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Vancouver might be best-known for its outdoors activities but this hip, young, innovative city delivers plenty of entertainment once the sun goes down.
Gone are the days of prohibition-era liquor laws (well, most, anyway) and the general loosening of regulations has helped liven up the city after dark. When you add in a surge of modern craft breweries, wine bars implementing the latest technology, a lively mix of festivals throughout the year, and the inspiration of a fantastic wine region nearby (the Okanagan),Vancouver's nightlife scene looks as fit as any seawall runner.
In nice weather, Vancouver is all about the patios—preferably waterfront. Otherwise, the younger set migrates to dance clubs while more laid-back types gather in friendly pubs (perhaps to watch the hockey game), live music venues hosting up-and-coming stars, and splashy cocktail bars where savvy mixologists cultivate city-wide followings.
If beer is your thing, head to Alibi, which specializes in pairing beer with your meal. Kegs of microbrews from around British Columbia and beyond are the pride and joy here, and it's known for having one of the best selections of craft beers in Vancouver. For those looking for something other than beer, there are also organic wines and a few fun cocktails to enjoy.
The menu at this Gastown favorite features lagers, pale ales, pilsners, stouts, and ciders, and then there's what's on tap, a wine list, and a cocktail menu—in short, the thirsty have many ways to imbibe. The food menu offers lots of sharing options. In addition to rock bands (plus jazz, folk, and blues artists), there are also burlesque and cabaret nights.
The brick-and-beam 1910 architecture, antiques, and a 38-foot bar are in keeping with the menu of classic cocktails. Most are inspired by the 1862 bartending bible How to Mix Drinks by Jerry Thomas, the first bartending manual ever to put oral traditions to print, with recipes such as a Tom Collins. There's also live music several days of the week.
This multilevel brewpub welcomes urban professionals with a selection of traditional ales and lagers brewed in-house, in small batches, using the neighborhood's steam heat—the same stuff that powers Gastown's Steam Clock. When the weather permits, there's patio seating with harbor views.
This community pub is located on the ground floor of the Woodwards flatiron building. And in addition to pouring pints during sports games and for the late-night crowd, they serve lunchtime and dinnertime sports bar eats (think nachos, wings, fish-and-chips, veggie burgers, and more). If it's nice outside, find a seat on the outdoor patio. If you're ready to dance, the bar welcomes a DJ on the weekends.
Nautical kitsch and a friendly maritime vibe attract many a person to the Portside Pub. Live bands, weekend DJs, and whiskey on tap turn the two-level bar into a packed venue. Pub eats are above par, but lines start early and get long.
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