bars · Vancouver
The best nights in Vancouver start at these addresses — award-winning cocktail rooms, beloved locals' haunts and views worth ordering a second round for. All rated 4.5 stars or higher.
Chinatown · $$
An apothecary-themed den mixing Chinese herbal tinctures into cocktails, a formula that has landed it on World's 50 Best Bars lists. Dim-sum-style snacks fuel the session.
Insider tip: Order off the 'prescriptions' list and go before 8pm on weekends if you want a booth.
Coal Harbour · $$
The Fairmont Pacific Rim's plant-filled bar has won Canada's Best Bar honors with cocktails built like small terrariums. The pink-hued, garden-themed room is one of the prettiest in the country.
Insider tip: Reserve the garden-side seats and come hungry—the kitchen is destination-worthy on its own.
Gastown · $$
Pre-Prohibition classics served in a 1910 warehouse with a 38-foot Douglas-fir bar and exposed brick. The kitchen's burger has a following of its own.
Insider tip: Sit at the long bar and ask for a bartender's-choice classic, pre-1920s style.
Gastown · $$
An upstairs heritage room overlooking Maple Tree Square, where lamplight pours through arched windows onto one of Canada's most respected cocktail lists. Asian-inflected snacks round out the night.
Insider tip: Find the unmarked door at 6 Powell Street and climb the stairs—window two-tops go first.
Granville Island · $
Canada's first microbrewery, pouring island lagers since 1984 a few steps from the Public Market. Taproom flights and seasonal casks make it the natural market pit stop.
Insider tip: Do a flight after the market crawl—weekday afternoons skip the crowds.
Main Street · $
A windowless, lamp-lit tiki hideout that drops you into 1962 Polynesia, with exotica on vinyl and grog served in flaming bowls. Critics regularly rank it among the best tiki bars in the world.
Insider tip: Arrive at opening on weekends and order the Mystery Bowl—it arrives with full ceremonial flair.
June–September
Canadian Dollar (CAD)
English
How this list is made: we only feature places rated 4.5 stars or higher with 1,000+ reviews from real travelers. Ratings and review counts are approximate and move over time — always check current numbers before booking. Photos are sourced from Wikimedia Commons under free licenses (credits in each gallery).
Same city, more lists
Good to know
Three days covers Stanley Park, Granville Island, and the North Shore mountains; five lets you add Whistler or Victoria. Cruise passengers bookending an Alaska sailing should allow at least two full days.