Sing Sing
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Craft beer and Asian comfort fare
Address: 2718 Main St, Vancouver, BC
Why You Need To Go: When you don't know where to go but know you want to have a good time, go to Sing Sing.
I'm obsessed with the garage doors that open up to the patio, giving the whole joint an airy and laid-back vibe. In fact, save for Joe Fortes on a bougie summer day, Sing Sing has my favourite patio in Vancouver. This is the kind of bar you go to for one drink and stay for six.
This place is best for getting buzzed and doing an out-loud reading of the most outrageous texts an F-Boy has ever sent you. I highly recommend not eating all day, drinking on an empty stomach, and then binge-ordering every tiny plate known to mankind. The dumplings are 10/10 and, even better, they are handmade by a local East Van company.
Odd Society Spirits
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Craft cocktails and small-batch spirits
Address: 1725 Powell St, Vancouver, BC
Why You Need To Go: Odd Society Spirits is where you go when you're ready to remind yourself you have plenty of good people in your life, and you will be OK on your own.
This East Van gem is a distillery, cocktail lounge, and tasting room all rolled into one, and it's got a cool industrial vibe that'll make you feel like you're in on some sort of secret.
It's the perfect spot to meet up with your oldest, most trusted friend who's been in a healthy, monogamous relationship for a decade but loves to live vicariously through you. The bartenders here know their stuff, so let them guide you through a tasting of their small-batch spirits before you dive into the real talk.
The Keefer Bar
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Address: 135 Keefer St, Vancouver, BC
Why You Need To Go: The Keefer Bar is a rare Vancouver gem that has been cool forever. As far as I'm concerned, it's a classic that never goes out of style. With its apothecary-themed cocktails and delicious, Asian-inspired small plates, it's easy to feel like you've been transported somewhere else for an hour or two.
For the extremely heartbroken, there's no promise you'll forget all your problems. Still, you can at least talk them out over a round of expertly crafted drinks and dim sum. Seriously, do not sleep on the steamed buns or green onion pancakes.
The Narrow Lounge
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Mexican-inspired fast food
Address: 1898 Main St, Vancouver, BC
Why You Need To Go: The Narrow Lounge is the seedy, moody, sexy cocktail bar to hit up when you swore you'd never see him (or her) again—and you know you're lying about it.
The bathroom here is the perfect place to sneak away when you're secretly texting your ex to schedule a booty call "for closure." But first, you'll have to get rid of your oldest friend, who's totally on to you.
"No, we are not sharing an Uber home; I want to walk. OK? What's so weird about that?!"
Le Fabrique St. George
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Wine bar
Address: 7 E 7th Ave, Vancouver, BC
Why You Need To Go: Le Fabrique St George is a gorgeous and elegant wine bar to visit when you're actually over it. If you can be an adult and honestly say, "The relationship ran its course," with no hard feelings, Le Fabrique St. George is waiting for you.
The bar is tucked away just off Main Street and has a non-descript front that may make you look twice at your map and wonder if you're in the right spot. Don't worry, you are.
To me, the sign of a good bar has always been when every table is a good table—which couldn't be more true at Le Fabrique. From communal tables to patio seating to tables for two, Fabrique's got every kind of seating to charge your social battery.
They even have an in-house market with stunning "picnic style" selections, where you're invited to pick up a shopping basket upon arrival to browse and gather items for a custom picnic. When dining in, they provide cutting boards, cutlery, plates—everything you need to enjoy a picnic with your wine. If not, all of their market items are available to-go.
The Shameful Tiki Room
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Address: 4362 Main St, Vancouver, BC
Why You Need To Go: When you can't go to Vegas, let Vegas come to you. The Shameful Tiki Room opened its doors in 2013 and revolutionized the themed cocktail bar game. As the name suggests, The Shameful Tiki Room is a Hawaiian-themed bar that goes all out. We're talking bamboo-panelled walls and slushy drinks with blue food colouring served in a chalice. It's giving Elvis, and I never want it to stop.
While themed bars may seem a bit played out, there's no better place to go if you wanna have fun and just talk mad sh*t without fear of being overheard—because the live band playing all too loud and all night long has got you.
You can't skip "the mystery bowl" here. It's the signature cocktail served in a massive shell. It's meant for two to three ordinary people to share (or one very pissed-off person who's just found out their ex was cheating the whole time).
Commodore Lanes and Billiards
Two friends pose at Commodore Lanes and Billiards, Vancouver.
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: It's a literal bowling alley
Address: 838 Granville St, Vancouver, BC
Why You Need To Go: If your best friend is someone of the opposite sex, Commodore Lanes and Billiards sits comfortably in the Venn diagram between the two of you.
This well-lit bowling alley is hilariously neutral and the perfect spot for a break from deep relationship drama talks.
Its no-frills atmosphere is ideal for those moments when neither of you wants to overthink things. Just grab a lane, order classic bar snacks, and let the casual competition take the edge off the conversation.
Ivanhoe Pub
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Cheap eats
Address: 1038 Main St, Vancouver, BC
Why You Need To Go: If "How You Remind Me" by Nickelback is your breakup track, get to the Ivanhoe Pub stat. Dubbed among the scariest bars in Vancouver in one Reddit thread, the Ivanhoe is the perfect place to drown your sorrows.
You don't need to bring a friend for this one. The Ivanhoe is the perfect dive bar to day-drink a warm Jim Beam (straight) alone. No judgments.
That said, I can't overstate this pub's reputation as the diviest of dive bars. Not for the faint of broken hearts.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
