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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.
One of Vancouver's original microbreweries, R&B serves house-made beers with East Vancouver-inspired names (try the Stolen Bike Lager or Dude Chilling Pale Ale) alongside a delicious brewpub menu (they are well known for their pizzas). Grab a seat in the busy taproom or on the small outdoor patio. And while you nosh on pizza and beer, enjoy the music on the overhead speakers, and take in the baseball knickknacks and cool retro decor.
Designed to look like a truck stop, Red Truck Beer Company serves beer and pub fare like wings, burgers, chili, and fries. They also have an all-day breakfast menu that includes dishes like corned beef hash and southern fried eggs. There's always something fun happening here—from sports on the TV to live music (they have an outdoor summer concert series) to events like bike meetups or axe throwing.
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 iconic bright yellow landmark near the Public Market is now the flagship location of local group Tap & Barrel and location of the test kitchen for its culinary program. Interiors boast local artwork and reclaimed industrial materials that celebrate Granville Island's history, while outside is the city's biggest marina-side deck. In warm weather the outdoor seating has breathtaking views of the harbor, mountains, and city. The bar menu features 32 British Columbian craft beers and 16 BC wines on tap, an extensive wine list, and handcrafted seasonal cocktails.
In a renovated warehouse with a glassed-in brewery turning out several tasty beers, this always-crowded gastropub and patio has a lively singles scene and reliable happy hour. Even though it's super popular, it still feels like a neighborhood place.
