Nightlife · Vancouver · Canada
Vancouver nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Vancouver, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Richard N Horne, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Vancouver's nightlife is more about craft breweries, cocktail bars and live music than big clubs. Granville Street has the late-night club strip, Gastown and Main Street the best bars, and Davie Village the LGBTQ+ scene. The main areas are Gastown, Granville Entertainment District, Main Street and Brewery Creek and Davie Village.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- West End
- Local drink
- Craft beer
Where to go out
Gastown
Cocktail bars and restaurants in Victorian buildings along Water and Cordova streets.
Granville Entertainment District
Clubs, live-music venues and late bars on Granville Street downtown, busiest at weekends.
Main Street and Brewery Creek
Taprooms, natural-wine bars and small music venues in Mount Pleasant.
Davie Village
The West End's LGBTQ+ hub, with bars, clubs and rainbow crosswalks.
Nightlife tips
- Nights wind down earlier than in many big cities, so start early if you want a long evening.
- SkyTrain runs until about 1am, and NightBus routes cover downtown and main corridors after that.
- Carry ID: the drinking age in BC is 19 and it is checked.
Evening sights
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Neighbourhood · Gastown
Gastown and the steam clock
Combine an evening walk with dinner and cocktails; Gastown is at its best after dark.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Architecture
- After dark
- Food
Market · Richmond
Richmond Night Market
Take the Canada Line to Bridgeport station and arrive early in the evening to avoid the longest queues.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Kids
What to drink
- Craft beer — Vancouver has dozens of craft breweries, many with taprooms in former warehouses, pouring West Coast IPAs, sours and lagers.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 14°C (57°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 16:41 | 2°C (36°F) | 16 |
| April | About 20:04 | 6°C (43°F) | 13 |
| July | About 21:14 | 14°C (57°F) | 5 |
| October | About 18:23 | 7°C (45°F) | 13 |
Getting home late
- Metro — Tap a credit card, phone or Compass card at the gates on entry and exit; trips starting at the airport stations include an extra airport fare.
- Ferry — The SeaBus crosses Burrard Inlet to Lonsdale Quay in about 12 minutes on a normal transit fare, and private mini-ferries (Aquabus and False Creek Ferries) link downtown, Yaletown and Granville Island.
- Bus — Buses cover areas SkyTrain doesn't reach, including Kitsilano, UBC, Stanley Park and the North Shore mountains, and every bus trip is charged as one zone.
- Walking — The seawall path runs for about 28 km from Coal Harbour around Stanley Park and False Creek to Kitsilano, making walking or cycling the most pleasant way along the waterfront.
- Ride-hailing — Uber and Lyft operate alongside taxis and are useful late at night or for trips not well served by transit.
Late-night bites
- Japadog — Japadog carts and shops downtown, including on Burrard and Robson streets.
Staying safe at night
Car break-ins are common, so leave nothing visible in parked cars. The streets around East Hastings between Gastown and Chinatown have visible homelessness and drug use; pass through by day with normal awareness and take a taxi at night. In the mountains, weather changes quickly, and the sea stays cold even in summer.
- Emergency number
- 911
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for couples, beach, nightlife and solo travellers
West End
One of Canada's most densely populated neighbourhoods still feels green, with tree-lined streets, Davie Village's LGBTQ+ bars and rainbow crosswalks, and Denman Street's casual restaurants leading to English Bay Beach and Stanley Park. Smaller hotels and apartment rentals make it a good base for walkers.
- Good
- Beach and Stanley Park on the doorstep; Good casual restaurants; Lively but residential
- Watch out
- Few large hotels; A bus ride or long walk to SkyTrain
- Nearby
- English Bay Beach, Stanley Park, Davie Village, Denman Street
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Vancouver?
Gastown, Granville Entertainment District and Main Street and Brewery Creek. Cocktail bars and restaurants in Victorian buildings along Water and Cordova streets.
+Which area of Vancouver is best for nightlife?
West End: Leafy residential streets between Stanley Park and English Bay.