Top 5 Cocktail Bars

Bartholomew, Yaletown
Right in the heart of Yaletown, Bartholomew is a cozy, dark wood bar that you want to retreat into. The long, narrow room is home to comfy banquettes and booths, perfect for a cocktail or two and a chin-wag. But don’t just stick to the drinks list; the bar also offers some of the best cheese and charcuterie options in the city, as well as larger plates for bigger appetites. Don’t miss their compelling nightly happy hour from 5 – 6 pm.

The Keefer Bar, Chinatown
Chinatown is home to some of the city’s coolest bars, but The Keefer Bar has always stood out to us as one of the most interesting, thanks to its apothecary-themed décor and cocktails. The Keefer now has retail options, so take-home souvenirs like the Opium Sour mix (grapefruit and tamarind) can bring back memories of your new favourite Vancouver tipple.

The Chickadee Room, Chinatown
Right across the street from The Keefer, and located at the end of our favourite fried chicken restaurant, Juke, the Chickadee Room is a cocktail bar with some of the savviest barkeeps in town. Whether going with a classic or one of their rotating seasonal cocktails, or ordering from their tidy, spot-on craft beer and wine list, Juke’s popular menu is always available for snacking.

Liberty Distillery, Granville Island
Take home a taste of B.C. from Granville Island’s Liberty Distillery — made right here in Vancouver from 100% organic B.C. grain, the handcrafted artisanal spirits range from pink gin to whiskey aged in Madeira barrels. Pull up a seat at the 125-year-old bar and sip one of their featured cocktails, or sample a flight of their spirits before deciding which to take home. Our pick is their Gin Flight, with an optional bottle of tonic to workshop our dream G&T.

Shameful Tiki Room, Mount Pleasant
Take a trip to Polynesia (well, just up Main Street) and enter the yellow door to discover the darkly lit world of the Shameful Tiki Room. As the exotic name suggests, this Tiki-themed bar serves up seriously boozy beverages in a tropical setting (we’re not kidding — ‘Zombie’ rum cocktails are so potent they are limited to two per person). Share a mystery volcano cocktail for a fun surprise when it’s served and listen out for live music on the weekend.