Vancouver drinking starts with The Keefer Bar, No. 7 on North America's 50 Best Bars 2026, and the bench behind it runs deep: we list 13 active bars across the city. 8 of them hold verified international recognition, from the 50 Best lists to the Spirited Awards. Every listing below is verified by BarMagazine, with addresses, opening hours and the signature drinks worth ordering.
An apothecary-themed cocktail bar in Vancouver's Chinatown with a dark, moody room and a list of more than 25 signature drinks built on fresh herbs and spices. The bar, which is 19+, has been named Canada's second-best bar three years running. It sits at No. 7 on North America's 50 Best Bars 2026.
A two-level, brasserie-inspired dining and cocktail destination in Cambie Village serving French-influenced West Coast cuisine, opened in early 2025. The main floor centers on an expansive bar with views into the open kitchen; downstairs, Lala, a basement vinyl bar with turntable seating, opens after 8pm. It entered North America's 50 Best Bars 2026 at No. 17.
A subterranean cocktail bar beneath Rosewood Hotel Georgia in downtown Vancouver, pairing creative cocktails and whiskey tastings with share plates and live entertainment. The room leans on the hotel's century of heritage, styled as a hidden haven for conversation and late nights. Recognized in Canada's 100 Best 2026.
The cocktail bar and Cocktail Lab inside Botanist at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, where Creative Beverage Director Grant Sceney builds science-inflected drinks around Pacific Northwest microclimates. The venue spans four botanical-themed spaces, bar and lab, garden, dining room and TASCHEN Library, with Pacific Northwest cuisine from Executive Chef Hector Laguna. Ranked No. 24 on North America's 50 Best Bars and No. 2 on Canada's 50 Best Bars. The bar holds No. 38 on North America's 50 Best Bars 2026.
A hidden cocktail lounge in Chinatown inspired by the opulence of Victorian India and its railway-era splendour, with Rudyard Kipling references threaded through the drinks program. Entry is deliberately concealed, and reservations are capped at six guests. It sits at No. 59 on North America's 50 Best Bars 2026.
A cocktail bar in Vancouver's Chinatown styled after the illicit nightlife of 1970s Hong Kong, with pink-heavy love-motel decor, fabric draping, a vintage jukebox and a curved banquette dubbed the Honeymoon Suite. Cocktails feature ingredients such as shiso, shochu and sancho pepper, and the food menu runs to retro indulgences like foie gras and baba au rhum. It sits at No. 64 on North America's 50 Best Bars 2026.
A speakeasy-style cocktail bar in Chinatown entered through a freezer door inside sister restaurant BLND TGER. The room channels 1920s Shanghai with velvet, copper, malachite and leather, and the drinks program centers on baijiu and cocktails built on bamboo, ginseng, lychee and Sichuan peppercorn. Seating is first come, first served for small groups. It sits at No. 72 on North America's 50 Best Bars 2026.
A cocktail bar and wood-fired grill in Mount Pleasant disguised as a vintage thrift shop, operated by Turntable Hospitality. The room pairs a browsable vintage-shop front with a full bar program and a grill-driven food menu, open daily from noon. It currently stands at No. 91 on North America's 50 Best Bars 2026.
A cocktail and wine bar in an industrial-chic room on historic Mainland Street in Yaletown. The list pairs inventive house cocktails with an extensive wine selection, plus draught beer and non-alcoholic options. Small plates lean on charcuterie and cheese, with dishes from beef carpaccio to late-night sandwiches.
A dimly lit speakeasy on Main Street hidden behind an unmarked storefront, run by East Vancouver's Narrow Group. The menu leans on original cocktails and twists on classics from the 1960s and 70s, alongside beer, wine and shareable snacks. No reservations are taken; entry is first come, first served.
A downtown Vancouver cocktail bar on Seymour Street billed as a cozy hideaway for after-work drinks, with hand-crafted cocktails and comfort-leaning food. Seating is first-come, first-served, with early and late seatings offered for groups of six to eight and the room available for private buyouts.
A small neighborhood bar on Main Street near Chinatown, self-described as Vancouver's coziest cocktail, local craft beer and pizzeria bar. Craft cocktails and local beers are served alongside pizza from Mortadella Pizzeria next door, with a daily happy-hour pizza deal from 4 to 6pm.
These 12 are the starting point. The full BarMagazine directory covers every listed bar in Vancouver, with a map, filters by bar type, and new openings as we verify them.
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