Searching for Vancouver nightlife

September 18, 2006 12:00 PM

Help me find a bar in Vancouver that's dirty, cheap, and loud.

Just moved here and still looking for my favourite bar. A lot of the places I've seen tend to be expensive and ritzy and filled with a trendy set that likes to dress up. Nothing wrong with that but sometimes I want to just relax and get drunk and dance to some rock and roll or funk and soul - or if there's no dancing, just hang out and relax without feeling like I'm not good enough to be there.

I live near Commerical skytrain - not a whole lot in my neighborhood it seems, but transit to downtown is easy. I have been told to check out E Hastings.

All kinds of suggestions are welcomed. I've got lots of time to explore them all.

posted by PercussivePaul to travel & transportation (18 comments total)

That sounds like the Balmoral to me. I haven't been there in years, but I don't imagine it's changed much.
posted by timeistight at 12:33 PM on September 18, 2006

You want to go to Main Street, specifically the area between 12th and 16th, and between 25th (aka King Edward) and 29th.
posted by randomstriker at 12:38 PM on September 18, 2006

The Railway Club, Seymour and Dunsmuir.
posted by docgonzo at 12:40 PM on September 18, 2006

The Brickyard might be a good place to start. I've gone a few times and it meets your criteria. The neighbourhood is a bit sketchy but it's generally safe. My friend plays in a death metal band and so they have the occasional live show there.

Doolin's Irish Pub is great too and in a slightly safer location.

For an after work, you'll find a lot of white collar downtown workers at the Lion's on Cardero and at Smily O'Neals.

As far as clubbing goes, I've always liked going to the Cellar on Granville. It's not very pretentious, people seem laid back and the music is pretty good too. If you're looking for something a little more progressive, you can try Shine in Gastown. People are REALLY trendy there but not stuck up about it and the music is awesome on Saturday nights (but that was a few years back)

Along Main St. The Reef is a great place to drink. The patio is nice and the food is also pretty good.
posted by PWA_BadBoy at 12:41 PM on September 18, 2006

The Cambie @ Cambie and Cordova and The Bourbon (2 blocks east on Cardova) fit the bill fairly well.
posted by Vantech at 12:56 PM on September 18, 2006

I second the Cambie. It sounds like what you're looking for.
posted by purephase at 1:34 PM on September 18, 2006

I had heard of the Cambie and tried to go but there was a big line-up! It seems many other people have heard of it too.

Other than that I haven't heard of any of these places (except the Cellar, which I have walked by but not gone into - lineups again). Thanks, keep em coming.
posted by PercussivePaul at 2:14 PM on September 18, 2006

You want to go to Main Street, specifically the area between 12th and 16th, and between 25th (aka King Edward) and 29th.

Not if you're looking for really dirty. In which case you might want to try further north on Main. The Canadian, is it still there? Where you can buy "light draft" or "dark draft". The after effects are not amusing, from what I recall.

Hastings and Main is your ground zero for dirty and cheap... but the Railway is still my favourite, for what it's worth. Reasonable, loud, live music, smallish, separate smoking porch.
posted by jokeefe at 4:54 PM on September 18, 2006

Also, if you're in the area around the Drive, check out the WISE Hall. On Homer Street, the Marine Club has a long and venerable history, as well (though sadly since Ray Condo's death, I don't think they have their rockabilly nights any longer-- but I might be wrong). The ANZA at 8th and Ontario has live music and cheap drinks.
posted by jokeefe at 5:03 PM on September 18, 2006

Loose Moose on Helmcken between Burrard and Granville
posted by seawallrunner at 5:04 PM on September 18, 2006

You'll probably enjoy the Blarney Stone.
posted by Kickstart70 at 8:25 PM on September 18, 2006

I've always liked The Marine Club. To quote the Georgia Straight:

"A nautical-themed Everyman’s bar, the Marine Club is a dream come true for people who value authenticity over artifice and character over convenience. Except for the addition of a smoking room, the good old MC, which hosts bands on weekends, hasn’t changed much over the years. And we wouldn’t have it any other way." 573 Homer.


The Dive Bar Conoisseurs might be able to help you out.

and Funky Winkerbeans! It's...ok very downbeat. But come on. Funky Winkerbeans! They used to have $2 pitchers. PITCHERS.

Blarney Stone? Doolin's? I don't think those are your down n' dirty drinking establishments. But these things are relative.
posted by Salmonberry at 8:40 PM on September 18, 2006

Brickyard is okay. Go to the Columbia, or, on the 23rd of September go to the Balmoral. My friend Andrew is throwing a party and its bound to be kick ass..
posted by dobie at 9:19 PM on September 18, 2006

I second the Columbia... also try the Royal.
posted by graytona at 10:32 PM on September 18, 2006

dobie - I know you (Kelowna/MTL).
posted by Felicity Rilke at 11:01 PM on September 18, 2006

Is the Brickyard still open? I think it has closed.
posted by docgonzo at 12:15 PM on September 19, 2006

I used to spend a lot of time in the 'old man bars' down on East Hastings. I don't know if it's still there -- that was a long time ago -- but the Churchill Arms was one of my favorites. No rock and roll, though, as I recall. Just old guys and cheap red-eyes.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:35 AM on September 20, 2006

The Fairview has been my favourite Friday night hangout when I come into town lately. Good bands, complete lack of trendiness or pretentiousness, and it rocks like a son-of-a-gun. Brings a smile to my face just thinking about it...
posted by Bearman at 6:34 PM on September 21, 2006