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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.
The Keefer Bar has fully capitalized on its Chinatown connection, using ingredients sourced from local herbalists—think ginseng, tea-based tinctures, or astragalus root. Small plates of Asian dishes make good nibbling. The decor is dark and red, with hanging cylindrical neon lights that layer a sultry, hidden vibe over nights of live music and DJs.
Inside this busy industrial-chic space in the heart of Yaletown, you'll find creative craft cocktails, an extensive wine list, and upscale charcuterie boards. The cozy booths and dim lights create a vibe perfect for an intimate date or night out with friends. They also have a daily happy hour from 5 to 6.
You'll find quality cocktails blended with house-made bitters, fresh herbs, and other local ingredients at this Vancouver hot spot, which, although it's leather-paneled and clubby, is surprisingly unstuffy. Also in the Rosewood Hotel Georgia are the narrow, mahogany-paneled 1927 Lobby Lounge (ideal for a discreet rendezvous), and Reflections, an open-air (heated in winter) fourth-floor oasis.
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