Must-see nightlife in British Columbia

  • Persephone Brewing Company

    British Columbia

    Welcome to one of Canada’s only farm-to-barrel microbreweries. Among numerous sustainable practices, Persephone grows its own hops at an on-site 11-acre…

  • Crow and Gate

    Nanaimo

    Taking you back to dear ole Blighty (England) is this out-of-town Brit-style pub with a dark, wood-beam interior and a wonderfully stodgy menu of…

  • Alibi Room sign, lit at night, Gastown.

    Alibi Room

    Gastown & Chinatown

    Vancouver's best craft-beer tavern pours a near-legendary roster of 50-plus drafts, many from celebrated BC breweries including Four Winds, Yellow Dog and…

  • Brassneck Brewery

    Vancouver

    A beloved Vancouver microbrewery with a small, wood-lined tasting room. Peruse the ever-changing chalkboard of intriguing libations with names such as…

  • Exterior of Powell Street Craft Brewery

    Powell Brewery

    Vancouver

    One of the finest of Vancouver's surfeit of tasty artisan breweries, popular Powell Brewery relocated to larger premises soon after launching. The tasting…

  • Sylvia's Bar & Lounge

    Vancouver

    Part of the permanently popular Sylvia Hotel, this was Vancouver's first cocktail bar when it opened in the mid-1950s. Now a comfy, wood-lined…

  • Liberty Distillery

    Vancouver

    Gaze through internal windows at the shiny, steampunk-like booze-making equipment when you visit this handsome saloon-like tasting room. It's not all…

  • Townsite Brewing

    British Columbia

    An elder statesman of BC's craft-beer scene (which means it's more than five years old), this brilliant, Belgian-focused brewery occupies a heritage post…

  • Mario's Coffee Express

    Vancouver

    A java-lover's favorite that only downtown office workers seem to know about. You'll wake up and smell the coffee long before you make it through the door…

  • Drake

    Victoria

    Victoria's best tap house, this redbrick hangout has more than 30 amazing craft drafts, typically including revered BC producers Townsite, Driftwood and…

  • Daddy Cool's Public House at Mile Zero

    Haida Gwaii

    Can't go wrong at Daddy Cool's in Masset with a popular pub on one side and a quiet dining room specializing in pub grub on the other. The eating side is…

  • CrossRoads Brewing

    Northern BC

    PG's local microbrewery features an impressive taproom, allowing you to see into the production facility. There are nine standard brews plus seasonal…

  • Garrick's Head Pub

    Victoria

    A great spot to dive into BC's brilliant craft-beer scene. Pull up a seat at the long bar with its 55-plus taps – a comprehensive menu of beers from…

  • Bad Tattoo Brewing

    Okanagan Valley

    There's a 'born to be bad' attitude going on here along with some great beer. Get a flight of five brews ($10) then go for what you like. Locals are…

  • Tree Brewing Beer Institute

    Kelowna

    These guys feature tank to tap craft beer, including experimental brews in an unfiltered state. Intriguing stuff if you like checking out new tastes…

  • Mt Begbie Brewing

    British Columbia

    Head out just east of town to Mt Begbie's new tasting area and store to try the popular local brews. The Powerhouse Pale Ale and the Brave Liver, a…

  • Smithers Brewing Co

    Northern BC

    Try the local brews just off Main St at Smithers Brewing Co in the custom-made taproom with timber framing and stunning bar tops. Ten taps pour mainstay…

  • Wheelhouse Brewing Company

    Prince Rupert

    This rollicking little brewpub is the project of three buddies who are knocking out some of Northern BC's best microbrews. You can find their beer all…

  • Backroads Brewing Company

    British Columbia

    Nelson's local brews from tank to tap on Baker St. Small-batch, hand-crafted ales and lagers such as the El Dorado Golden Ale and Navigator Irish Red keep…

  • Whitetooth Brewing Company

    British Columbia

    Golden's microbrewery features tank-to-tap brews and a marvelous sunny patio for those long summer evenings. Whitetooth is a hit with locals who come to…

  • Storm Crow Tavern

    Vancouver

    Knowing the difference between Narnia and Neverwhere is not a prerequisite at this brilliant Commercial Dr nerd pub. But if you do, you'll certainly make…

  • Grapes & Soda

    Fairview & South Granville

    A warm, small-table hangout that self-identifies as a 'natural wine bar' (there's a well-curated array of options from BC, Europe and beyond). This local…

  • Shameful Tiki Room

    Vancouver

    This windowless snug instantly transports you to a Polynesian beach. The lighting – including glowing puffer-fish lampshades – is permanently set to dusk…

  • Kafka's

    Vancouver

    Kafka's has more MacBooks than an Apple Store courtesy of the locals who fill the tables here, silently updating their social media statuses as if their…

  • Old Crow Coffee Co

    Lower Mainland

    Tucked into a brick-lined heritage building with a front door that looks like it was salvaged from a shipwreck, this hip java joint is serious about well…

  • Narrow Lounge

    Vancouver

    Enter through the doorway on 3rd Ave – the red light tells you if it's open or not – then descend the graffiti-lined stairway into one of Vancouver's…

  • Guilt & Co

    Gastown & Chinatown

    This cavelike subterranean bar, beneath Gastown's brick-cobbled sidewalks, is also a brilliant venue to catch a tasty side dish of live music. Most shows…

  • Backcountry Brewing

    Squamish & Around

    One of the newest micro-businesses to populate the commercial district north of Squamish, this brewery is equipped with a large tasting room designed (in…

  • Tofino Brewing Company

    Tofino

    Slip into this recently renovated tasting room in an industrial park and enjoy a $7 'flight' of taster suds amid the polished beer vats and au naturel…

  • Renfrew Pub

    Vancouver Island

    Summer drinking here is all about snagging a spot on the patio alongside the wharf. On lazy days, it's hard to peel yourself away from the shimmering…

  • Fernie Distillers

    British Columbia

    Fernie's distillery sits next to the old station building and produces small-batch (200 bottles per batch) hand-crafted gin and vodka. Turn up, view the…

  • Marten Brewpub

    Okanagan Valley

    Vernon's popular microbrewery is right in the heart of downtown and along with its tasty beers, serves delicious food from the Naked Pig next door. The…

  • Revolver

    Gastown & Chinatown

    Gastown's coolest see-and-be-seen coffee shop, Revolver has never lost its hipster crown. But it's remained at the top of the Vancouver coffee-mug tree…

  • Cumberland Brewing

    Vancouver Island

    A microbrewery that's mastered the neighborhood-pub vibe, this tasty spot combines a woodsy little tasting room with a larger outdoor seating area striped…

  • Micro Bar & Bites

    Kelowna

    This great small bar just off Bernard Ave is hard to leave. Craft beers, local wines and fine cocktails are served. Small bites are fresh and inventive,…

  • Luppolo Brewing Company

    Vancouver

    One of Vancouver's most welcoming microbrewery lounges reflects the Italian heritage of the team behind it (the name means 'hops' in Italian). Order a…

  • Back and Forth Bar

    Gastown & Chinatown

    There's an inviting, den-like feel to this cool-but-friendly games-room bar, where six ping-pong tables combine perfectly with a 12-tap beer selection …

  • Exterior of Café deux Soleils

    Cafe Deux Soleils

    Vancouver

    This rambling bohemian cafe is a hip, healthy and ever-friendly Drive landmark, serving a good array of local beers and well-priced vegetarian comfort…

  • Beer Drinker of the Year Award sign at Yaletown Brewing Company, Yaletown.

    Yaletown Brewing Company

    Vancouver

    There's a brick-lined, tavernesque brewpub, complete with beer keg light fittings, on one side plus a giant dining room with Yaletown's largest patio on…

  • Andina Brewing Company exterior

    Andina Brewing Company

    Vancouver

    Look for the gigantic, stylishly-hatted artwork lady adorning the beacon-like yellow exterior of this popular brewery, then step inside for some equally…