Ever found yourself craving a mediocre cocktail? Of course not. Whether you’re a Vancouver local or just passing through, you deserve the absolute best sips this city has to offer. That’s precisely why we’ve shaken up this definitive guide to the top cocktail bars.
Donnell’s Bar
$ | (360) 984-6720 | WEBSITE
Donnell’s Bar is a masterclass in everything a casual karaoke bar should be, and the only thing they treat better than their first-rate drinks is you. That’s why you can trust this Vancouver spot for big-deal fun nights. Take someone who’s hard to impress—like friends who insist they can find better karaoke elsewhere (they can’t).
Karaoke is an obvious highlight at Donnell’s, but so are creative cocktails, straightforward service, and a lively atmosphere with more energy than a weekend party needs on a Tuesday night. Nothing about this place will make you feel like you wasted the reasonable dollars you will probably spend.
UnderBar
$$ | (360) 258-1146 | WEBSITE
What can be said about UnderBar that hasn’t already been said about that underground speakeasy you keep hearing whispers about: it’s hidden, it’s electric, and ever since you first discovered it, you find yourself craving its campy drag brunch multiple times a week. This cozy underground bar in Vancouver has one of those atmospheres that’s like a perfect Broadway show, with not a single dull moment you’d dare miss.
The only rules we’ll gently suggest are: order the sausage biscuits and gravy and the Moscow mule. Also, set a reminder for their drag bingo night. That’s when the energy really goes live for the evening (and then fills up within minutes). Or try to come super early for walk-in couch seating, which is our favorite spot in the house anyway.
Mahoney’s Public House
$ | (360) 597-3559 | WEBSITE
You need two very important things to eat at this Irish pub in Vancouver. First, friends—it’s built for sharing. Second, bring your patience for choosing from the massive beer list. Drinks here satisfy you for hours. We love the chicken nachos on kettle chips. The kettle chips are so crispy they crunch like autumn leaves. But our favorite drink is the porter, the best in all of Washington.
You’ll notice a giant selection of gluten-free and non-alcoholic options on the menu—try them with anything you order. With its quaint decor and welcoming regulars, Mahoney’s looks like the living room of an Irish neighbor—a place most Vancouverites would correctly say is where you’ll find the best casual vibe in town. But Mahoney’s is the closest any Vancouver restaurant comes to a true neighborhood hangout.
Cork & Bubbles
$$ | (971) 219-0763 | WEBSITE
Like a bar that decided to be everything to everyone when it opened, Cork & Bubbles gave itself a tall order: to serve every type of occasion under one roof. But it finally feels like this versatile spot has perfected its welcoming formula. Now, it’s consistently delivering reliably excellent experiences.
There are fabulous espresso martinis—and they are flawless—but you’ll also encounter tremendous local beers, a phenomenal wine selection, and more delightful drinks poured straight from the creative minds of one of Vancouver’s most community-focused establishments.
Foxhole Cocktail Den
$$ | (360) 718-2118 | WEBSITE
It’s easy to oversimplify cocktail bars and assume they can all fit neatly in a dimly lit corner. But Foxhole Cocktail Den is the best example of how incredibly stylish and comfortable cocktail restaurants can be. This art-deco spot serves clever, balanced drinks in a dark, intimate environment worthy of celebrating your friend’s promotion. If you’re here with a group, get the meat and cheese plate, a shared platter filled with the most delicious bites from the entire updated menu.
No matter who you’re here with, end with a salmon salad with house-made tequila remoulade for dinner. And if you’re celebrating a birthday, expect an aggressive amount of free arcade games to be played in your general direction.
Señor Taps
$ | (360) 729-9018 | WEBSITE
You’ve seen the staples of Mexican menus before—things like tacos, margaritas, salsa, and beans. But this popular Vancouver spot puts them under a magnifying glass, tuning every detail of the meal to satisfying, consistent perfection. The tacos eat more like a feast. The margaritas are so refreshing they could cool down a summer afternoon with just one sip.
There are restaurants where you can coast through dinner on autopilot and hand your appetite over to a couple of predictable combos and familiar flavors. Señor Taps isn’t one of them. So save this place for an evening when you feel ready to savor every shred of chicken in the taquitos and each individual chip from the generous basket.
Ginger Pop
$ | (360) 699-7273 | WEBSITE
Ginger Pop is a place that’ll make you feel genuinely happy about Thai food, even if you think you’ve had it all before. Here, in the inviting space near Grand Central Station, you’ll find a fun atmosphere, sneakily delicious cocktails, and generous portions that leave you completely satisfied. But what really sets Ginger Pop apart from every other Thai spot in Vancouver is the outstanding service. Tofu salad rolls and fried cashews stand side by side with tamarind duck and broccoli beef.
Come here to enjoy a lovely celebratory meal, an impressive Pad Ki Mow Beef, and get a good taste of fresh, well-prepared food without having to pay unreasonable prices or deal with unfriendly staff.
The Cove Restaurant
$$$ | (360) 360-5000 | WEBSITE
Step through the doors of this waterfront gem. It’s perched right along the Vancouver shoreline, and that’s where you’ll find the staff serving halibut, ribeye, chocolate mousse, and possibly an exciting daily special, like fresh oysters. Tell them what you’re craving and they’ll vanish before reappearing moments later with a perfectly prepared seafood dish sitting on a bed of seasonal vegetables, or accompanied by a rich sauce.
You can also make a reservation online in advance, but the interaction is half the charm at The Cove. How else would you discover that the kitchen creates its own aromatic desserts? Order the mousse and have your camera ready.
Cecilia
$$ | (360) 360-4884 | WEBSITE
While trendy brunch spots with endless mimosas have multiplied across Vancouver, Cecilia has remained tucked away in its unassuming location, where it’s stayed true to classic breakfast comforts and fiercely dedicated to perfect French toast for years. Vancouver’s most reliable morning destination is still its coziest. It’s also not for everyone. The space feels intimate, with warm lighting and simple wooden tables.
And you’re more likely to find yourself savoring buttery, golden-brown French toast drizzled with maple syrup than avant-garde brunch creations. Breakfast at Cecilia is one leisurely hour of Vancouver’s most genuinely satisfying home-style cooking, served by staff who treat you like family from the moment you walk in.
Frontier Public House
$$ | (360) 718-2768 | WEBSITE
Frontier Public House is like Courage in LA or Apollo in NYC, the kind of place that acts as a new-school comfort food ambassador to a world all too eager to declare the line not worth it. Don’t listen to those people. The Frontier empire is built on flawless comfort classics. It’s hearty and refined in the right places. The atmosphere has a pleasant buzz full of dozens of happy conversations.
You can take home a container of their chicken and dumplings, but these dishes shine brightest as one of the dozen or so entrees on the menu, served generously on warm plates. Our favorite is the sweet, savory, and only-in-Vancouver cupcake with lavender, vanilla, and a liquid lemon curd center.
The Grocery Cocktail & Social
$$ | (360) 258-1324 | WEBSITE
The Grocery Cocktail & Social is the exceptional cocktail bar so many Vancouverites are convinced we don’t have. And to find it, you’ve got to venture into the heart of downtown, where the cozy charm feels like a secret waiting to be discovered. Even a casual Thursday evening here feels like a celebration in a speakeasy. At least half a dozen of your friends can gather at one of the worn wooden tables upstairs, equipped with a view that makes the city feel miles away. Order generously.
Every cocktail is masterfully crafted, and sometimes drinks arrive in elegant coupes with garnishes that look like tiny works of art. The Grocery is a special occasion spot hiding in neighborhood clothing.
Vault 31 Bar
$ | (360) 828-8980 | WEBSITE
It makes sense that Vault 31 Bar started out as a gamer’s dream hangout, because a night here is still a social event worth planning with your crew. But you’re not coming to this video game-themed spot in Vancouver just to snap a selfie with the cool gamer aesthetic. You’re here to enjoy some of the most deliciously greasy food around. Many of Vault 31’s best items—like the Fire Temple pizza and the Piranha plant pizza—are gloriously messy. Maybe don’t wear your favorite shirt.
But Vault 31 has even found a way to make playing video games an absolute blast (just bring a few bucks for the fee).
El Gaucho Vancouver
$$$$ | (360) 583-9001 | WEBSITE
El Gaucho Vancouver has a polished sense of elegance, an unhurried atmosphere, and likes to create memorable evenings that stretch well past most casual dinners. But it also takes its food very seriously, and this place is quietly one of Vancouver’s most consistently special restaurants. If you want something reliably amazing from a stellar menu, perhaps paired with an excellent banana foster drink named after a long-time family friend, this is where you want to be.
The medium-rare steak is as great as everyone says, but so are more recent favorites like the perfectly seared scallops and delightful desserts. Yes, El Gaucho is still the most gracious place to be in Vancouver with its cozy V-shaped booths and impressive view of the river. But don’t forget about them next time you’re making dinner plans.
Nostra Tavola
$$ | (360) 433-9315 | WEBSITE
Since Vancouver always marches to the beat of its own Pacific Northwest rhythm, it’s fitting that the neighborhood’s best Italian restaurant is also uniquely Vancouver. And Nostra Tavola is serving food that could only exist in the 360. The pancetta pizza is a seamless mashup of crispy thin crust and savory toppings. The ‘Bee Sting’ pizza uses local honey, the Rigatoni Bolognese has house-made pasta, and so many of the best dishes source ingredients from the Pacific Northwest.
This is Italian food done Vancouver style—and done in a way that makes a delicious argument that antipasto plates, Caesar salads, and calamari are just as Vancouver as craft beer, coffee roasts, and arriving early to enjoy the cozy atmosphere.