Vancouver
Showing that Drive locals can never get enough good java, this hipster-cool addition to Commercial's coffee-house culture has a loyal following,…
Must-see nightlife in British Columbia
Vancouver
Main's most popular coffeehouse, this large, brick-lined hangout is routinely crammed with locals, and its alfresco side-street patio is particularly…
Gastown & Chinatown
A grungy old bar with plenty of life in it, you'll find cheep beer, a sometimes rowdy crowd and – the highlight – a separate front room lined with pinball…
Gastown & Chinatown
Tucked along a cobbled back alley reputedly named after the area's former butchers, this atmospheric little brick-lined wine bar offers dozens of…
Fairview & South Granville
Don't blink or you'll miss the entrance to this cave-like, speakeasy-sized nook that's popular with locals launching their evenings out or dropping by for…
Vancouver
Tucked into the bottom of a shimmering glass condo building, this cool coffee-shop oasis combines a communal table and wood-block perches with houseplant…
Vancouver
When Vancouverites say the Drive is the city's best coffee street, this is one of the places they're thinking of: the frothy top on a brimming mugful of…
Vancouver
Near the first bus stop after the Burrard Bridge (coming from downtown), this intimate, cave-like hangout is arguably Kitsilano's best late-night haunt…
Gastown & Chinatown
Look for the curlicued neon 'E' outside, then push through the unassuming green double doors to discover an evocative hidden-bar complex upstairs. You'll…
Gastown & Chinatown
Vancouver's only winery is a cavernous, barrel-lined warehouse serving tipples from BC and beyond. It has a public tasting bar (on-tap wine flights…
Vancouver
The kind of austere, granite-countered coffee shop you might not feel cool enough to enter (or maybe that's just us), Small Victory is a favorite daytime…
Vancouver
An extensive refurbishment has upgraded the area's busiest brewery tasting room, adding an extremely popular patio – arrive before the late-afternoon rush…
Vancouver
The glass front means you can peer through the windows before committing to this small Granville St Irish pub. You'll find a gaggle of beer-swilling…
Gastown & Chinatown
Tucked along a Gastown side street, the red-painted facade fronts one of the city's most intimate live music resto-bars, a brick-lined cave of small…
Vancouver
A tiny reminder of Kitsilano's counterculture heritage, there's a comfy dive-bar ambience at this memorabilia-lined locals' hangout. The cheapest drafts…
Gastown & Chinatown
Blink and you'll miss the entrance to this small but perfectly formed mosaic-floored cafe, which includes a busy coffee-roasting operation. It's worth…
Whistler
Arguably the best pub at the bottom of the Whistler Village gondola (after all, it's Irish), this dark-wood-lined joint would feel just like an authentic…
Vancouver
The tavern-like downtown satellite of celebrated BC brewery Central City combines a pub-grub menu with 40 taps of own-made beers as well as choice ales…
Vancouver
A laid-back, wood-and-art-lined neighborhood coffee bar that's the java-hugging heart of the West End's LGBTIQ+ community, Delany's is a good perch from…
Vancouver
A raucous old-school nightclub that still has plenty of fans – including lots of partying youngsters who seem to be discovering it for the first time –…
Vancouver
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…
Fairview & South Granville
The South Granville branch of this two-outlet local coffee chain has a great long table at the back where you can settle down with a java and peruse the…
North Shore
North Van's favorite juice bar is a thirst-quenching pit stop that also serves a huge array of hearty vegan and vegetarian dishes, from pakoras to wraps…
North Shore
A phoenix-like reinvention of the old Rusty Gull neighbourhood pub, the gray-painted clapboard facade hides a long drink-and-dine area now serving the…
Vancouver
One of the neighborhood's best brewery lounges (hence the peak-time line-ups) combines a hip-but-cozy rec-room vibe with a look that includes random…
Vancouver
The red-hued walls of this eclectic, snuggly bar are crammed with iconographic images of Jesus and Mary, creating the feel of a naughty Catholic church…
Vancouver
An early pioneer of Vancouver's latter-day microbrewery surge, gritty, fancy-free Storm retains its maverick, almost-outsider status by making some…
Gastown & Chinatown
At this charming window hatch servery loved by in-the-know locals, order your americanos, flat whites or more from the friendly young Japanese-expat…
Fairview & South Granville
A blink-and-you'll-miss-it hole-in-the-wall, there's a serious commitment to making excellent java here, from perfectly executed espressos to rich Nutella…
Squamish & Around
Fiendishly well-hidden in an industrial area, this friendly little micro-distillery is worth the search. Drop by for Saturday or Sunday tours (2pm) or…
Vancouver
This is a favorite among Commercial Dr locals. Arrive off-peak (weekday afternoons are best) for a sought-after table at this busy microbrewery. Order a…
Victoria
One of the few cafes abutting the Galloping Goose Trail, the Nest acts as a kind of ‘gas station’ for cyclists, offering coffee and sandwiches as fuel,…
Vancouver
The cavernous Nest complex, the student union haunt where undergrads hangout en masse, offers many places to grab a bite and flick through the Ubyssey…
Victoria
One of Canada's first craft brewers, this wood-floored smasher is a short hop from downtown via Victoria Harbour Ferry. Sail in for copper-colored Nut…
Vancouver Island
Order a pizza at the adjoining counter and grab a parasol table outside this former garage-turned-brewery that retains a mechanical aesthetic. Check the…
Whistler
Across from the Whistler Village gondola base, this traditional-look restaurant (with a pasta and pizza menu) has a pub in its upper levels that's a bit…
Vancouver
New ownership is revitalizing this intimate Davie St 'gayborhood' mainstay, a loungey, two-room late-night hangout where flirty cocktails rule. Check…
British Columbia
While there's a decent menu of hearty pub meals, what you're really here for is the beer, with 24 different craft brews from all over the place on tap…
Victoria
Easily missed from the outside, this dark little hillbilly-themed bar feels like you've stepped into the backwoods. But rather than some dodgy banjo…
Victoria
Tucked into the lobby level of the Chateau Victoria Hotel, this is the best spot in town for perfectly prepared cocktails. Completely lacking the…
