Vancouver has no shortage of bars, from live music venues, classic pubs, to sports bars for watching your favourite games. We’ve put together a small sampling of some of the best ones.
The Denman Tap House
Situated in the heart of the West End, in English Bay, the Denman Tap House is the place to go for your NFL, UFC, and any other sporting initials or acronyms that you can think of. Vancouver’s centre for the Seattle Seahawks, if you’re across the border from Washington State, you can rest assured that you’ll catch EVERY Seahawks game here. There’s a nice balcony with views across the bay to enjoy when a game isn’t playing, and the daily 4-6 PM Happy Hour is perfect to enjoy the sunset too. Denman’s offers a varied menu with daily specials and a plethora of bees and ales from across the region and the world.
Phone: 604-568-3437
Address: 1184 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC, V6G 1H6
Website: www.thedenmantaphouse.com
G Sports Bar & Grill
Voted the best sports bar in western Canada, G Sports Bar & Grill is a kinda-sorta hybrid of Irish and Canadian with 24 HD TVs to ensure that you’ll not miss a single moment of the game. For those special occasions, like the Canucks games, there’s a 9ft projection screen to make you feel you’re right there at rink-side at the Rogers Arena (Every time the Canucks score, expect a fireball shooter on the house – it’s a tradition here!). This downtown watering hole also features an extensive range of pub grub to go with your beer, and a number of cocktail specialities.
Phone: 604-687-7684
Address: 1208 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, V67 1M4
Website: www.gsportsbar.ca
Red Card Sports Bar & Eatery
The Red Card considers, quite rightly, beer to be sacred. That’s on their website so it must be true. With its open brick walls and wooden beams all over, not to mention its 16 HD TVs plus 2 projector screens, the decor here fits the quirky imagery typical of the unique Moda Hotel in downtown Vancouver where it’s located. This place mixes the down-to-earthiness of a typical Canadian sports bar with a boutique, artsy European vibe. The menu is predominantly Italian and the drinks are flowing, with almost 60 different types of beer available and some of the best-handcrafted cocktails in town. Open 7 days a week from noon until late, this is not only a sports bar but one of Vancouver’s coolest social spots.
Phone: 604-602-9570
Address: 560 Smith Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 3L9
Website: www.redcardsportsbar.ca
Boston Pizza Stadium District
This Canadian chain with more than 350 outlets across Canada, the US, and Mexico might not be one of the places one thinks of when trying to find a great sports bar in the city. But in Vancouver, you’d be wrong. Great bar service here plus of course, a massive, 300” big screen showing the major game of the day. This place is virtually next to BC Place, too, home of the BC Lions and the Vancouver Whitecaps, so is also a great pre or post-game gathering spot for those watching a game live.
Phone: 604-681-6170
Address: 808 Beatty Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B
Website: www.bostonpizzza.com
Manchester Public Eatery
An English-style pub, part of the Jennings Culture chain that operates around the Greater Vancouver region, the Manchester Public Eatery is one of the best places in town to get your EPL (English Premier League) fix and is the local boozer to many a Brit ex-pat. Aside from the soccer speciality, other Euro sports such as rugby are also featured. Never fear though – hometown fans of the Canucks, Whitecaps and Lions will also find a welcome home from home here. Away from the sporty vibe, the Manchester also offers live music of a night and a weekly pub trivia quiz.
Phone: 604-568-6868
Address: 1941 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC, V6J 1Z3
Website: www.jenningsculture.com
Yagger’s
There are two Yagger’s venues in Vancouver – one downtown and the other on the Broadway Strip (Yagger’s Kitsilano). Both places are small, compact, and packed full of TVs and fun. The name of the game in these joints is simple: Watch the game, enjoy good comfort food, and sup a cold brew. It’s a winning formula. With it’s two locations you’re never going to be that far from dropping into a Yagger’s one night and having a blast.
Phone: 604-733-3002 (Kitslano) / 604-602-7030 (Downtown)
Address: 2884 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC, V6K 2G7 (Kitslano) / 433 W Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 1V2 (Downtown)
Website: www.yaggers.com
Score on Davie
This place is the 2015 Gold Winner of the “Best of the City” award for the best sports bar in the West End of Vancouver. That’s big in this corner of the world. What makes it so good here? That’s easy. It’s the people, the service, the drinks and the sports on the TV. It’s one of those places you’ll come back to again and again, and if you live in the area you’ll be a local for sure. There’s a great little quirk about this place too – each table comes with a box. The idea is to put your phones in the box, lock it, and give the key to your server. First one at the table to ask for the key gets the bill. How cool is that?
Phone: 604-632-1646
Address: 1262 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC, V6J 5L1
Website: www.scoreondavie.com
Lion’s Pub
Another British themed pub situated in the center of Vancouver, serving typical “British” pub food like steak and kidney pie, bangers’n’mash, fish and chips… all that kind of stuff. More of a locals hangout than a true sports bar – although its central location certainly attracts visitors and tourists – the Lion’s Pub still nonetheless has a bunch of flat screen HD TVs showing the latest live game in any given sport. The 27 draught beers and 25 bottled beers that are available here will certainly keep you refreshed while watching the game.
Phone: 604-488-8602
Address: 888 W Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 0A7
Website: www.lionspub.ca
Oscar’s Pub
With flat screens everywhere, this casual little drinking spot in the heart of Gastown will satisfy even the most ardent sports fans. As befits a local’s pub, geared for the community at large, Oscar’s hosts regular events such as poker night or “Karaoke Sunday”. More important than that though, is their “Breakfast & Sunday NFL Ticket”, where breakfast lasts all day and so does the NFL – always up to 14 different games available any given Sunday. Now that’s a sports bar come local pub for you.
Phone: 604-298-5825
Address: 3684 E Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V5K 2A9
Website: www.oscarspublichouse.ca
12 Kings Pub
Once known to Vancouverites as The Locker Room, the 12 Kings is perhaps the city’s only sports bar that is truly focused on craft beer. So if you’re a sports lovin’ hipster, here’s the place to be! While supping those delicious craft brews, you can be assured of never missing a moment of any Canucks, Whitecaps, or Lion’s game. If they’re playing, it’s on! Also, rest assured that all UFC PPC events will be shown here. On top of all that, there’s a comedy night every Sunday!
Phone: 604-558-1208
Address: 395 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC, V5T 3J7
Website: www.12kingspub.com
Photo by Spencer Watson on Unsplash
