John Lee - Drinking Vancouver: 100+ Great Bars in the City and Beyond

1181

The West Ends coolest gay bar

In a gaybourhood full of pub-style pick-up joints, this sleek but laid-back lounge is a welcome alternative. As long and narrow as Noel Cowards cigarette holder, the candlelit room here has a slick West Coast look comprising a chatty sofa-strewn area at the front and a cozy back haunt where couples like to hang outoften to watch the movies playing on the wall (vintage Logans Run on my visit).

Dividing the two areas is a slender bar staffed by friendly, T-shirt-clad servers. Perching singletons sit at the counter here and watch the room like hawks, waiting for fresh talent to arrive. While 1181 is not as raucous as some of the scenes other bars, its just as active on the flirtation front, although the regulars generally dont feel the need to sport lederhosen to advertise their availability. Frequently described as Vancouvers most straight-friendly gay bar, DJs stoke up a clubby atmosphere here on Wednesday to Saturday nights. And then theres Sunday afternoons, when the bar opens early to let the local drag queens strut their stuff.

The fuel for all this fun is clearly the giant drinks selection, presented in a thick leather folder. The bottled beer offerings are fairly standard, while the wine is mostly New Worldincluding quaffable BC treats from Inniskillin, Gray Monk and Cedar Creek. But its the cocktail list that stands out better than a pink-painted bus shelter in a town full of Texas rednecks.

Theres a page of classics (including a good Manhattan) followed by an eclectic contemporary selection divided into fresh, fruity, savoury, floral and tart pages. The signature 1181 Margarita (with Cointreau and lime-infused tequila) is justly popular, while the fruity Blueboy (Berry Skyy vodka, raspberry and youngberry) lures many to a night of ruin. And its hard to imagine the Knock Out (Tanqueray, passion fruit and lime) having a better name. Hopefully these libations will satisfy you since this is one of the only bars in Vancouver that doesnt serve food.

Essential tipple 1181 Margarita

Must-have nosh Another 1181 Margarita

Coordinates 1181 Davie Street (

Afterglow

Sexy little lounge that feels far from the madding Yaletown crowds

Where in-the-know-locals tired of the competitive hordes cramming Yaletowns usual bar suspects like to hang out, this cozy den is an ideal late-night chill spot. Little more than a mood-lit nest of comfy couches, scatter cushions and mod side tables, it still manages to be effortlessly cool and seductivethe 60s lampshades, whitewashed brickwork and pink silhouettes snaking the walls certainly help.

Although its located behind the ever-busy, often noisy Glowbal Restaurant, this space is surprisingly calm and intimate. And its a great spot to make some new Yaletown buddies: youll be squeezed so close to the next group on your couch that impromptu chats, casual flirting or even an unplanned pregnancy are almost inevitable.

Mirroring the rooms tiny stature, theres a small but well-formed drinks menu here focused on cocktails and martinis. Highlights include the naughty Black Cherry Mojito and the recommended You Glow Girl, concocted from Plymouth Gin, sour apple and white grape juice. Fairly standard bottled import and domestic beers are also offeredthey sadly dont carry those uber-strong Quebec Unibroues any moreand the wine selection from the adjoining restaurant is fully available back here.

Starving quaffers should head to Glowbal for a full dinner choice but if youre just looking for some tasty snacks to accompany your tipple, Afterglows lip-smacking satay sticks are the way to go. A house specialty, they include varieties like Creole-crusted oyster and the recommended scallops wrapped in bacon. If youre in for a languid night of group indulgence, consider a platter of several different satays or add a side dish of Kobe meatballs or black truffle popcorn. And if youre on a romantic night out, share a Toblerone chocolate fonduejust make sure you dont spill it on your pricey designer togs.

Essential tipple You Glow Girl

Must-have nosh Scallops and Bacon Satay

Coordinates 1079 Mainland Street (

Alibi Room

Vancouvers best bar for BC microbrew fans

A warm and welcoming pilgrimage destination for true BC beer nuts, this laid-back contemporary tavern used to be a humdrum haunt for Hollywood North movie crews (hence the shelf of dog-eared scripts) but its been completely reinvented in recent years by a Brit co-owner who knows a thing or two about great quaffs. Now, youll find an ever-evolving roster of regional microbrewsone of the biggest in the cityin a convivial brick-built room thats striped with long communal tables. Theres also a cozy subterranean snug downstairs where DJs find their groove on Friday and Saturday nights.

The astonishing array of BC draftsthere are up to 25 taps and three additional revolving caskschanges based on availability as well as the arrival of seasonal brews. But you can expect your beer education to be enhanced immeasurably by lip-smacking treats like Red Racer ESB from Surrey, Swans Extra IPA from Victoria and Cranng Organic Cherry Ale from Sorrento. And thats before you even consider Phillips Chocolate Porter, Lighthouse Dry Irish Stout and the darkly satisfying Old Yale Pale Ale. Even local brewpubs like Dix, Steamworks and Yaletown Brewing send their most interesting casks here, knowing theyll be savoured by a crowd of young Gastown hipsters and older, beer-ravaged Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) drinkers.

Taste-trippers should consider a $9 frat bat of four 4oz samples (choose your own or ask to be surprised). And if youre done with BC, theres a 20-strong bottle choice that includes the excellent Barron Dark Lager from the Czech Republic. Eventually, youll have to concede that beer doesnt quite cover all your dietary needs; luckily theres some good-quality comfort food here to line your stomach for the next session. Skinny fries with chili-garlic vinegar is a great side, while more substantial fare includes free-run chicken curry and a bulging, Pemberton-sourced beef burger. Even better, is the bison cheesesteak sandwich, served with fries and pumpkin-seed coleslawits a good reminder that theres apparently more to life than great beer (no, I dont believe it either).

Essential tipple Old Yale Pale Ale

Must-have nosh Bison Cheesesteak Sandwich

Coordinates 157 Alexaznder Street (

Atlantic Trap & Gill

Laid-back party pub with a cheery East Coast vibe

Newfies on the run from those cold-ass St. Johns winters often spend their Vancouver hibernation time at this party-loving expat pub. Emulating a foot-stomping, wood-floored East Coast tavern better than ever since moving from its darkened former site, Trap 2.0 is the definition of a comfort-hugging, down-home drinkery. And luckily you dont have to say aboot to get in the door: anyone can drop in for cover-free Celtic-inspired live music on Thursdays and Saturdays, but youll be warmly welcomed into the fold whichever day you roll in.

Perhaps the biggest improvement over the old location is the patio, which almost doubles the size of the bars drinking area. Its an ideal summer-evening haunt for a plate of heaping seafood and a few pitchers of beer with chatty mates at a large communal table. Insidewhich feels as alfresco as the patio when the garage-style doors are flung openyoull be rubbing shoulders with an eclectic mix of easterners, old lags and a large contingent of students and twentysomethings enjoying a raucous group night out.

While some of them might be sipping wine, the majority are here for the beer. Steer away from the giant Kokanee tap on the bar (even if its on special) and consider draft Alexander Keiths IPA, all the way from Halifax. Guinness, Stella Artois and three Granville Island Brewing tipples round out the familiar selection. Alternatively, go for the Trap Lager: Russell Brewing Lager in disguise, its often on special and slides down easier than a warm bowl of clam chowder.