Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
shorts-wearing owner and barman Leo is committed to the idea that bars should be
places where you hang out, socialize and connect. And play pool: there's a full-sized
table here as well.
KEEFER BAR
COCKTAIL BAR
(
www.thekeeferbar.com
; 135 Keefer St; 5pm-midnight Mon, to 1am Tue-Thu & Sun, to 2am Fri &
Sat; Stadium-Chinatown)
A dark, narrow and atmospheric Chinatown bar that's been
claimed by local cocktail-loving coolsters from day one. Drop in for a full evening of
liquid taste-tripping and you'll have a blast. From perfectly prepared rosemary gimlets
and Siamese slippers to an excellent whiskey menu and tasty tapas (go for the late-
night Keefer dog), it offers up a great night out.
There are also cool extras here most nights, including Sunday's reggae turntable
tunes and Thursday's happening burlesque shows ($10 cover charge). In summer, grab
a perch on one of the wooden block stools outside and watch the Chinatown world go
by. Couple the Keefer with dinner at the nearby Bao Bei (
Click here
)
and you'll have
had the perfect Chinatown evening.
VANCOUVER URBAN WINERY
WINE BAR
(
www.vancouverurbanwinery.com
;
55 Dunlevy Ave; 11am-6pm Mon-Wed, to 11pm Thu & Fri,
noon-5pm Sun; 4)
Vancouver's only winery is actually a barrel-lined warehousing
business storing tipples from BC and beyond. It has a large public tasting bar that's one
of the city's hidden gems. Roll up for an afternoon tasting during the week (a five-glass
tasting flight costs $12) or, better still, drop by on Friday night when the place is a hop-
ping nightlife spot for those in the know.
Cheese and charcuterie are available if you're peckish (a combined wine and food
pairing is $24). There's also a little on-site shop of wine trinkets and bottles.
UNION
BAR
(
www.theunionvancouver.ca
;
219 Union St; 5pm-1am Mon-Thu, to 2am Fri & Sat, to midnight
Sun; 3)
If you can't find any hipsters on Chinatown's streets at night, that's because
they're all at this contemporary Union St resto-bar just up from the Jimi Hendrix
Shrine. The Union is ever-friendly, and it's a great spot to chill out at a communal
bench. Excellent cocktails and Asian-influenced food at reasonable prices keep things
lively.
