Cocktail barTiki bar$$$mount-pleasantTue-Sun 17:00-00:00, closed Mondays
The Shameful Tiki Room on Main Street since 2012 is a windowless Polynesian-style tiki bar, the city's reference rum bar with no daylight inside.
Signature drink: Zombie
Food: Tiki snacks
Tip: Walk in early on weeknights; the Zombie cocktail is limited to two per person.
Cocktail barCocktail bar$$mount-pleasantDaily 17:00-01:00
The Cascade Room on Main Street since 2008 is Mount Pleasant's reference late-night neighbourhood cocktail bar, the city's pioneer craft-cocktail dive room.
Signature drink: House old fashioned
Food: Pub bites, fish and chips
Tip: Walk-in only; weekends are full from 21:00. Pub kitchen runs until 23:30.
Cocktail barSpeakeasy$$$chinatownTue-Sun 18:00-02:00, closed Mondays
Key Party on Powell in Chinatown is a hidden basement cocktail bar since 2017, entered through a faux accountant's office, the city's reference speakeasy.
Signature drink: Dealers' choice
Food: Hong Kong cafe-style snacks
Tip: Reservations on the website; the door key code is texted the day of. Dealers' choice is the bar's standard.
Cocktail barCocktail bar$$$commercial-driveDaily 11:30-00:00
Havana on Commercial Drive since 1996 is the city's reference Cuban-Caribbean cocktail bar, the patio strip's longest-running corner room with a back gallery.
Signature drink: Cuban mojito
Food: Cuban-Caribbean small plates
Tip: The patio takes walk-ins for the mojito and Cuban sandwich pairing; back gallery for late-night live music.
Cocktail barPublic house$$downtownDaily 11:00-02:00
Cinema Public House on Granville Street is a heritage Capitol 6 cinema-turned-pub since 2017, the Entertainment District's reference late-night cocktail room.
Signature drink: Mason Jar Negroni
Food: Burgers and pub plates
Tip: Late-night kitchen closes 01:00 Friday and Saturday; reservations for the upstairs cinema seats book on OpenTable.
Cocktail barCocktail bar$$$chinatownMon-Sat 17:00-01:00, Sun 17:00-00:00
The Keefer Bar on Keefer Street in Chinatown since 2009 is Vancouver's reference cocktail bar, an apothecary-style room, Canada's 50 Best Bars perennial.
Signature drink: Dragonfly cocktail with house ginger syrup
Food: Chinese-leaning small plates
Tip: Walk-in only Monday to Thursday; weekend bookings open at the door from 17:00.