Vancouver is a notoriously expensive city, and when it comes to going out for beer, cocktails, or wine, no exceptions are made.
However, there are a few places around town where the drinks are cheap and the company is good. Most of these places aren’t fancy, but they get the job done on a night out with friends.
Here are 10 of the best places to get cheap drinks in Vancouver.
Brickhouse Late Nite Bistro and Bar
Calling this place a “bistro” might be a stretch, but it certainly is a bar. This hole-in-the-wall on Main Street offers darts, pool tables and grubby couches – all the things you’d expect from a local hipster dive bar. The beer selection is decent and there’s always a $4 or $5 beer special to be had.
Address: 730 Main Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-689-8645
The Marquis
The Marquis on South Granville has a decent cocktail and bar food selection. The drinks menu is a combination of classics and house creations, and at $8 for a two ounce cocktail, the price can’t be beat. Food ranges in price from about $7 to $18. They have daily specials such as gin and tonics for just $3.25 and Jameson for $4.
And if you’re looking to get a little wild, three ounce cocktails are $14. Dang.
Address: 2666 Granville Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-568-0670
Website: themarquis.ca
Gringo
While not strictly a bar – it’s a taco joint – you’ll be hard pressed to find cheaper beers anywhere else in the city. Beers on tap at Gringo in Gastown are just $3.75 all day, every day. Gringo describes themselves as “a super casual taco joint pouring cheap beer and good times.”
Where: 27 Blood Alley Square, Vancouver
Phone: 604-721-0607
Jackalope’s Neighbourhood Dive
Jackalope’s serves up southern classics and prides itself on having a dive-like atmosphere. Drinks there are quite cheap – cocktails are $9, cans of Lucky Lager are $3.49, box wine is $4 (“don’t knock box wine till you try it,” reads the website) and caesars are just $3.99 on Sundays. Plus there’s a cool “jackalope” head mounted on the wall for your viewing pleasure.
Address: 2257 East Hastings Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-568-6674
Website: jackalopesdive.com
The Alibi Room
Image: Google Maps
The Alibi room is known for its craft beer, and while you might expect to pay a premium anywhere else for craft beer, this place serves it cheap. You can opt to get a small or a large, and prices for craft beers range from $4.75 to about $8. Cocktails are averagely priced, so if you want the best bang for your buck here, stick with beer.
Address: 157 Alexander Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-623-3383
Website: alibi.ca
Martinis Restaurant
This Vancouver gem has been around for 45 years and is known for, well, martinis, as well as their beer selection. Martinis are $6.50 for two ounces of booze and glasses of beer on tap start at $3.30. The daily drink specials are excellent, with $5 glasses of wine on Mondays and $2.75 glasses of beer on Wednesdays.
Address: 151 West Broadway, Vancouver
Phone: 604-873-0021
Website: martinis.ca
Colony Bar
Colony has supreme drink specials, most notably on Tuesdays when all draft beers are $3. Regularly priced sleeves range from $5 to $7.25, cocktails start at $7.75 and wine starts at $6.50 per glass.
Address: 3255 West Broadway, Vancouver
Phone: 604-559-6070
Website: colonykits.com
The Metropole
Whether you love it or you hate it, the Metropole has cheap drinks. Most of their sleeves of beer are $4.24, single malt scotch starts at $6.25, and glasses of red wine are as low as $4.90. We’re sold.
Address: 320 Abbott Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-408-5822
Website: donnellygroup.ca/themet
The Parlour
While the Parlour in Yaletown is best known for their pizza, they also have a supreme(ly cheap) drinks menu. Cocktails – keeping in mind they’re all doubles – start at $9, beer on tap starts at $5.00 and glasses of wine start at $7. Pizza and booze, anyone?
Address: 1011 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-568-3322
Website: theparlourrestaurants.com
Portside Pub
Portside Pub offers some pretty great food and drinks at reasonable prices. From buck-a-shuck oysters (every Friday from 5 p.m. until they run out) to $5.75 beer during their happy hour, which is from 5 to 8 p.m., you can’t really go wrong. In terms of timing, theirs is one of the better happy hours in Vancouver.
Address: 7 Alexander Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-559-6333
Website: theportsidepub.com
What are some of your favourite spots for cheap drinks in Vancouver? Let us know in the comments below!