Vancouver Nightlife

Natural wines are the stars of the menu at this chic 25-seat bar in stylish South Granville. There's a good choice of still and sparkling vintages from both BC's Okanagan Valley and European vineyards. Small, seasonal plates might feature seared octopus with pumpkin seeds or poached apple and custard. You can't book ahead, so arrive early.

On sultry summer evenings, the patio of this hipster hangout is a great spot for gawping at the eclectic range of passers-by. You can slurp on inventive apothecary-style cocktails and nibble on green onion pancake pizza, duck sliders or Chinese churros. Cocktail ingredients sourced in Chinatown markets include magnolia bark, ginseng and ling zhi, known as 'supernatural mushrooms'.

A 1920s-inspired basement bar, this swanky spot comes with sleek furnishings, old-school cocktails, an absinthe-tasting fountain and a wallet-busting Champagne menu. Small bites include vodka-battered halibut cheeks and truffle fries. Live music entertains drinkers most nights. A green light outside the door lets you know whether the bar is open.

At the heart of Vancouver's gay district in the West End, Celebrities has been one of the city's top gay dance clubs since the 1980s, pumping out house anthems and electronic hits and hosting big-name acts including Tiesto and Boy George. Clubbers enjoy luxury VIP areas plus a state-of-the-art sound system and glitzy light show.

A Granville Street institution, this cheesy spot pulls in clubbers for chart dance hits. On Tuesdays, in-house band The Bulge blasts out rock tunes. Sunday night is Country and Western night, so dress up in your checked shirt and don your cowboy hat. Arrive early at the weekend, unless you enjoy spending a long time outside.

Doubling up as a club and a live-music venue, this spot draws huge crowds to its two-level space. Well-known artists, plus an impressive line-up of local and international DJs (including the likes of David Guetta and Major Lazer) keep the dance floor packed. For special occasions, book yourself a VIP area.

This art deco music venue has been a favourite among Vancouverites since opening in 1929. It began life as a traditional ballroom, and by the 1970s and 1980s, was hosting the likes of David Bowie, Tina Turner, The Police and The Clash's first North American show. More recent acts have ranged from The Killers to Katy Perry to St Germain.

Tucked beneath Chill Winston restaurant in Gastown, this intimate venue lines up an eclectic mix of artists performing everything from jazz and swing to hip hop and Latin-infused tunes. You might enjoy a vaudevillian-inspired cabaret show or hear every music genre imaginable during live improvisation nights.

The Biltmore brings a New Orleans/gothic bordello/1940s Shanghai show lounge together in a modern fusion of cabaret. Choose from a wide variety of live acts performing throughout the week (from hip hop to instrumental indie rock), and check the calendar for special 'Kitty Nights', a burlesque show hosted by the 'Purrrfessor', who is as charming as he is hilarious.