Sometimes you just want a drink.
Sometimes you don’t want to deal with line-ups, or cover charge, or bouncers or obnoxiously loud EDM. You just want a good drink and good conversation. How it should be. But what the club and pub scene may lack is more than made up for by the many tiny bars offering solace from the hustle and bustle of this city of ours.
Tiny, hard-to-find bars are common the world over, of course. In New York City, the craft cocktail-focused “speakeasy” scene has thrived over the past decade, giving rise to dozens of tiny “secret” bars only open to those in the know. In Tokyo, the tiny bar is a way of life. The shanty-style bars of Shinjuku Goldean Gai seat a half dozen people at a time, and if you want a seat, be prepared to rent it for the night. In Sydney, it’s not uncommon to have to walk through a late-night laundromat, hair salon, or music store, only to find a bustling bar behind a closet door.
So saddle up to the bar, here’s Vancouver’s 10 best tiny bars. And don’t make me regret sharing this list.
Narrow Lounge
The Narrow has everything you want in an underground bar. There’s no signage, just an unmarked steel door with a red-light next to it around the corner from Main and Third. If the light is on, the bar is open for business. Down the graffiti-plastered stairwell, around the corner, and you’ll find yourself in a dimly-lit bar with a couple dozen seats at most. It’s sexy and mysterious, and the bar staff know how to make a damn fine whisky sour. Bonus: In the summer, the Narrow opens up the world’s smallest tiki lounge in the alley out back.
Black Lodge
For anyone familiar with David Lynch’s groundbreaking TV series Twin Peaks, a visit to the Black Lodge is a must. This teensy-tiny bar at Kingsway and Carolina is decked head-to-toe in a rustic Twin Peaks theme, right down to the framed picture of Laura Palmer behind the bar and the red velvet-curtained washroom with the zig zag paint job. The menu features a wide selection of vegetarian hot dogs and sandwiches, and the portions are insane. And if you spot a backwards-talking midget, you may have had one too many Damn Fine Cherry Pie cocktails.
The Keefer Bar
The Keefer’s inclusion on this list should come as no surprise. Under owner and bartender extraordinaire Dani Tatarin, the Keefer has become Vancouver’s premiere cocktail bar. In a nod to its Chinatown locale, the interior is decorated to look like a Chinese apothecary, and many of the cocktails feature tinctures made from traditional Chinese herbs and medicine (seahorse, anyone?). Despite its minuscule size, it still manages to host burlesque shows on Thursday nights. Just make sure you get there early if you want a seat. Actually, that’s good advice for all of the bars on this list.
Campagnolo Upstairs
It’s easy to miss this nondescript bar. Located directly above its big sister Campagnolo, the entrance is noted only by a large “C” on a door opening onto Main Street. Up the stairs (naturally), and you’l find an intimate room decorated with the remnants of chef/owner Robert Belcham’s former restaurants (notably, the neon sign from Fat Dragon). The Dirty Burger is legendary, and the rotating list of nibbles from Belcham’s kitchen always has something to catch your attention (Rabbit liver parfait? Yes please!). Of course, no visit is complete without a lengthy trip down their impressive cocktail list, lovingly assembled by bar manager Peter Van de Reep and his crew.
Prontino
There’s something I love about a single-staffed bar: it’s intimate, as though you’re a guest in their home. This adorable bar in Cambie Village is small enough that at times, the bartender is the only one working the floor. An offshoot of the much larger Pronto restaurant next door, Prontino is the perfect place to grab a drink pre- or post-movie at the Park Theatre across the street. The interior is clad in wood paneling (not the ugly basement rec room kind, the classy stuff like at Les Faux Bourgeois and the Charlatan), giving it a warm and inviting feel. The drinks list is heavy on Italian classics, offering vermouth flights and a wide assortment of Italian wines. The G&T list is one of the most impressive in the city, too!
Boxcar
Located in what used to be the covered driveway connecting the Cobalt Motor Inn’s parking lot to Main Street, the Boxcar’s long narrow space resembles the interior of, well, a boxcar. There's even sliding doors that open into the neighbouring Cobalt bar. The draw here is the craft beer selection – with roughly a gabillion rotating taps all aligned along a gorgeous gleaming bar that runs the length of the room, there's always something new to discover. Seating is an issue, however, so be prepared to drink standing.
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Jackalope’s Neighbourhood Dive
This East Van bar has quickly endeared itself to the Hastings Sunrise neighbourhood since opening its doors a couple years ago on East Hastings Street. And rightfully so! This “dive” is anything but, and has a lot going for it. Firstly, the food is fantastic, with some pretty legit southern barbecue coming out of their microscopic kitchen. Secondly, my God the prices are cheap! Like, “Did they make a mistake on my bill?” cheap. Thirdly, the anything-goes rock-'n'-roll atmosphere is a welcome relief in a city full of cookie-cutter minimalism. So yeah, if you dig Judas Priest and jambalaya, this is the place for you.
Brickhouse
This Chinatown staple at Main and Union is still kicking despite the encroaching scourge of condo development. Our man Leo is still slinging drinks behind the bar, and the room is still one of the chillest places in the city to grab a pint, shoot some pool, toss some darts, or just park it on one of those comfy couches. The room oozes character with its exposed brick (naturally), aquariums and lava lamps. There's no table service here, so line up and drink up. And maybe it's just me, but I swear the crowd at the Brickhouse is one of the friendliest in town.
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Odd Society Spirits
Amongst the breweries popping up on every block in “Yeast Van” is this jewel of the burgeoning artisan alcohol district. In addition to producing some of tastiest craft spirits in the city, Odd Society Spirits on Powell Street also has a funky cocktail tasting room attached to their distillery. The cocktails are all made with the spirits produced on site - like their East Van Vodka or Wallflower Gin - and are all served in vintage glassware. And since these cocktails are expertly-crafted things of beauty, be patient. The second you taste one you'll know the wait was worth it.
Uncle Abe’s
Remember how awesome the Rumpus Room was? Picklebacks and and waffle breakfast burgers? The insane black-lit bathrooms muralled with valkyries and snake monsters? Jenga? While its demise will be forever mourned, there's good news for Vancouverites eager to get drunk in a room that looks like their weird uncle's basement: owners Rachel Zottenberg and David Duprey have opened up Rumpus Room 2.0 (AKA Uncle Abe's) just up the street at Main and 14th. Uncle Abe's is much smaller than its predecessor, so small that it doesn't even have its own kitchen (all the food comes from Mitra Canteen next door). But that cozy, comfortable vibe is here in spades, as are the picklebacks. Great happy hour specials too!
