pm-3am) are electronic music nights; Playhouse Saturdays (9pm-3am) get dancers moving with a mix of club hits and house anthems.
MAP 1: 1022 Davie St., 604/681-6180, www.celebritiesnightclub.com; cover varies
Fountainhead Pub
A West End local hangout since 2000, the easygoing Fountainhead Pub is a classic neighborhood bar with a heated patio (especially busy at brunch), a pool table, and room to talk. It’s long been a popular spot for the area’s gay community, although all are welcome. Cocktails get a little racy with drinks like the Porn Star (blue curacao, Sour Puss raspberry, and cranberry juice) or a Slippery Nipple shooter of Sambucca and Bailey’s.
MAP 1: 1025 Davie St., 604/687-2222, www.thefountainheadpub.com; 11am-midnight Sun.-Thurs., 11am-2am Fri.-Sat.
SPORTS BARS
Red Card Sports Bar
Want to watch the hockey game? Red Card Sports Bar downtown has 16 HD TVs and two massive projection screens, so you won’t miss any of the action. It’s not all hockey either, although Vancouver Canucks’ games get priority over football, baseball, and other sports. Beers come from around the world, and to ward off mid-match munchies, choose from Italian classics (pizzas, pastas), burgers, sandwiches, or other comfort food.
MAP 1: 560 Smithe St., 604/602-9570, www.redcardsportsbar.ca; 11:30am-1am Sun.-Thurs., 11:30am-2am Fri.-Sat.
Gastown and Chinatown Map 2
CRAFT BEER
The Alibi Room
Beer lovers need no excuse to visit The Alibi Room, a low-key Gastown pub with 50 taps of local and imported craft beers. Housed
in a century-old building with big curved windows, brick walls, and long communal tables, this laid-back bar draws a diverse crowd, united by their love of microbrews. In summer, you can sit on the narrow streetside patio.
MAP 2: 157 Alexander St., 604/623-3383, www.alibi.ca; 5pm-11:30pm Mon.-Thurs., 5pm-12:30am Fri., 10am-12:30am Sat., 10am-11:30pm Sun.
Six Acres
In Vancouver’s oldest brick building, near the Gassy Jack statue, this cozy pub has a rotating selection of local beers (with more options in the bottle) and a menu of creatively comforting small plates. It’s a good place to meet up for drinks and conversation.
MAP 2: 203 Carrall St., 604/488-0110, http://sixacres.ca; 11:30am-11:30pm Sun.-Thurs., 11:30am-12:30am Fri.-Sat.
LIVE MUSIC
Guilt & Company
A club within a club, Guilt & Company, on the lower level beneath Chill Winston, has live music most nights. The lineup is eclectic, from swing, reggae, and alt-rock to spoken word and burlesque. Admission for most shows ranges from pay-what-you-can to $20; starting times vary, too, so check their website for details.
MAP 2: 1 Alexander St., 604/288-9575, www.guiltandcompany.com; 8pm-late daily; cover $0-20
COCKTAIL BARS AND LOUNGES
S The Pourhouse
With a name like The Pourhouse, you’d expect a joint that serves great cocktails—and you’d be right. The resident mixologists at this upscale Gastown saloon, set in a 1910 building lit with vintage lamps, concoct drinks like the Alamo Flip (a blend of tequila, house-made root beer, chocolate bitters, egg, and cinnamon) and the Old Pal (rye, vermouth, and Campari). Enjoy yours at the 38-foot (11.5-meter) bar, crafted from reclaimed Douglas fir planks.
MAP 2: 162 Water St., 604/568-7022, www.pourhousevancouver.com; 5pm-midnight Sun.-Thurs., 5pm-1am Fri.-Sat.
Chill Winston
On a mild evening, join the crowds for drinks on the patio at Chill Winston, where you have a front-row seat for Gastown’s street life. While it’s nice enough inside, with brick walls and low lighting, it’s buzzing with both locals and tourists outdoors. Cocktails like the Ritual Sacrifice (Victoria gin, Aperol, grapefruit tea, lemon, and peach bitters) stand up to sharing plates that include charcuterie boards, flatbread pizzas, and poutine with Jack Daniels gravy.
MAP 2: 3 Alexander St., 604/288-9575, www.chillwinston.com; 11:30am-midnight daily
The Diamond
A lively speakeasy-style cocktail bar with exposed brick walls and tall windows overlooking Gastown’s Maple Leaf Square, The Diamond groups its cocktails by adjective, such as refreshing, proper, and notorious. There’s a short menu of sushi, charcuterie, and sandwiches to snack on, too.
MAP 2: 6 Powell St., 604/568-8272, http://di6mond.com; 5:30pm-1am Mon.-Thurs., 5:30pm-2am Fri.-Sat., 5:30pm-midnight Sun.
The Keefer Bar
The Keefer Bar, a swank Chinatown hideout, concocts aromatic cocktails using house-made bitters, teas, and syrups. Join the well-dressed crowd in this dark den, and pair the Opium Sour (bourbon, grapefruit, tamarind, lemon, and poppy-seed tincture) or the Bloody Ming (vodka, guava, lemon, Worcestershire, and Tabasco) with the Asian-inspired small plates.
MAP 2: 135 Keefer St., 604/688-1961, www.thekeeferbar.com; 5pm-1am Sun.-Thurs., 5pm-2am Fri.-Sat.
WINE BARS
Salt Tasting Room
A wine bar hidden in a Gastown alley, tiny Salt Tasting Room offers a long list of wines by the glass that’s strong on B.C. labels, along with craft beers, ciders, and a selection of whiskeys. In this warm, inviting room, with solid wooden tables and brick walls, you can pair your drinks with a cheese and charcuterie board, then nibble and sip the night away.
MAP 2: 45 Blood Alley, 604/633-1912, www.salttastingroom.com; 4pm-late daily
Yaletown and False Creek Map 3
CRAFT BEER
S 33 Acres Brewing
You can sample a flight or raise a glass at 33 Acres Brewing, which draws a casual hipster crowd to its 60-seat tasting room between Cambie and Main Streets, a sleek white-walled space with shared tables and stools along the counter. Their well-regarded brews include 33 Acres of Sunshine (a blond summer ale) and 33 Acres of Darkness (a malty dark beer). Six-ounce samplers are $2; you can put together a flight of up to four. Food trucks park here regularly, and the weekend waffle brunch has legions of fans.
MAP 3: 15 W. 8th Ave., 604/620-4589, www.33acresbrewing.com; 9am-11pm Mon.-Fri., 10am-11pm Sat.-Sun.
Brassneck Brewery
The communal tables in the compact Main Street tasting room at hip Brassneck Brewery fill up fast, particularly on weekend evenings, with fans of their frequently changing small-batch brews. Perhaps it’s not surprising that Brassneck is the craft brewery that other local brewers often recommend. Choose from 8-10 different brews, which might include their signature Brassneck Ale, a straightforward pale ale; the dry-hopped Passive Aggressive pale ale; or Old Bitch, an English bitter. Six-ounce samples are $2.50, a flight of four is $8. There’s no kitchen, but food trucks are frequently parked outside.
MAP 3: 2148 Main St., 604/259-7686, www.brassneck.ca; 2pm-11pm Mon.-Fri., noon-11pm Sat.-Sun.
Central City Brew Pub
Known for their Red Racer label, especially the popular IPA, Central City has been making beer at their brewery in the Vancouver suburb of Surrey since 2003. Their brewpub in Yaletown, a roomy warehouse-style space with a long bar, exposed brick walls, and communal wooden tables, showcases Central City’s own brews and other local varieties from 40 taps. Close to the sports arenas, it attracts hockey and soccer fans; if you’re not headed for the game, you can sip your beer here and watch the match on TV.
MAP 3: 871 Beatty St., 778/379-2489, http://centralcitybrewing.com; 11am-midnight Sun.-Thurs., 11am-1am Fri.-Sat.
PUBS
S Tap & Barrel
With a sunny patio facing False Creek lined with their signature red umbrellas, the Olympic Village branch of local pub chain Tap & Barrel is perpetually packed on summer days. Yet, even in winter, you can take in the city views through the oversize windows. They serve a long list of B.C. beer on tap, from producers like 33 Acres, Four Winds, and Whistler Brewing. Order a flight of five ($10.50) to sample a few different options. They’ve got taps for B.C. wines as well. The comfort food menu amps up basic pub fare with dishes like a PBJ burger (slathered with chipotle peanut butter and bacon jam) and craft beer macaroni and cheese. For an interesting brunch twist, try the pork belly and soft egg pizza. You’ll find other Tap & Barrel locations downtown and in North Vancouver. The company also runs smaller Tap Shack pubs (http://tapshack.ca).
MAP 3: 1 Athletes Way, 604/685-2223, www.tapandbarrel.com; 11am-midnight Mon.-Fri., 10am-midnight Sat.-Sun.
Yaletown Brewing Company
The always-busy Yaletown Brewing Company, with a rotating selection of taps, is a lively spot to meet up for a drink or bring the gang for appetizers and a beer. It can get loud inside, so ask for a table on the wraparound patio, where the added benefit is a front row seat for the Yaletown neighborhood scene. Look over the lengthy menu of sandwiches, salads, pizzas, and other pub fare if you need sustenance with your brews.
Yaletown Brewing Company
MAP 3: 1111 Mainland St., 604/681-2739, www.mjg.ca/yaletown; 11:30am-midnight Sun.-Wed., 11:30am-1am Thurs., 11:30am-3am Fri.-Sat.
LIVE MUSIC
Frankie’s Jazz Club
A venue for serious jazz fans, Frankie’s Jazz Club hosts performances by local and international musicians several nights a week. More casual music sessions, with no cover charge, take place during happy hour, 4pm to 6pm Wednesday through Friday. Sax player Cory Weeds, a longtime fixture on Vancouver’s jazz scene, is a frequent performer. Other musicians who’ve entertained here include Canadian acoustic string ensemble Van Django; Los Angeles-born bassist, singer, and bandleader Katie Thiroux; and New York-based pianist and composer Helen Sung, performing with her quartet.
MAP 3: 765 Beatty St., 778/727-0337, www.coastaljazz.ca; hours vary by performer; cover $15-30
LOUNGES
S Opus Bar
In the lobby of Yaletown’s hip Opus Hotel Vancouver, the Opus Bar is styled like a trendy living room, where well-dressed young people gather in curvaceous lounge chairs in front of the fireplace to chat over drinks like the Little Chile (pisco, campari, egg white, and orange blossom water) or Room 207 (tequila, Cointreau, Galliano, and citrus). Come at happy hour (3pm-6pm) for discounted drinks and snacks. Earlier in the day (7:30am-1:30pm), you can linger over coffee, pastries, and freshly made waffles.
MAP 3: 322 Davie St., 866/642-6787, http://vancouver.opushotel.com; 7:30am-late daily
Granville Island Map 4
CRAFT BEER
Dockside Lounge
At the east end of Granville Island, connected to the Granville Island Hotel, Dockside Brewing Company has been making craft beer since 2001. Among their long-running classics are the Cartwright Pale Ale and Johnston Street Pilsner. For brews with water views, take a seat in their Dockside Lounge, which looks out across False Creek, a perfect spot for drinks on a sunny afternoon. Even if you sit inside, you can check out the vistas through the expansive windows.
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