Pub entertainment in North America
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Fringe Café
An ever-friendly locals' hangout, the tiny Fringe is a reminder of Kitsilano's counterculture heritage, from its funky, memorabilia-lined walls to its chatty, bar-propping regulars. Russell Brewing beers – here called Ugly Boy Lager and Dirty Girl Pale Ale – are usually on special, but there's also a surprisingly large array of international bottled brews that usually includes everything from Tyskie to Tuborg. If you're hungry, head for the Sherpa's Pie, the best of several hearty house-cooked entrées on the one-page menu.
reviewed
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Mill Marine
The food here is nothing special, but the waterfront panoramic patio views of Coal Harbour and the North Shore mountains more than make up for it. There's a small but impressive beer selection – try the Whistler Brewing Pale Ale – as well as summer-friendly cocktail slushies, while the nosh is generally of the pizzas and pasta variety. If you're in this area on a sunny day, drop by: it's one of the best spots to catch a signature Vancouver vista – arrive before 5pm or you'll be wrestling the locals for a table.
reviewed
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Black Frog
A few steps from the Steam Clock but occupying a side-street blind spot, this smashing Edmontonian-run bar does everything right, from its friendly staff to its perfect pub-grub menu. In summer, aim to bask on the wood-deck patio – covered against the rain – and tuck into the full array of Big Rock beers from across the border in Alberta (Traditional Ale is the way to go). Food-wise, favorites include hearty burgers, sandwiches and baked Stilton, but consider the great two-person ploughman's lunch instead.
reviewed
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Wolf & Hound
One of the city's best Irish bars, this perfectly comfy pub is also popular with assignment-avoiding UBC students. It's not surprising they can't tear themselves away: there's a den-like back room to watch sports, cover-free Celtic music on Friday and Saturday and a menu of comfort-food classics: go for the lamb stew or steak and Guinness pie. Harp, Kilkenny and Smithwick's Red Ale join Ireland's fave stout on the beer list: you can try all four in a sampler that's the same price as a pint.
reviewed
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Smugglers Brewery & Grille
Beer-lovers will feel right at home at casual Smugglers, a great place to hang out, sample local brew and eat fried stuff.
reviewed
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Whip
The wood-floored Whip fuses the best in pub and lounge approaches. There's a dare-inviting selection of seven martinis, each named after a deadly sin (lust is always recommended) and a good menu with tempting treats such as yam frites and pad Thai. But it's the beer that wins regulars, with choice drafts from R&B Brewing, Storm Brewing and Quebec's infamous Unibroue. Consider dropping by on a Sunday afternoon when it cracks open a guest keg.
reviewed
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Ziggy’s
Walking into this European-style pub and sports bar, you’d never guess it was once the watering hole of some of Montréal’s most infamous writers and journalists (boisterous late newspaper columnist Nick Auf der Maur practically lived here). These days, Ziggy’s features imported draft beer, nine televisions and celebrity memorabilia, included a hockey jersey autographed by Habs hero Maurice ‘The Rocket’ Richard.
reviewed
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Central Saloon
It may be two years younger than the official Oldest Bar in Seattle, the nearby Merchant, but the Central isn’t exactly new and shiny. More of a locals’ hangout than an object of historical interest, this long, narrow joint makes grody bathrooms and blah food seem charming, by virtue of cheap suds, friendly barkeeps and a comfortable, unfussy vibe. Live music most nights means that anyone who disapproves of metal should get in and out fairly early.
reviewed
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Doolins
The best-looking Irish bar in Vancouver – take a quick tour of the cavernous wooden-beamed and stained-glass interior before finding your perch and hitting the menu. Not surprisingly, Guinness tops the draft popularity stakes but you'll also find lesser-expected alternatives like Murphy's and Caffrey's. There's also an extensive pub grub menu (the pulled pork sandwich is good) plus live toe-tapping Celtic music most nights. Clamorous on weekends.
reviewed
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Cardero's
Between Coal Harbour's bobbing boats, Cardero's is a stellar waterfront pub with cozy leather sofas, a wood-burning fireplace and great marina-side views. The small bar has a good menu of comfort food (the oyster burger is excellent) and the booze selection showcases a dozen or so drafts, from Strongbow to local Red Truck Lager. There's live guitar music most weekday nights and a full seafood restaurant – with patio – parked alongside.
reviewed
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Harefield Road
A serene crowd can be found inside this East Williamsburg bar that sports a minimalist, medieval tavern kind of look. Other than a few wines served by the glass (from $6), its focus is beer, with over a dozen brews on tap ($4 to $6). There is also a long list of single malt scotches (from $10), and they serve paninis.
There’s a small brick courtyard in back, and a very popular weekend brunch, served from 11am to 4pm.
reviewed
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Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant
This place sticks out in Chinatown like James Joyce in Shanghai. Somehow the Chinese restaurants are not so conducive to drinking, so Fadó packs in the thirsty, especially after games at the nearby MCI Center. Every room in this Disney-esque pub is decked out in its own unique Celtic style - country library, medieval castle etc. The place is old-school; its clientele remember when this was still considered in the 'hood.
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Atlantic Trap & Gill
Hanging on to the end of Robson St, this cheery East Coast tavern is a great spot to indulge in hearty seafood pub grub and a pitcher or three of Trap Lager, the house beer that's usually on special. The interior is comfy roadhouse but, in summer, make for the large patio and soak up some of the sunshine: you'll still be able to hear the Celtic-inspired bands that keep the party atmosphere going on Thursdays and Saturdays.
reviewed
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Two Bells Tavern
Flee the white belt/skinny jeans crowd and seek refuge in the Two Bells, a neighborhood pub with the friendliest barkeeps in town and a familiar crew of regulars whose intense discussions of the previous night’s adventures are portable enough to be taken out back to the patio for a smoke. The house special is a meaty burger stacked thigh-high ($9). Show up Sundays at 1pm for help with the Times crossword.
reviewed
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Stubbies & Steins
When Berkeley Hoflund visited Australia, she fell in love with the beer. Upon returning, she opened this awesomely quirky Australia-meets-Germany pub and restaurant, with a doorstopper beer menu of 400-plus brews representing 16 countries, and classic Bavarian chow like sausages and schnitzels.
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C'est What
Over 30 whiskeys and six dozen Canadian microbrews (mostly from Ontario) are on hand at this underground pub. An in-house brewmaster tightly edits the all-natural, preservative-free beers on tap. There's live music most nights at the Music Showbar next door. There's good grub as well – the menu encompasses all-local meats, including peameal bacon from St Lawrence Market next door as well as free-range bison.
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Crown & Anchor
Homesick expats, university students and staff, soccer (oops, we mean football) fans from around the world and British beer lovers gather at this unpretentious pub. The list of draft beers seems endless, with Bass, Harp, Guinness, Hooegarden and even a handful of fruit ciders. Starving? Let ’em dish you up a Cornish pasty, plate of bangers and mash or basket full of fried Icelandic cod and chips.
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Fountainhead Pub
The area's loudest and proudest gay neighborhood pub, this friendly joint is all about the patio, which spills onto Davie St like an overturned wine glass. Expect to take part in the ongoing summer evening pastime of ogling the passing locals or retreat to a quieter spot inside for a few lagers (Red Truck Beer is recommended) or a naughty cocktail: anyone for a Sicilian Kiss or a Slippery Nipple?
reviewed
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Backstage Lounge
This often-hopping Granville Island hangout serves up winning patio views and some cool local live bands. The bar is lined with more than 20 BC microbrew taps from the likes of Dead Frog, Lighthouse and Red Truck – Bowen Island Cream Ale is on special on Tuesdays for $3 – so you won't go thirsty as you taste-trip around the province. The tempting food menu includes a good tandoori-chicken pizza.
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Half King
A unique marriage of cozy pub and sophisticated writers' lair, you'll often experience top-notch literary readings in this wood-accented, candlelit watering hole. Its myriad seating-area options are bound to provide one that will seduce you – particularly during warm weather, when a front sidewalk cafe, main indoor room, cozy back section and mellow backyard patio are all open for business.
reviewed
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Cornwall’s
For an extensive list of English and Scottish beers plus a few interesting local brews (Tuckerman’s Pale Ale), stop by this family-owned pub. If you need more convincing, the bartenders commonly pour samples should you be curious about an unknown ale. Board games, darts and pool tables keep the drinkers entertained.
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McMullan’s Irish Pub
McMullan’s Irish Pub ‘Purveyors of the perfect pint, ’ McMullan’s may be the friendliest Irish pub in Vegas. Stop by on Thursday night for all-you-can-eat fish and chips. Tuesday is quiz night (from 8pm), while Irish musicians perform on Wednesday (from 10pm) and most weekends after 9pm. Ask about video-poker happy hour promotions. Free wi-fi.
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Grendel’s Den
Though a sign out front falsely claims that this subterranean tavern was established in 1271, Grendel’s Den has only been a Harvard mainstay since the ’70s. A big draw is the bargain pub food (beef stroganoff, burgers, token vegetarian stuff). When you buy a drink from 5pm to 7:30pm every evening (and from 9:30pm to 11pm Sunday to Thursday), all menu items are half price.
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Dinghy Dock Floating Pub
The name is no lie; this popular pub and restaurant combo floats offshore from Protection Island. See Nanaimo from the outside (especially pretty at night), rub shoulders with some salty locals and knock back a few malty brews. The menu doesn't stretch far beyond standard pub fare but there's live music on weekends. To access the pub, take a 10-minute ferry ride from the harbor.
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Nine Fine Irishmen
Built in Ireland and shipped over piece by piece to America, this pubby establishment has cavernous interior booths and outdoor patio tables beside NYNY’s mini Brooklyn Bridge. Genuine stouts, ales, ciders and Irish whiskeys are always stocked at the bar, while live entertainment is a mix of Celtic rock and traditional Irish country tunes, sing-alongs and occasionally dancing.
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