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6 Vancouver Cocktail Bars Where You Won’t Regret Spending Your Night Out
It’s hard to determine which city in Canada has the best nightlife because they offer different experiences and charm. If you’re on the lookout for the most refreshing and perfectly blended cocktails, however, Vancouver should be your choice!
As someone who’s considered a “lightweight”, I’ve grown accustomed to cocktails since the day I was of legal age. I preferred the different concoctions it offered, and it never left me more than a buzz and a heck of a good time.
With that said, I’ve almost visited just about every cocktail bar in Vancouver to the point where I could point you towards the best ones. So, whether you’re looking for a party or a more laid-back drinking experience, keep on reading!
The Keefer Bar
Media credit: thekeeferbar
Address: 135 Keefer St.
Contact details: +1 604-688-1961
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM
- Friday to Sunday: 4:00 PM to 2:00 AM
The Keefer Bar is a fantastic option if you’re looking for hip and modern vibes during your drinking experience. They offer a wide array of cocktails, which they call “prescriptions” at the bar, also known as the “Medical Centre”.
One of our favourite things about this place is its continuous introduction of new flavours through its seasonal menu. For instance, you can opt for one of their mainstays, such as old-fashioned cocktails and daiquiris, or explore their summer selection.
The Keefer bar also features talented local acts every night, from acoustic sets to live DJs. Also, be sure to wear your best night-out outfits here, as the bar features plenty of Instaworthy corners.
Pro tip:
If you’re visiting with friends, we recommend getting their for-sharing cocktails, which feature up to four shots. One flavour you must try is then kaffir lime pie, which we can best describe as a buzz-y dessert!
Botanist Bar
Media credit: botanistdining
Address: 1038 Canada Pl
Contact details: +1 604-695-5500
Operating hours:
- Monday: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
- Tuesday to Saturday: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM
As suckers for themed cocktail bars, we immediately fell in love with the Botanist Bar once we saw how their drinks looked like actual concoctions made in a chemist’s lab. For instance, their “Pale Blue Dot” cocktail is placed in a spherical flask.
The drink also emits a blue glow, which can be attributed to the natural algae they sourced from the Pacific Ocean. Another prime example of their creativity can be seen with their “Earth’s Energy” cocktail, which changes flavours depending on the temperature.
The place itself doesn’t look like your typical bar, as it’s more of a fancy brunch spot, which makes sense considering they offer a wide variety of all-day breakfast meals. We especially love their croque madame because of its smoky black forest ham.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for a cocktail that can also serve as the cherry on top of your meal, we recommend the espresso martini. It’s the perfect blend of creaminess, bitterness, and spiciness thanks to the sherry.
Bagheera
Media credit: whereisbagheera
Address: 518 Main St.
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM
- Friday and Saturday: 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM
- Sunday: 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Bagheera is the epitome of a speakeasy bar because, on the outside, it seems like a regular horse-betting place. Right off the bat, you’ll have to say a password to gain access to the bar, which comes in the form of placing your bets on a specific horse.
Once you enter, you’ll immediately fall in love with the warm-coloured interior that will make you feel like you’re actually drinking in secrecy away from the crowd. It’s also designed beautifully with elements of equestrianism, from horseshoes to spurs, etc.
However, the main highlight here is still the wide selection of creatively made (and named) cocktails. We haven’t developed a go-to just yet, but one of our favourites is the “Dessert Oasis”, which features tequila, cactus juice, chilli threads, and lemongrass tonic.
Pro tip:
To access their website, place all your bets on King Louie and wait until the video that plays afterwards is over. From there, you’ll gain access to their food and drinks menu, dress code, and house rules!
Laowai
Media credit: whereislaowai
Address: 251 E. Georgia St.
Operating hours:
- Sunday and Monday: 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Tuesday to Saturday: 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Laowai is another speakeasy bar you’ll find amidst the busy streets of Vancouver’s Chinatown. In this case, it’s located behind an unassuming dumpling shop where you have to order number 7 from their menu to gain access to the bar.
The difference between the dumpling shop and the bar is night and day, as the interior of this speakeasy is dimly lit and offers a cosy space for guests to bond over some drinks. Speaking of drinks, their selection here is impressively varied, featuring a range of different bases.
For instance, they offer strong/bittersweet flavours, which feature drinks like “Hennessy vs Cognac”, which is sure to make you grow hair on your chest. However, we recommend their tropical/bright drinks more because they’re lighter and feature a more refreshing aftertaste.
Pro tip:
Don’t miss out on their selection of beer and wine as well! For the former, we recommend the Windfall Jackpot because of its crisp and refreshing apple aftertaste, but with their bottles of wine, you can’t go wrong with any of them!
Pourhouse Restaurant
Media credit: pourhouse
Address: 162 Water St.
Contact details: +1 604-568-7022
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 11:30 AM to 12:00 AM
- Friday and Saturday: 11:30 AM to 1:00 AM
If you want to treat yourself to a hearty dinner before your night out, then Pourhouse Restaurant should be right up your alley! Their menu consists of Western classics, among which is the steak frites, which are further enhanced thanks to the red wine jus.
You can also get down and dirty by sinking your teeth into one of their gourmet burgers. Their Signature Pourhouse Burger is an instant classic, featuring patties made from dry-aged beef as well as a hearty slice of pork belly.
To cap off the night, you can turn to their cocktail selection, which is varied enough to cater to different tastes. For instance, if you’re an old-fashioned person (no pun intended), you can go for the Negroni, but if you’re feeling fancy, a glass of Drouin Martini should be perfect.
Pro tip:
Visit during their Happy Hour (daily from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, 10:00 PM until late) to enjoy slashed rates on their kitchen and bar offerings! If you want our advice, order their draft beer along with their smashed burger!
The 515 Bar
Media credit: the515bar
Address: 521 Seymour St.
Contact details: +1 604-428-8226
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 4:00 PM to 12:00 PM
The 515 Bar should be at the top of you’re list if you’re looking for a more intimate drinking session with your friends or partner. It offers a cosy spot complete with warm lighting and, best of all, handcrafted cocktails!
Seeing their bartender at work is like seeing a wizard do their magic. They offer both modern and classic cocktails, and each one is made with TLC, from the simple squeezing of a lemon to the shaking of ice, and everything in between!
Aside from choosing between modern and classic, you can also pick either easy and refreshing or big and bold. Plus, they offer a wide array of bar chow, including light snacks like smoked almonds and healthy bites like an arugula and fennel salad.
Pro tip:
If you’re visiting with groups of 6 to 8 people or more, we recommend booking a table 48 hours in advance of your preferred date to secure your spot.
