Must-see nightlife in British Columbia & The Canadian Rockies

  • Venue

    Vancouver

    Redesigned from its previous incarnation as the Plaza Club, Venue has a much larger dance floor since the removal of the obtrusive central bar. The music…

  • Melriches Coffeehouse

    Vancouver

    With its wooden tables, array of hearty cakes and crowd of journal-writing locals hunkered in every corner, this is an ideal rainy-day nook. Warm your…

  • Steamworks Brew Pub

    Gastown & Chinatown

    This huge brewpub on the edge of Gastown serves several own-made beers, including crisp pilsners, hoppy IPAs and small-batch seasonals. But the best of…

  • Bowen Island Pub

    British Columbia

    A lively neighborhood pub recently rebuilt in new digs next to the old one, this is where you'll likely meet most Bowenites at least once during your…

  • Wilder Juice

    Vancouver

    At this small-batch juice-pressing bar with a loyal clientele of health-minded Drive fans, you'll find an enticing array of house-made cleanses, almond…

  • Fortune Sound Club

    Gastown & Chinatown

    This club has transformed a tired Chinatown spot into a slick space that lures a loyal band of partiers. Slide inside and you'll find a huge dance floor…

  • Laurence & Chico Cafe

    Vancouver

    The surreal cafe vision of a pair of Canadian womenswear and accessories designers, this unique coffee and pastries spot has transformed a humdrum off…

  • Electric Bicycle Brewing

    Vancouver

    Behind its eye-popping psychedelic facade, there's a kitsch ice-cream parlour feel to this quirky little brewery tasting room. Dive into a four-glass…

  • Longhorn Saloon & Grill

    Whistler

    Across from lifts at the base of Whistler Mountain, the sprawling patio here sometimes threatens to take over the village (especially with its outdoor…

  • Merlin's Bar & Grill

    Whistler

    If you must drink fizzy Kokanee beer this is the place to do it. A cavernous party pub with a huge patio at the base of Blackcomb, the log-lined walls,…

  • Buns + Boba

    Vancouver

    A bright, white-walled cafe focused on coffee, bubble tea and Swedish-style house-baked buns, this friendly, mostly organic nook is a Mount Pleasant…

  • Brewhall

    Vancouver

    A modern-day reinvention of Bavarian beer halls, this cavernous heritage building serves own-made beers plus drafts from top BC microbreweries. Order and…

  • Cobalt

    Gastown & Chinatown

    Gastown and Chinatown are studded with insalubrious dive bars that most Vancouverites are happy to avoid, but the Cobalt has managed to lure many…

  • Pumpjack Pub

    Vancouver

    Glancing through the open window as you walk past on a summer night tells you all you need to know about this popular gay pub: it's a great place to meet…

  • O'Byrne's

    Edmonton

    Get lost in the labyrinth of rooms at this popular Irish pub – Edmonton's oldest. There's a variety of beers on tap, including the obligatory stout. Live…

  • Bomber Brewing

    Vancouver

    One of the older of Yeast Van's many microbreweries (which means it opened in 2014), Bomber's windowless bolt-hole tasting room is a great way to forget…

  • Our Town

    Vancouver

    A slick makeover for this neighbourhood coffee-shop favorite has delivered a black and bleached wood interior plus new kombucha and nitro cold brews…

  • Dinghy Dock Pub

    Nanaimo

    This old-school pub-and-restaurant combo floating offshore from Protection Island is a unique place to knock back a few malty brews on the deck. The menu…

  • Moejoe's

    Whistler

    Popular with the kind of party-hard international under-30s who work in Whistler shops and coffeehouses so they can ski the slopes as much as possible,…

  • Celebrities

    Vancouver

    The city's fave gay club has elevated its room to a new level of neon-lit cool in recent years. The club hosts a series of sparkling, sometimes sequined,…

  • Whistler Brewhouse

    Whistler

    This central, lodge-look drinkery crafts its own beer on the premises and serves an extensive menu of elevated, sometimes-pricey pub grub. Pizza is…

  • Breakers Pub

    Prince Rupert

    What a view! Fishing boats in the foreground, the sunset in the background: mere gazing is an addictive experience at this busy pub. Chat with a boat…

  • Pub 1905

    Edmonton

    A popular local watering hole with a happening happy hour, billiards and plates of smoked chicken drumsticks or riblets to snack on. The plethora of TVs…

  • Tommy's Neighbourhood Pub

    Banff Town

    A haven for traditionalists, Tommy's offers good draft beer, a dartboard and plenty of opportunity to meet the kind of globe-trotting mavericks who have…

  • Whistle Stop Pub

    Jasper Town & Around

    Shock, horror! You are actually more likely to meet a local (as opposed to a tourist) in this salt-of-the-earth pub attached to the Whistlers Inn.

  • Robert's Creek Legion

    British Columbia

    The town's friendly Legion is also its de facto bar hangout – especially on Fridays and Saturdays when live bands typically hit the stage.

  • Exterior of Pekoe Tea Lounge café

    Pekoe Tea Lounge

    Fairview & South Granville

    A restorative respite from busy Broadway, choose from dozens of tea varieties from around the world (nutcracker oolong recommended) then sink into a…

  • Ship & Anchor

    Calgary

    The frankly ugly Ship is a classic Calgary institution – an all-time favorite of university students and indie music fans. With an abundance of beers on…

  • Atha-B Nightclub

    Jasper Town & Around

    Nightclubbing in a national park is about as congruous as wildlife-viewing in downtown Toronto. Bear this in mind before you hit the Atha-B, a pub-slash…

  • Avenue Downtown

    Edmonton

    A club on Jasper Ave's burgeoning nightlife strip west of 108th St. Join the line and compete with the beautiful people for dancing space, cocktails and…