Vancouver Bars » dive bars

The Ivanhoe Pub

Mel — Fri, 28 May 2010 23:08:32 +0000

The Ivanhoe Pub sits on Main street just steps away from the Skytrain station. In close proximity to the rough and tumble Vancouver east end, you’ll typically find a gruff clientele with a few main street hipsters in the mix. The Ivanhoe usually finds itself listed on the cheap beer lists and best dive bars to visit.

The Ivanhoe pub sits inside an old historic building. Inside, the bar sits in the middle of a high ceiling-ed room sectioned off into several separate drinking areas. In the corner, a stage is set for live music Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, the Ivanhoe offers free Pool!

Location: 1038 Main Street, Vancouver, BC

The Ivanhoe on Main Street

Inside the Ivanhoe Bar

The Astoria

Mel — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:06:48 +0000

The Astoria hotel is a classic Vancouver landmark on Hastings Street. Attached to the hotel, the Astoria pub is an impressive sized pub with a big dance floor, stage, lounge and pool tables. In recent years, with the new attractions of the Strathcona neighbourhood and ambitious promoters, the Astoria has developed a thriving music scene. Today it’s regulars are either east side stragglers or a young hip crowd who come for live music acts and DJs.

Myspace: The Astoria Drinking Room
Location: 769, East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC
Facebook: The Astoria

Inside the Astoria

The Astoria Dance Floor

The Astoria Sign from Hastings Street

Dover Arms Pub

Mel — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:23:56 +0000

The Dover Arms Pub is a traditional English Pub on Denman street offering beer and traditional English pub eats (battered fish and chips, burgers, wings, etc).

The Dover Arms is the clubhouse for the Glasglow Rangers and keeps sports fans content with football, soccer, canucks and most all other popular European sporting events on the tvs.

Typically more of an older crowd comes to the Dover Arms Pub for a pint and one weekends, they enjoy music from the cover band. Sundays are especially popular with the Bobcats who play mostly Beetles covers.

Website: http://doverarmspub.com/
Location: 961 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC
Special Nights:
Fridays & Saturdays: Live Cover Band
Sundays: Bobcat’s Cover Band (4pm – 8pm)

{ Inside the Dover Arms Pub }

Pat’s Pub (at The Patricia Hotel)

Mel — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:02:46 +0000

Pat’s Pub is the attached bar to the the Patricia Hotel down on Hastings Street. It’s an old Vancouver haunt among some of the dingiest parts the downtown eastside but being close to Main Street and the Strathcona area, in recent years, Pat’s Pub has seen a young and vital crowd coming through it’s doors. Today, the Pa’s Pub is a watering hole for the arty types who enjoy having a special place to call their own and for those who follow the local indie music scene.

Unlike most bars in Vancouver, or anywhere in Vancouver for that matter, it’s refreshing to see some history at Pat’s Pub. It’s arched doorways, carpeted floor, wood paneling and bulbed street lamps provide a charming reminder of a different era.

In one room a number of tvs showing the canucks is gold for those interested in heading to a bar to watch the game but can easily do without the downtown bustle.

Movie Night: Mondays @ 9pm
Karaoke Night: Tuesdays @ 8pm
Live Music: Fridays & Saturdays (Complete Guide on their Myspace)

Website: http://patspub.ca/
Location: 403 E. Hastings St, Vancouver, BC @ Dunlevy Ave

{ Inside the Pat’s Pub at the Patricia Hotel }

The Yale

Mel — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:30:32 +0000

The Yale is one of the first sights entering downtown Vancouver coming over the Granville street bridge. The Yale has been a long time staple in the Vancouver blues, R&B, soul, and funk Scene with live music every night. The dimly lit bar sit in an old historic building with photos occupying most of the wall space paying homage it’s legendary existence.

On any given night, you can find a wide range of people varying by age and social class. The crowd either spills in from nearby hotels, yuppy restaurants, Granville clubs or the close-by seedy parts of downtown. Mostly though, the Yale attracts an older crowd of late 30s and early 40s; also commonly labeled as a “the cougar bar”. The regulars are perhaps more rough and tumble then the average blues music connoisseur; they come mostly for a drink and games of pool in the back.

At any given moment, if the mood strikes for a chill venue with live music, it’s come as you are, the door is always open and reception welcoming.

Website: http://www.theyale.ca/
Location: 1300 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC
Facebook: The Yale Hotel

Two Parrots

Mel — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:41:44 +0000

The Two Parrots bar sits at the corner of the busy intersection at Davie and Granville at the top of Granville Street – Vancouver’s entertainment district. While perhaps the beach theme has lost some of it’s tourist appeal over the decades, it still has a charming atmosphere with fake bamboo and grassy huts and bright neon sign. Popular with a young crowd that seeks out the comforts of a sit-down dive bar, this place is a great location for before and after hitting the Granville strip.

Website: http://www.twoparrots.ca (warning: 80s music automatically plays with visit)
Location: 1202 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC

Pub 340

Mel — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:56:35 +0000

Pub 340 is a classic rough and tumble bar located in Gastown. It’s come as you like – no dress code, restriction or judgment. The bar is self contained in one square room with a stage at one end. Live music plays Thursdays through Saturday and some times at other days in the week. A popular attraction is their Karaoke night with Evil bastard every Tuesday. The beer is cheap and the makings are there for a fun and sloppy night.

Location: 340 Cambie Street, Vancouver, BC

{ Inside Pub 340 in Gastown }

The Princeton Pub

Mel — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:28:53 +0000

The Princeton Pub and bar is an old venue in Vancouver but with new management and direction, it’s one of the latest up and coming places to see live music in Vancouver. Located in the downtown eastside, it has a dive bar flair but in close proximity to Commercial Drive and Main street, the sceneters are excited find a new gem. With new management taking over in summer 2009 and a steady flow of local bands play Thursdays through Saturday – this venue will surely become better known in the upcoming months.

Website:http://www.princetonpub.com/
Location: 1901 Powell St. Vancouver BC (at Victoria Drive)
MySpace: Princeton Pub

Inside the Princeton Pub