Irish Heather

A serious Irish pub without all that leprechaun blarney, this wood-floored, exposed-brick hostelry is a breath of fresh air. Head to the rear glass conservatory to sup on Vancouver’s best-poured pint of Guinness or settle in at the Shebeen Whiskey House, a tiny, windowless bar out back that stocks dozens of malts: it’s the kind of place you end up staying all night without realizing. The Heather’s food is the best of any pub in town. During the research period for this book, plans were in the works to move the Heather (and Shebeen) directly across the street in the near future. Ideal for a shared plate of finger food, but it’s just as easy to cover all the necessary food groups with the extensive beer selection here (at least that’s what you should tell yourself). There’s a small, chatty patio out front but inside – especially the cozy upstairs area – is great for hiding in a corner and working your way through an exotic array of bottled brews, including London Porter and the rather marvelous Draft Dodger from Phillips Brewing.