Just because the weather’s cooling down, doesn’t mean the fun has to.
If there’s anyone who knows where to go for a good time in Vancouver, it’s the creators of the Best of Happy Hour website.
Husband and wife team Monica and Brendan Jones have been to quite a few happy hours in their time, so it was easy for them to list their favourite spots to hang out during fall.
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The amount of specials venues have to offer have significantly grown over the past couple of years and now it’s easy to find out what and where all the best deals are, thanks to the website which lists 263 places to go.
The couple launched the website in August after struggling to pin point good options for an affordable night out or a quick, cheap meal.
“We’re both working professionals and we love going to a happy hour, but every time we wanted to go out we didn’t know where to go or what time the happy hours were at and what they were serving,” Jones told the Courier. “There was no real resource for us to really determine where to go so that was the real basis for why we decided to put together a website.
“We just thought, ‘hey there’s nothing out there so let’s build this.'"
The website is super simple to use and boasts an easy to navigate browser and an interactive map to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
“It tells you all the different places, the area, the dates, the times, the drinks, what type of food is served and the prices,” Jones says.
Jones says they’ve received a great response so far from customers and owners.
“People are just looking for the best bang for their buck in terms of quality, atmosphere, price and availability," Jones says.
To help you narrow it down, just a little, here's their list of favourite happy hours to enjoy during fall.
If you want to watch sports...
The Pint Public House - 455 Abbott Street
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If you like beer, meat and sports, this is the place for you. “They have a deal where you buy a pint and get a free pound of wings. That’s a pretty good deal,” Jones says.
- Monday to Friday from 3-6pm: Any pint at regular price and get a free order of 40-way wings.
- Wednesday: 40 Cent 40-Way Wings – $4 per order.
- Sunday: Caesars $5, feature mugs $5, shooters $5, hangover brunch from 11am to 4pm $7.
The Lamplighter Public House - 92 Water Street
On top of being sports-orientated, having $5 beers and cheap eats this pub has lively events and a great atmosphere too. Bonus, there's pinball machines.
- Days and Times: Monday to Friday from 3-6pm
- DRINKS: $5 BC craft beers, $5 glass of house wine, $4 hi-balls
- FOOD ($5):Sweet potato falafels, patatas bravas, truffle parmesan popcorn, chips and dips.
If you want to be entertained...
The Blue Martini Jazz Café - 1516 Yew Street
If you want something a little fancier, but still affordable, you could try "Vancouver's best New Orleans style cuisine and jazz lounge." It's been voted one of Vancouver's top live music venues.
"They have a really big range of food and drinks on their happy hour, and on some of the evenings they have jazz music, so that’s a nice add on," Jones says.
- DRINKS 4-6 pm: $4 Stanley Park amber ale, $5 house red and house white wine, $4.95 high balls and $6 cocktails including blue martini, Moscow mule, sangria, lime margarita, mojito and more.
- FOOD 4-6 pm: spinach salad $9, catfish ceviche $9, mussels $14, truffle baked potato $9, antipasto for one $8, Italian meatballs $9, spicy Italian sausage $9 + more.
- Fat Tuesdays: $9.95 for select pastas from 5pm to 9pm.
The Revel Room - 238 Abbott Street
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If you enjoy live jazz music, funky bourbon cocktails and Southern/Mexican inspired food get down to The Revel Room. They have music six nights a week (besides Mondays). There's "boogie piano every Tuesday to Saturday afternoon for Sour Hour from 4pm to 6pm and dinner shows every evening ranging from roots to rockabilly to soulful jazz." Happy Hour is offered Tuesday to Saturday from 4 to 6pm.
- DRINKS: sours $7, craft beers $5, polite or tipsy pour wines $5.
- FOOD ($7): Crispy fried chicken bites, chicken and andouille gumbo cup, New Orleans style pork boudin balls, crab cakes, hand cut French fries, cheeseburger slider duo.
If you want comfort food…
The Flying Pig - Multiple Vancouver locations
If it’s been a long week and you’re craving some yummy comfort food Jones says hit up The Flying Pig. Indulge in mac and cheese, poutine, barbecue chicken and more.
- Days and times: Available every day between 3 to 6 pm Monday to Friday and 4 to 6 pm on weekends at all our locations.
- FOOD: truffled jumbo macaroni 6 3/4, classic poutine 7 1/2, pulled pork sandwiches 7 1/4, P.E.I. mussels 6 ½, Sriracha bbq chicken drumstick 6 1/2 + more.
La Terrazza - 1088 Cambie Street
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Nothing warms the soul quite like Italian food. If you’re craving a big bowl of spaghetti Bolognese then you’ll want to indulge in the deals at La Terrazza.
- Dates and times: Daily from 5 to 7 pm, lounge only.
- FOOD: Strozzapreti Bolognese $9.88, prawn cocktail $9.88, calamari misto $9.88, gnocchi al forno $9.88 + more.
- DRINKS: Highballs $5, draft beer $5, old fashioned cocktail $8, glass of house red or white wine $6 + more.
If it’s a rainy day and you still want to go out…
Storm Crow Alehouse - 1619 West Broadway
If you like to play board games, you drink craft beer and prefer to have your cocktails served to you in a Darth Vader helmet with the appropriate music playing in the background when it’s brought to your table, then you’ll enjoy "Vancouver's hottest nerd bar."
- Days and time: Monday to Friday 2pm to 5pm.
- FOOD ($5): Zucchini Sticks, strawberry bruschetta, corn dog pops, mac and cheese balls, sweet onion and chorizo quesadilla.
- DRINKS ($5): Red Truck, Bomber, Phillips, house red and white wine.
- Choose Your Own Lunchventure! "Superstitiously good lunch for $13 in under 13 minutes. You're the star of your own meal story from 11 am – 2 pm, Mon – Fri. Choose from a possible 63 lunch combinations!"
131 Water Street - 131 Water Street
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Bored? This bar also has lots of board games to pass the time and plenty of drinks to take your mind off the wet weather.
- Days and time: 3 to 6pm and 10pm to close.
- FOOD and DRINKS: Discounted appetizers, beer and wine and highballs.
If you want a great view…
Pier 7 - 25 Wallace Mews, North Vancouver
Pier 7 has an amazing waterfront view of the Vancouver skyline and cheap drinks and food. They also extend happy hour on Mondays and have 50 per cent off all bottles of wine on Wednesdays.
- Days and time: Daily from 3pm to 6pm and 9pm to close (drinks only).
- DRINKS ($5): Draft beer (14oz), wine (red/white) (5oz), Sangria (red/white) (5oz).
- CHEAP FOOD: truffle fries $6, chicken wings [GF] $6, 7" pizza $7 + more.
The Wicklow Pub - 610 Stamps Landing
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It’s a cozy pub with beautiful views of False Creek. Plus, it has a really nice outdoor winter patio area.
- Days and time: Daily from 3pm to 6pm.
- DRINKS: $4 hi-balls, $2 off wine, $1 off draft pints.
- FOOD ($5.50): chickpea croquettes, spicy tofu, frites and dip, spicy Hummus, yam fries, chips and salsa + more.
Last but not least this is Jones' favourite spot...
The Pawn Shop - 1117 Granville Street
Do you go loco for Mexican food? Jones’ favourite spot is The Pawn Shop and we can see why.
“They have $1.50 tacos,” Jones says. “I can go out for dinner and have a drink and four tacos and for like $14. That’s brilliant.”
- Days and times: Daily from 3pm to 6pm and 11pm to late Thursday to Sunday.
- FOOD: LOTS of tacos for $1.49. See the flavours
- DRINKS: $4.95 house tequila, spiked slush or house lager
If none of these options take your fancy, there's a lot more to explore. Check out the Best of Happy Hour list!
