Welcome to the hottest week Vancouver has EVER seen.
For the first time ever, Vancouver is hosting North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025 — and it’s not just one night.
It’s an entire week of pop-ups, collabs, seminars, awards, exclusive parties, afterparties (APs), and legendary late nights — with the big awards event happening Tuesday, April 29 (invite-only).
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Read more: North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025: The full list is here
Top bartenders, mixologists, hospitality legends, and Michelin-starred chefs have descended on Vancouver for a historic week that’s unlike anything the city has ever hosted.
From sanctioned events to underground pop-ups, some ticketed and some super-exclusive walk-ins, Vancouver’s about to not sleep — especially Sunday through Wednesday.
And we’ve got the inside scoop.
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Follow our, The VAN Scoop, Instagram Channel for real-time updates throughout the week, and catch exclusive interviews with the global bar talent on WanderEater.com.
Editor’s Note: Before we dive into this week’s exciting celebrations surrounding North America’s 50 Best Bars in Vancouver, we would be remiss not to pause and acknowledge the heartbreaking tragedy that occurred this past weekend, which deeply impacted Vancouver’s Filipino and overall Asian community as a whole. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, friends, and all those affected. We stand with the community in mourning and send our deepest condolences during this incredibly difficult time.
Why all the buzz?
- Vancouver is the first Canadian city to host the North America’s 50 Best Bars awards.
- New this year: For the first time ever, they released an Extended 51–100 List before the ceremony — and Canada crushed it, with 15 Canadian bars recognized (including Vancouver’s Prophecy, Laowai, and Meo).
- Expect a star-studded crowd, spontaneous pop-ups, collabs between the world’s best bars, and some epic afterparties that’ll go until sunrise.
Where it’s all happening?
Neighbourhoods to be in:
- Chinatown — Laowai, Bagheera, Meo, Prophecy, Flamingo Room, Good Thief
- Mount Pleasant — Chupito, Jungle Room, Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions
- Downtown/West End — Fairmont Pacific Rim (Botanist Bar + Lobby Lounge)
- Commercial Drive — AMA, The Flamingo Room, La Mezcaleria
Hotspots you’re going to need to visit (if you can get in):
- AMA, 3980 Fraser St, Vancouver, BC, eatama.ca, @eat.amavancouver
- Anh and Chi, 3388 Main St, Vancouver, BC, anhandchi.com, @anhandchi
- Bar Gobo, 237 Union St, Vancouver, BC, bargobo.com, @bargobo
- Bartholomew Bar, 1026 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC, bartholomewbar.com, @bartholomewbar
- Bagheera, 518 Main St, Vancouver, BC, bagheerabar.com, @bagheerabar
- Botanist Restaurant, 1038 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC, botanistrestaurant.com, @botanistdining
- Chupito, 2450 Yukon St, Vancouver, BC, chupito.ca, @chupitovancouver
- ELEM, 1152 Alberni St, Vancouver, BC, elemvancouver.com, @elemvancouver
- El Gato Gab Gab, 2270 Manitoba St, Vancouver, BC, elgatogabgab.com, @elgatogabgab
- Fairmont Pacific Rim, 1038 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC, fairmont.com/pacific-rim, @fairmontpacificrim
- Good Thief, 1149 Granville St, Vancouver, BC, acquafarina.com/goodthief, @goodthiefvan
- Jungle Room, 961 Denman St, Vancouver, BC, jungleroom.ca, @jungleroomvancouver
- JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, 39 Smithe St, Vancouver, BC, jwmarriottparqvancouver.com, @jwmarriottparq
- Keefer Bar, 135 Keefer St, Vancouver, BC, thekeeferbar.com, @thekeeferbar
- Kissa Tanto, 263 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC, kissatanto.com, @kissatanto
- L’Abattoir, 217 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC, labattoir.ca, @labattoir_van
- Laowai, 251 E Georgia St, Vancouver, BC, laowaibar.com, @laowaibar
- Meo, 265 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC, meobar.ca, @meobar.ca
- Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions, 67 W 6th Ave, Vancouver, BC, mpvancouver.com, @mountpleasantvintage
- Prophecy, 801 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC, prophecycocktailbar.com, @prophecycocktailbar
Where the insiders/who’s-who of 50 Best Bars in Vancouver are staying?
- Fairmont Pacific Rim (ground zero for celebs and bartenders)
- JW Marriott Parq Vancouver
- The DOUGLAS
- Rosewood Hotel Georgia
- Shangri-La Vancouver
- Fairmont Waterfront
- Versante Hotel (in Richmond, for a quieter luxe stay)
- St. Regis Hotel Vancouver (if they’re balling out)
How to get around (responsibly)?
- Uber / Lyft: Readily available downtown and Commercial Drive.
- Taxis: Easy to catch outside key hotels like Fairmont Pacific Rim.
- SkyTrain: Handy for early evenings but closes before 2 AM.
- Walk: Chinatown and Mount Pleasant are walkable between venues.
- Reminder: Never drink and drive. Late-night eats await, but book a ride.
Where to eat late night after a night of partying during 50 Best Bars week in Vancouver?
Need to refuel? These spots have your back when it’s 2 AM and you’re desperate:
- Duffin’s Donuts — 24/7 tortas, fried chicken, and donuts
- Lucy’s Eastside Diner — Classic diner comfort, open late
- Breka Bakery & Café — Fresh bakery eats, coffee, and sweets (multiple 24/7 locations)
- The Naam — Vegetarian icon, open until 1 AM
- Fritz European Fry House — Late-night poutine to save your night
- Hi-Five Chicken — Crispy fried chicken after dark
- Zabu Chicken — Korean fried chicken hotspot in the West End
- La Mezcaleria — Late-night tacos and mezcal on Commercial Drive
Where to dine at, before the parties—hot tables this week during 50 Best Bars in Vancouver—if you can nab a reso?
If you want a pre-party dinner (or to maybe spot a few global stars), book early at these Vancouver hotspots:
- Published on Main — Canada’s #1 restaurant
- St. Lawrence — French-Canadian excellence
- Kissa Tanto — Hidden Japanese-Italian gem (they’re also hosting a VIP invite-only Michelin-starred chef’s Sustainability dinner hosted by Audi
- Botanist Restaurant — At Fairmont Pacific Rim (elegant, gorgeous cocktails too)
- Anh and Chi — Modern Vietnamese vibes
- Savio Volpe — Italian trattoria with major buzz
- Bar Gobo — Wine bar darling in Chinatown
- L’Abattoir — Iconic Gastown spot for fine dining in a heritage setting
- ELEM — Bold modern cocktail bar and kitchen making major waves (hosting Rayo for a guest shift this week too!)
- Selene — New fine-dining stunner with Mediterranean flavours in an ultra-chic setting
- Hello Nori Park Royal — Sleek, minimalist, and all about premium hand rolls made fresh to order.
The Full Calendar of Events, Pop-ups, Parties, Collaborations, Activations, Dinners, Afterparties and more during North America’s 50 Best Bars Week (unofficially) in Vancouver:
Most of these are invite-only exclusive events. Do not show up uninvited, that would just be weird. There’s great vibes right across the city.
Friday, April 25
- Laowai: London’s Archive & Myth and Amaro Bar takeover (5 PM–Midnight)
Saturday, April 26
- Laowai: Hong Kong Takeover (Penicillin, Argo, Honky Tonks Tavern, Wing Lei) (4 PM–2 AM)
- Bagheera: Japanese Gin Takeover with Proof, Native, Bar Us (4 PM–2 AM)
Sunday, April 27
- Published on Main: BSide with Barmini (12–2 PM)
- Chickadee: Brunch with Meadowlark (12–2 PM)
- The Flamingo: Tlecan Seminar and Agave Tasting (2–4 PM)
- Anh & Chi: Evelyn Chick (from SIMPL Things) Guest Shift (4 PM onwards)
- Bagheera: Amrut presents takeover with Kinu / Danico / Freni e Frizioni / Allegory / Bar Bello (4–8 PM)
- Laowai: Takeover by Thunderbolt, Selva, Moebius, Quinary, Cry Baby Gallery (4–8 PM)
- Good Thief: Andrew Whibley Guest Shift (5–7 PM)
- Botanist Bar at Fairmont Pacific Rim: Bar Leone + COA and Botanist (Michter’s, Los Siete Misterios & Farmers) Takeover (6 PM–Midnight)
- Prophecy Bar: 50 Best Signature Sessions feat. Canadian all-stars, Civil Liberties, Calliope Draper, Cloakroom, SIMPL THINGS, Mother, Bar Mordecai, Missy’s, Bar Pompette and Atwater Cocktail Club (6 PM–Midnight)
- The Flamingo: Tlecān Bar Takeover (7–10 PM)
- ¡BAR FIGHT! at El Gato Gab Gab: Cocktail competition ($1000 cash prize, 3 round competiton), with Taco specials, HH pricing on shaved ice margs and competition cocktails.
- El Gato Gab Gab: iBAR FIGHT! Competition (7:30–10:30 PM)
- Chickadee: Candelaria Guest Shift (8:30–11:30 PM)
- Banter Room: Mijenta presents Bar Mauro with Yayo Nava and Jesus Verde (9 PM – late)
- The Keefer Bar: Guest shifts and takeovers starting 9:30 PM onwards with Ian McPherson, Dre Masso, Megs Miller: Altos Guest Shift – panda & sons, Salon de Agave; Andrew Whibley, Harrison Ginsberg, Niki Girard – cloakroom, overstory, coco’s pop up (11 PM – 12:30 AM)
- Brandl’s: Alex Black Guest Shift (1/2) (10 PM – 3 AM)
- AMA: Nightcap with the Canadylans (11 PM – 2 AM)
- The Keefer Bar: Audrey Hands, Satoshi Yonemori, Christine Kim – Rayo, June, Service Bar pop up (12:30 AM – 2 AM)
Monday, April 28
- Chickadee: Brunch with Bar Pompette, hosted by Disaronno and Tia Maria (12–3:30 PM)
- Mount Pleasant Vintage: The Beverage Collective presents Après with The Raven Room (3 – 5 PM)
- The Botanist Bar at Fairmont Pacific Rim: Tommy’s 60 Years of Margaritas Seminar (3–5 PM)
- Fairmont Lobby Lounge: Grand Tasting Affair Miami Pop-up with Café La Trova, Champagne Bar, Bar Kaiju & ViceVersa (3–6 PM)
- Bagheera: Paradiso Barcelona Takeover (3–6 PM)
- Botanist Bar at Fairmont Pacific Rim: Altos presents Julio Barmejo, Iain McPherson and Dre Masso (3-6 PM); Miami Bars (Café La Trova, Champagne Bar, Bar Kaiju & ViceVersa) (3-6 PM); Shipij’s from New York Guest Shift (8–11:30 PM)
- Prophecy Bar: Sustainability Showcase, presented by Ketel One with with True Laurel, Yacht Club, Bar Kismet, Roda Husset (10 PM–12 AM)
- Laowai: Miami Bars, Café La Trova, Champagne Bar, Bar Kaiju & ViceVersa (3-6 PM); El Gallo & Friends Afterparty (10 PM–2 AM)
- Mount Pleasant Vintage: True Laurel & Yacht Club Showcase (10 PM–12 AM)
- Jungle Room: In Bloom with Café De Nadie, Atwater, Service Bar Pop-Up (10 PM–1 AM)
- Bagheera: Monday Afterparty presented by Perrier
- Encore Suite: Campari Social Hour (4 PM – 6 PM)
Tuesday, April 29 (Awards night)
- Botanist Bar: Meet the Bartender (10 AM–12 PM)
- Botanist Bar: Celebrate Canada Brunch (11 AM–2 PM)
- The Victor, JW Marriott: Behind the Bar Seminar (1–2:30 PM)
- El Gato: Patron presents Civil Works (2–4 PM)
- Bagheera + Laowai: Pre-party lineups + APs
- Mount Pleasant Vintage: Bacardi NYC Bars Afterparty (10 PM–1 AM)
- JW Marriott Parq Vancouver : Official Awards Party, hosted by North America’s 50 Best Bars (6 PM-11 PM)
Wednesday, April 30
- ELEM: Mexico City’s Rayo guest shift with Audrey Hands + culinary pairings (5–10 PM; walk-ins welcome)
- Fairmont Pacific Rim: Monkey 47 x Julie Reiner Pop-up (3–5 PM)
- Bartholomew: Library Bar Takeover (5 PM–late)
- Bagheera: Ceiba Amaro Launch Event (5–9 PM)
- Chupito: El Tequileno presents Mexico City Night (7–12 PM)
- Mount Pleasant Vintage: Altos Tequila Presents Open Pop-Up (9 PM–1 AM)
- Bar Gobo: Love Language & MAIZ Collaboration (5 PM onwards)
- Keefer Bar: Nikka x Kumiko Takeover
Thursday, May 1
- Great Canadian Bartender Showdown BC Edition
- Hennessy MyWay Regional Finals
Missing something? Shoot us a DM @viewthevibe or @mr.stevenbranco.
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Key Pro Tips
- Hydrate, eat, and Uber home safely.
- Plan ahead: Some events will hit capacity fast.
- Be flexible: Pop-ups happen without much notice.
- Stay connected: Follow The VAN Scoop Instagram Channel (linked in our profile) and keep checking WanderEater.com for exclusive interviews and event coverage.
