Wouldn’t it be nice to always be on vacation?
Well, living in Vancouver is pretty close. We just happen to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, a destination for those living far and wide. Maybe it’s time to get out there and start exploring and enjoying it like all of those out-of-towners get to do. Vancouver might feel small, but there’s still plenty for us locals to discover: new sights, new sounds and unexpected gems around every corner.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a visitor or a local, there’s a ton to do, see and drink around town. If you’re one for delicious wines, craft beers and exquisite cocktails, you’re in the right city. We partnered with Expedia.ca to bring you our guide to Vancouver’s best hotel bars, where you can savour some cocktails and enjoy those famous mountain, ocean and city views like it’s the first time.
Notch8 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
The newly renovated Notch8 is a welcome addition to the famed Hotel Vancouver. Just as grand, but far more inviting than its neighbouring high-end shops, Notch8 is a successful marriage of classic cocktail culture and modern finesse. Inspired by the “romance of travel” in the 1930’s, Notch8 aims to bring a little extra glamour to the hotel bar experience. Pre and post prohibition cocktails steadily pour out from the bar, complete with bitters made exclusively for Notch8 by Ms. Better’s Bitters.
Their booths harken back to glitzy train carriages of yesteryear and their Moscow Mules arrive icy cold alongside complimentary bar mix and carrot chips. The real treat however, is the semi-private dining room, whimsically decorated as a train’s dining hall, located towards the lounge’s rear. Scatterings of antiques and vintage, dark liquors embellish the room’s shelves, making you feel as if you’ve just discovered a long-lost hidden gem right in the heart of the city.
You can reserve a table online HERE.
Notch8 Restaurant and Bar
Located in the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
900 West Georgia St, Vancouver
(604) 662-1900
Bacchus at the Wedgewood Hotel
You may already be somewhat familiar with this classic cocktail lounge, especially if you’ve ever found yourself walking down Hornby St. The bar’s gorgeous bay windows garner a lot of looks from outside traffic, leaving many of us wondering, “what’s happening in there?”
If you’re seeking a tried-and-true hotel lounge, this is the place for you. The Bacchus Restaurant and Bar boasts beautiful décor, complete with a fireplace, ornate carpet and drapery and some of the comfiest wingback chairs in the city, not to mention a perfectly traditional, dark-wood bar. Elegant enough for a romantic nightcap, polished enough to finish off your next business deal and cozy enough to bring the whole family, Bacchus is the type of timeless establishment that has become increasingly hard to find.
Wine, cocktails and scotch complement the bar’s lavish interior, but if you’re craving something slightly less adult, reserve a table for the afternoon tea service. Be sure to come back later in the day to hear the in-house pianist play some standards (daily at 5:00pm) and if you’re lucky enough to grab a table, we recommend ordering their Pizza Rustica, especially if you’re a fan of thin, slightly crisp pizza crust.
You can reserve online HERE.
Bacchus Restaurant and Bar
Located in the The Wedgewood Hotel
845 Hornby St, Vancouver
(604) 608-5319
Modern. Coastal. Social. That’s exactly what YEW is.
The décor is very Vancouver in that it’s a seamless blend of modern and natural. The stone fireplace and hardwood floors anchor the abstract furnishings, resulting in a space that is contemporary, comfortable and positively West Coast. It’s the bar’s giant, lantern-like fixtures that give YEW its intimate and casual atmosphere, perfect for meeting friends or colleagues. They also have a fantastic private room hidden away in a glassy, geometric, architectural joy of a wine display near the back of the restaurant, which would be an absolutely awesome room for a birthday or special occasion.
Like the ornamentation, the bar menu offers a selection cocktails that are distinctly West Coast. The Aged Cocktail program favours complex, dark and seasonal flavours (Canadian whiskies, brandy, bourbon and rum) and their Ocean Cocktails utilize distinct ingredients from the Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Arctic oceans. The bartenders will tell you that Ceylonese Monsoon is one of the most favoured cocktails at YEW, which is a blend of Cold Brewed-Ceylon Black Tea with Bulleit bourbon whiskey, mango black pepper and more than a few other exotic flavours. And if you keep missing out on happy hour specials elsewhere in the city, just visit Yew from 8:00pm – 11:00pm for their reverse happy hour specials.
You can reserve online HERE.
YEW Seafood and Bar
Located in the Four Seasons Hotel
791 W Georgia St, Vancouver
(604) 692 - 4838
1927 Lobby Lounge at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia
Tucked in the back of the hotel’s lobby, 1927 boasts a unique hybrid of contemporary style and old-fashioned comfort. The décor and menu take the Hotel Georgia’s 90 year history and spin it into something that is sure to be enjoyed for more years to come. This is especially true of their award-winning cocktail menu, which skillfully celebrates the methods and mixtures of the past with a refreshingly modern twist.
Their most famous cocktail, aptly named, “Hotel Georgia”, is perfect for sipping anytime of year. The unique blend of gin, lemon, orange blossom water, egg white and nutmeg dust is as refreshing as it is soothing. It’s also one of the most fragrant cocktails you’ll ever come across. The menu pays tribute to classic cocktail culture, but never feels out-of-date. Maybe it’s the skill of the bartenders, or the bitters that are made in house, but even the drinks that have been on the menu since the hotel’s opening still feel fresh. If you’re craving something a little darker and surreptitious, make sure to visit the second bar, Prohibition, at the bottom level of the hotel.
1927 Lobby Lounge & Prohibition
Located in the Rosewood Hotel Georgia
801 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC
(604) 682 - 5566
Blissfully situated in between English Bay and Stanley Park, the Sylvia Hotel has been a Vancouver staple since 1912. The Sylvia may not be as chic or luxurious as the city’s other Hotel bars, but this place has enormous of character, heart and experience. In fact, the Sylvia claims to be the city’s first cocktail lounge! Black and white photography pulled from the hotel’s century long history is scattered throughout the bar, where you’ll also find locals and tourists having a great time eating and drinking. Whether they’re indulging in a platter of fish and chips, sipping back a cocktail or beer, or simply taking in the beautiful ocean views, it’s truly a place to unwind, relax and enjoy.
The Sylvia has a thorough selection of local and international wine, west coast comfort food and a no-frills cocktail menu. The best thing about the Sylvia is that they’re not trying too hard; it’s simple and it’s been great for 105 years. If it ain’t broke!
The Sylvia Hotel
1154 Gilford St, Vancouver
(604) 681 - 9321
The Lobby Lounge and The RawBar at the Fairmont Pacific Rim
What’s the first thing you notice when you walk into the Lobby Lounge at the Fairmont Pacific Rim? The roar of people having a good time! Live bands pump out sets of music late into the night while their gorgeous Fazioli piano tinkers through classics during more subdued hours in the day. Their dazzling interior certainly compliments the Lobby Lounge’s atmosphere, which ranges from sophisticated to unhinged depending on when you’re visiting. Perfect for a night out with friends, the Pacific Rim has also earned a reputation as an excellent place to spot visiting celebrities and Vancouver socialites.
People come here to indulge and the bar menu definitely reflects that. Their true treasure is Canada’s only bottle of Balvenie 50-year-old single malt Scotch whiskey, one of the most coveted luxury spirits in the world. Make sure you’ve paid off your credit card before ordering, because a “perfect” single ounce pour will cost you $2,600 (you definitely can’t skimp on the tip if that’s what you’re drinking). All that said, the drinks are on-point and the atmosphere is big, loud and fun! What more could you ask?
The Lobby Lounge and The RawBar
Located in the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel
1038 Canada Place, Vancouver
(604) 695-5300
