Vancouver isn’t New York. Or Amsterdam, or Hong Kong, or Barcelona, or London. No, it certainly does not have the culture of any of those cities. Vancouver is a tiny little bubble sitting on the edge of the earth with a smug, content population that hesitates to take risks and rock the boat. That might sound harsh, but if you venture out to any major metropolis in the world, you will feel a distinct edge to the air that Vancouver and its local populace certainly do not have.
It is a small-town masquerading as a city with plenty of mediocre chain restaurant/pub/bar/who-really-knows-what type establishments. You know the type – a massive institution whose business model serves everyone and pleases no one. It is generic enough to be tolerated by the masses but has built its success on genius marketing and low-quality output.
Alas, that is the reality here, and while it might sound like I hate it here, the opposite is true.
Vancouver is an isolated paradise. An adult amusement park. There’s something to do for everyone; it probably explains why it takes so little to please the locals here.
And Vancouver is an underrated drinking town. If you can unearth the hidden gems littered around the city – the classic dives or the mystical speakeasy, you could find yourself having a well-made dark and stormy on a cold rainy evening to help numb the pain of the work week.
This is my list of best bars in Vancouver. I’ve already written about what makes a bar good. I won’t go over it again. Let’s just get into it.
15. Brass Fish Tavern
It’s not easy to go to a bar in Vancouver that isn’t owned by one of the ‘groups,’ and I’ve tried my best to not include many, but Brass Fish holds a special place in my heart, despite its overly bright, welcoming demeanour.
I stumbled across Brass Fish after a marathon day behind the deep fryer in search of some peace and quiet and an elixir to remind me that life was indeed worth living. I entered just fifteen minutes after it had opened, which meant empty bar seats, and a staff was still jovial.
I enjoyed a well-made negroni and was left alone to be with my thoughts. This goes a long way if you’re a veteran drinker, and any staff that lets you do just that deserves a fat tip.
Go in for happy hour, but don’t stay too long. It will get crowded, and it’s not worth getting pissed at a place like this. There’s a great pub round the corner that’s warm and cozy and has endless pints of British ales that will do the job.
6.8/10
14. Lion’s Pub
The aforementioned “round the corner from Brass Fish” is the regal Lion’s pub. The vibe inside is very British – they love their colonial forebearers a lot here in Canada.
Lion’s is everything you would expect from a classic British pub that isn’t in Britain including a great selection of beer and some hearty, heavy food. Guinness on tap, alongside some of the usual suspects, this is the place you go to unwind after work on a Friday. They usually have some football (the real one) playing on the weekend, so you can settle in and wait out the rain shower, watch your favourite Premier League team get hammered while you do the same thing.
Settle up with some Cottage Pie or Bangers and Mash and make your way home for a well-deserved five-hour nap.
7/10
13. The Three Brits
The Three Brits isn’t very British. The food is generic fusion, and very much avoidable – it’s just not very good or filling. But you don't go here for the food.
Perched on the corner of a Davie and Denman, if you sneak in early, you can grab a spot by the window and watch the world go by. In this scenario, the people outside the glass are the zoo animals, and you’re the snide, superior being that can snivel at their misfortune for not having grabbed the seat you have.
There’s an excellent sunset to admire from this vantage point, and one of the best margaritas you can sip on as you drink away the night.
I’ve had many a good night at this bar when I lived in the area. The location is an obvious perk, and the fact they also serve Guinness makes it so that despite all its flaws, it made its way on this list.
7.2/10
12. Tocador
Vancouver is filled with Mexican-style restaurants and bars – some authentic, and some designed to impress the locals. Tocador is the latter.
So, if you're like me and you want to sweat out the toxins of the night before, you would want to avoid eating anything here unless you enjoy bland, overpriced tacos. However, if you’re like me and you like to sip on a cocktail – a hair of the dog, if you will – to drown out the cluster headaches triggered by your weekly hangover, this is the place for you.
Tocador has a neat selection of drinks on their menu – happy hour, and regular – but the best thing about this place is the option to let your spiritual guide (bartender) make one for you.
I remember one spring afternoon nursing one of the worst hangovers I’ve had in recent times. Sat at the bar with an expression of utter disgust and shame etched all over my face, I described how I felt to the man behind the bar. “Make me feel better,” I must have said. Being one of his first customers of the day, the man – nay, hero, behind the bar proceeded to whip up one of the most delightful and refreshing drinks I have ever had. Within the first few sips my hangover fell into retreat like the coward that it was, and I proceeded to have myself a great day.
7.4/10
11. Darby’s
A neighbourhood pub that doesn’t pretend to be anything other than just that automatically gets a few points, but the food at this joint adds to its excellence. A pub stereotypically Pacific Northwest, Darby’s has a ridiculous selection of craft beer from local breweries, – IPAs, stouts, porters, lagers, pilsners, and sours (ugh). Add to the fact that their bartenders are competent enough to make you a cocktail should you want a change of taste, this place is exactly what you want from a place situated a block away from you.
The summertime rooftop patio is a perfect place to sip, sunbathe, and read. At dusk, you can settle up and head downstairs to the neighbouring liquor store to pick some harder stuff to take your drunk to the next level as you hunker down for the night.
I’ve been here more times than I can count and usually leave feeling fat and woozy. Job done.
7.5/10
10. Mum’s The Word
One of many places on Commercial that I could’ve included, Mum’s the Word made it on the list because of their wonderful and well-timed happy hour menu.
Dealing with an existential crisis after eating brunch (who am I?) at a café/bakery/cocktail/wine bar surrounded by hipsters who take themselves and their fusion food way too seriously, Mum’s The Word provided much-needed solace for me during this rough time.
A 5$ vodka, kahlua and espresso mix that didn’t call itself a ‘martini,’ was the perfect tonic and reminded me of who I am, and more importantly who I am not.
Bartenders that looked like they can have a good time and a view that promises to be excellent in the summers, this place is hiding in plain sight and not talked about (no pun intended) a whole lot, which probably explains why it’s held onto its character.
A staple.
7.8/10
9. The Buckstop
Another one of my neighbourhood favourites, this place has lighting so dim it has an unfair advantage. The inside is usually packed with regulars seated at the bar, and a few adventurous couples out on dates. There’s of course the odd loner crouched in the corner, which lets you this place means business.
A loyal customer base and a grizzled staff tells you a lot about what the establishment has to offer. The menu has zero white claws, and the bartender has no time for college girls who order them.
The dive bar is a fading light in Vancouver, but The Buckstop (hopefully) is going nowhere.
I absolutely love this place. There are no televisions on the wall, the music isn’t on a mission to wreak havoc on your ear drums; there’s little room to maneuver around in the narrow aisle, the place doesn’t have an inviting feel to it, which is exactly what you want from one of your regulars.
There’s bar snacks and barbeque to eat, and maybe 10-15 drinks (beers included) to choose from.
Buckstop is unpretentious, edgy, and punk rock to its core.
7.9/10
Part two will be out soon.