Discover the finest bars and vibrant nightlife scene in Vancouver
Experience a variety of options, from cozy beer halls to exotic tiki bar.
Explore these top spots to fully immerse yourself in the city's energetic nightlife
Tap & Barrel at the Convention Centre offers a breathtaking view of the majestic North Shore mountains, providing a truly unforgettable experience for visitors.
In addition to its stunning location, Vancouver's bar scene has evolved into a haven for drink enthusiasts as a result of the city's booming craft brewing, distilling, and cocktail culture. Following the lifting of restrictions on barrel-aging and infusing spirits in 2017, bars in Vancouver have embraced innovation and creativity, attracting renowned bartenders who have emerged as champions in international competitions.
With an emphasis on exceptional service and delightful libations, Vancouver's bars and nightspots showcase the city's vibrant culinary landscape, making it the perfect destination for both locals and tourists with discerning palates.
Below our expert shares her tips for the best bars in Vancouver. For further inspiration, see our guides to the city's best hotels, restaurants and attractions, plus how to spend a weekend in Vancouver. If planning a longer trip, plan the ultimate itinerary on Canada's west coast withour expert guide.
Downtown Hawksworth Bar
In the heart of Vancouver's vibrant social scene, the elegant bar at Hawksworth restaurant is a glistening gem. It's one of the few places in this casually dressed city that enforces a dress code, ensuring that its patrons are always looking their best. Amid the luxurious surroundings, you can lounge on a leather banquette beneath the captivating gaze of a Damien Hirst’s Big Love print, feeling every bit the sophisticated socialite. After soaking in the contemporary masterpieces at the nearby Vancouver Art Gallery, there's no better way to extend the afternoon's cultural explorations than by indulging in a Happy Hour at this chic establishment. Between 4pm and 6pm, treat yourself to a masterfully mixed $7/£4 martini or negroni, the perfect aperitif to stimulate your palate and unwind after the artistic excursion. As the evening unfolds, the Hawksworth bar beckons with its signature cocktail, the Hotel Georgia. This bright and silky citrus wonder is an elegant blend of gin, almond syrup, orange flower water, lemon juice, and egg white, all served in a chilled coupe. This drink is not just a beverage; it's an experience, embodying the sophistication of Vancouver's nightlife. When planning your visit to this stylish city, securing the perfect accommodation is essential. Hotel deals in Vancouver at britishcolumbiahotels.net offers a myriad of options to ensure that your stay complements the elegance and excitement of your evenings out. Whether you're here for the arts, the cocktails, or the sheer joy of travel, Vancouver promises an adventure woven with the threads of luxury and culture.
Contact: hawksworthrestaurant.com
Price: ££
Getting in: No shorts, baseball caps or activewear
Hawksworth
Imagine gazing at the stunning vista of North Shore mountains, the tranquil Burrard Inlet, and the legendary Jack Poole Plaza that housed the 2010 Winter Olympics cauldron, as you sip on locally produced beverages in the heart of Vancouver. The downtown location of this popular restaurant chain may flaunt an eye-catching view, however, its unique menu tells a tale of its commitment to local brewers and vintners. The establishment believes in sustainability, serving all of its wines, beers, and ciders directly from the tap to minimize its carbon footprint. Unique beverages, bespoke for the establishment, and featuring small-scale craftsmen fill the menu. Do treat yourself to a sampler of British Columbian brewed beers and exquisite wines while indulging in their mouthwatering wood board pizzas or their irresistible deep-fried pickles.
Get in touch: tapandbarrel.com
Cost: £
Tap & Barrel Gastown Pourhouse
If you’re missing the ambience of a proper pub, the Pourhouse offers a relatively close facsimile, although with better service, a twice-daily happy hour (3-6pm, 10pm-close), and one of the very best burgers in the city. Situated in the heart of Gastown, a stone’s throw from the tourist magnet of the steam clock, the Pourhouse boasts a gleaming 120-year-old reclaimed Douglas Fir wooden bar which runs almost the entire length of the room, plenty of gold leaf detail, and a squad of cheerful waistcoated bartenders. On the cocktail menu classics and innovative riffs, plus a small but perfectly formed B.C.-heavy wine and beer list. Swing by at weekends for their boozy brunch (the burger benny with smashed patties, crumpet, hollandaise and tater tots, and spiked coffees are especially good). Summer sees a return of live music every Thursday and Sunday from 7-10pm.
For more information, visit: pourhousevancouver.com
The Diamond in Vancouver
Upon your arrival, be sure to snap a picture with the radiant art installation at the entryway. As you ascend the crafted wooden staircase, you'll discover a popular Gastown treasure. Select from seating arrangements including the sophisticated bar or snug alcoves. The diverse drink list offers 'exotic', 'refreshing', 'subtle', and 'traditional' cocktails, leaving you to answer the toughest question - is the Kodama, their signature hand-chiseled crystal-clear ice worth the extra dollar? (Hint: Absolutely). Begin your experience with the reinvigorating Tommy’s Margarita. Engage in a captivating session of people-watching in Gastown when the sun is out, presented to you through the open, roomy windows. As dusk approaches, the vibrant bar room draws your attention back in.
Cost: £
Admission: No booking is needed, unless your party consists of a group of four or more during peak hours.
The Diamond Pidgin
Excelling as both a standalone cocktail bar and Asian-French fusion restaurant, Pidgin deftly gathers together French culinary techniques, Asian flavours and the seasonal bounty of the Pacific Northwest to create something entirely new and so very Vancouver-ish. Cocktails are thrillingly innovative, using ingredients such as matcha tea, smoked maple syrup and toasted rice rum. Look out for the fun and quirky installation pieces, such as local artist Ricky Alvarez’s gleaming cleaver behind the bar and the claw handles for the on-tap sake. Snack on oyster shots or spicy gochujang chicken wings at the bar or indulge in their ever-changing seven-course prixe-fixe menu.
Contact: pidginvancouver.com
Price: £-££
Getting in:Reservations recommended for Fridays and Saturdays
Pidgin Chinatown Keefer Bar
Step inside this narrow room, lit with subdued suspended lighting and adorned with Chinese anatomical diagrams and antique glass collections; take a seat under the 'Medical Centre' sign and prepare to indulge in some of the city’s very best original cocktails. Inspired by traditional apothecaries, the Keefer specialises in 'prescriptions' created with house-made bitters, teas, syrups and infusions with herbs drawn from the world of traditional Chinese medicine and exotic fruits from Chinatown. Try an old Keefer favourite the Dragonfly with dragon fruit-infused gin, sake and magnolia bark tincture or a new creation from their seasonal menu. The dim sum dumplings and Lapsang pork tacos are worth snacking on, too.
Contact: thekeeferbar.com
Price: £
Let's explore the vibrant nightlife scene in Vancouver, where Keefer Bar's Main Street Bar stands tall. The place shares a special connection with the Published on Main – a fine dining restaurant with a Michelin star to its credit. Main Street Bar is this stellar culinary hotspot's sister establishment.
Known as 'Susu', the bar-restaurant recently enjoyed a nod of approval from the Michelin Guide. It offers a selection of delicious treats that take food appreciation to a whole new level. Picture this - crispy rosettes stuffed with Michelin-inspired chicken liver. And that's not all! The menu keeps changing and keeps surprising with its imaginative and delightful offerings; even the healthy kale salad becomes a playful feast with 3-D printed Jicama and jade radish dino shapes!
Wash down the food with Susu's unique range of beverages. It regularly updates its range of amari, cocktails, vermouth, and a variety of low-intervention and natural wines. Sounds tempting? To know more, visit thisisbarsusu.com. The prices are wallet-friendly too. Enjoy!
Shed any preconceived notions and immerse yourself in an unabashedly campy and utterly tropical evening at the city's top-of-the-line retro tiki bar. Once your peepers become acclimated to the windowless, dimly lit ambience, the extraordinary decor of raffia furnishings, masks, carvings, and pufferfish lanterns reveal themselves. Choose a spot at the maroon-lit bar adorned with a tufted roofing, as you lose yourself in screenings of classic surf reels and 1950s horror flicks, complemented by a harmony of waves crashing and Hawaiian string instruments. Do try their impeccable (and impressively potent) Tiki beverages: we suggest the Mystery Bowl for two, its arrival is heralded by a sounding gong. Keep an eye on the listings for live hula performances and music gigs.
Get in touch: shamefultikiroom.com
Admission: Bookings suggested for Friday and Saturday nights; attire: casual. Hawaiian shirts are encouraged.
Expense: £
This nightlife gem in Vancouver infuses a vintage feel with modern entertainment and offers an interactive experience that stands out from the usual bar scene. Being one of the handful remaining authentic tiki bars, it is an unforgettable experience for both locals and visitors alike. Its unique setting and entertainment schedule have made it a key component of Vancouver's vibrant nightlife.
In the eclectic neighborhood of Mount Pleasant, a former adult cinema hall has been ingeniously transformed into a chic hipster joint. This distinctive venue, known as The Fox, now sparkles with a broad mix of entertaining engagements like Prince remembrance nights, dance parties showcasing 1990's and 2000's hits, as well as a stage for emerging bands. Not to forget, the exhilarating drag and burlesque shows that have become its signature delight. The vibrancy of the place is aptly captured under the reflective charm of the disco ball, igniting the youthful spirit within.
The Fox is a versatile space spread across two levels, each boasting its own charm. The site presents an exciting schedule filled with live music, cabaret performances, club nights, and stand-up comedy shows. The upstairs level, known as the Projection Room, warmly welcomes you to a snug cocktail bar setting. Not only does it serve refreshing concoctions, but it also frequently organizes comedy events and open mic DJ nights where guests can bring along their own vinyl records.
Contact: foxcabaret.com
Price: £
Dive into the Exciting World of Vancouver's Craft Spirits at Odd Society
In 2013, an overhaul to outdated liquor laws post-prohibition gave rise to the birth of Vancouver's first craft distilleries, one of them being the uniquely local, Odd Society. Aquila in Latin, the name truly reflects its role as an eagle in the province, consistently soaring and renowned for its wide variety of artisanal spirits-- from gin, vodka, and vermouth to an exquisite assortment of peated, single malt and rye whiskies. Let your sensory exploration kick off with a curated tasting and sampling of selected spirits. Then, give yourself a moment to unwind as you savor an artfully-crafted cocktail at their lounge within the distillery. Not just any distillery, Odd Society is tucked away in a repurposed motorcycle garage, adding to its eccentric appeal. Fondly referred to as Yeast Van (or East Van), this locale also serves as the city's epicenter for breweries, which guarantees you're only a stone's throw away from several craft breweries once you've relished the cocktail experiences at Odd Society.
Get in Touch:oddsocietyspirits.com
Cost: £