10 places to party after exams in Vancouver

Studying for exams is gruelling, so once they’re done, it’s time to play hard.

Wondering where to party after your exams? Here are 10 spots that are cheap or frequented by university students.

The Bimini

An old time UBC student favourite, this bar plays top 40 hits, serves decent drinks, has a fairly large dance floor. A great spot to blow off post-exam steam.

Where: 2010 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Brickhouse Late Nite Bistro and Bar

This Main Street staple serves cheap drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. If you prefer to unwind after exams by playing pool or darts in a cool, ramshackle environment, this is your spot – it’s not for hard partiers.

Where: 730 Main Street, Vancouver

Colony Bar

Decent pub grub, an airy atmosphere and cheap beers makes for a fun time in Kitsilano.

Where: 3255 West Broadway, Vancouver

The Metropole

Whether you love it or you hate it, one thing everyone can agree on is that 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. Add in dancing, and we’re sold.

Where: 320 Abbott Street, Vancouver

Portside Pub

University students can can’t enough of Portside Pub – it’s almost a right of passage to party here. What better way to start than after exams? Plus if you hit up their happy hour, they have $5.75 beer.

Where: 7 Alexander Street, Vancouver

Koerners Pub

For those who never leave UBC’s campus, there’s always Koerners. For the classier, sustainably-minded student, of course, they only source ethical meat and have a lineup of local craft beers to choose from.

Where: 6371 Crescent Road, Vancouver

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

The Coppertank 

Live music, trivia, and perfect for large parties (such as a group of post-exam students), this spot in Kitsilano is a university student favourite.

Where: 3135 West Broadway, Vancouver

Dentry’s Irish Grill 

A traditional Irish pub that serves Guinness, steak bites, and other bar fare. You can’t go wrong.

Where: 4450 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver

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.

Where: 2257 East Hastings Street, Vancouver