Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DRINKING & NIGHTLIFE
Home to many of the best bars in the city, Gastown's atmospheric old
brick buildings have been revitalized with some distinctive watering holes
in recent years, making this an ideal spot for an easy pub crawl. And
don't forget about Chinatown, which also has a choice bar or two of its
own.
Gastown
ALIBI ROOM
PUB
(
www.alibi.ca
;
157 Alexander St; 5-11:30pm Mon-Thu, to 12:30am Fri, 10am-12:30am Sat, to
11:30pm Sun; 4)
Vancouver's best craft-beer tavern, Alibi has an exposed brick bar
that stocks an ever-changing roster of around 50 drafts from celebrated BC breweries
such as Phillips, Driftwood and Crannog. Adventurous taste-trippers - hipsters and vet-
eran, red-nosed beer fans alike - enjoy the $9.50 'frat bat' of four sample tipples:
choose your own or ask to be surprised. Be sure to check the board for guest casks.
Foodwise, go for a side order of skinny fries with chili garlic vinegar or the hearty
barbecued pork-belly sandwich. There's a slender patio for alfresco summer quaffing,
and the cave-like downstairs area is ideal for rainy-day hunkering and lingering taste-
testing. The Alibi's communal tables are especially packed during Vancouver Craft
Beer Week (
www.vancouvercraftbeerweek.com
)
in May/June. Also ask about Brass-
neck, Alibi's new brewery on Main St.
DIAMOND
COCKTAIL BAR
(
www.di6mond.com
;
6 Powell St; 5:30pm-1am Wed & Thu, to 2am Fri & Sat, to midnight Sun;
4)
Head upstairs via the unassuming entrance and you'll find yourself in one of Van-
couver's warmest little cocktail bars. A renovated heritage room studded with sash win-
dows - try for a view seat - it's popular with local coolsters but is rarely pretentious. A
