Where to go for Happy Hour in Vancouver

Happy Hour in Vancouver is a great time for experiencing the city’s food and drink offerings. Bites and beverages are priced at a discount, and the crowd is relaxed and social.

Vancouver has some fantastic happy hour options, and they’re as diverse as the city itself.

Good Value

The restaurant group of Tableau Bar Bistro, Homer St. Café & Bar, and Maxine’s Café & Bar has developed a reputation for the value, quality, and breadth of their happy hours. Tableau’s happy hour (daily 2:30pm to 5:30pm) features items like Le Burger ($22) and smoked fish dip with saltines ($14), as well as house bubbles and wine ($7). Homer St.’s (daily 2:30pm to 5:30pm) is equally as good with dishes like their signature burger ($19) and chicken wings ($15). Cocktails are discounted by $2, and house wine is $7, with Good Company lager $5. And finally, at Maxine’s (daily 3pm to 5:30pm with food from 3:30pm to 5:30pm), you’ll choose from selections such as a Philly cheesesteak ($16) and crispy chicken ($18). Happy hour has a big cocktail choice, including a cherry gin sour ($13), Calabrian spritz ($13), and pear blossom ($13). House wine is $7.

The happy hour at MICHELIN-recommended Fanny Bay Oyster Bar & Shellfish Market gives you access to fresh, sustainable seafood at affordable prices, including sablefish collars ($16), tuna tartare ($16), and their featured and premium oysters ($2 and $2.75 each). Go for the Fanny Bay shooter with a fresh oyster ($7) or drinks like a Blue Buck pale ale ($6), rose prosecco ($10 for 6oz) or house wines ($9 for 6oz).

Greek food is always plentiful so it’s especially good during happy hour at The Greek (Yaletown, West Broadway, Gastown, North Vancouver). For example, their West Broadway location’s happy hour (daily 2-5pm) features classics like calamari ($12), grilled keftedes ($8), and spanakopita ($8), along with Greek lager ($6.50) and sangria ($8).

The Chickadee Room in Chinatown has a fun happy hour promotion (4pm-6pm daily). You get two complimentary pieces of Juke Fried Chicken with a drink, such as a Moscow mule ($10) or vermouth and tonic ($10), from their happy hour list.

Sprezzatura is the place to be in Mount Pleasant during happy hour (daily 3pm to 6pm) when their delicious pizzas, like their prosciutto and arugula ($14), are discounted. Order meatballs ($12) as well, along with aperol spritz or negroni ($10), house wines ($1 per oz), and draught beer and high balls ($6).

Happy Hours with a View

Perched just over the waters at Coal Harbour, Lift Bar Grill View offers diners amazing sight lines of the mountains and Stanley Park. Their happy hour, which runs from 3pm to 5:30pm daily, features some tasty bites that showcase their focus on seafood. Items include tempura prawns ($18), shrimp gyoza ($15), and fish ‘n’ chips ($23). Pair them with drinks like their sommelier’s choice white wine ($7), an Off the Rail pale ale ($7), or brewmaster’s choice honjozo sake ($6).

With charming False Creek before you, The Sandbar on Granville Island has one of the best Happy Hours in the city (available Mon-Fri 3-5pm, except holidays). It’s especially nice enjoyed on their heated patio. Snack on some freshly shucked oysters ($2), their signature wok squid ($14), and wok tossed mussels in white wine garlic sauce ($14). Drinks include their house red or white wine ($6/$9), classic margaritas ($10), and negronis ($10).

Parker Rooftop has a good happy hour menu, alongside views of the downtown core. Their happy hour happens every day from 3-6pm, as well as Sundays from 3 to 11pm. Slurp down some oysters ($1.50 each, minimum a dozen), indulge in some caviar ($50 for 30g Sasanian with blini and accompaniments), and nosh on bites like arancini ($12) and fish ‘n’ chip cones ($12). Drinks are easy with wine and bubbles ($6), strawberry aperol spritz ($10), and draught beer ($6 for 16oz).

International Experience

Vancouver has an array of different cultural cuisines to try—and this diversity is also reflected in its happy hours.

Como Taperia, a MICHELIN-recommended Spanish spot, has one of the most popular happy hours in the city (daily from 4pm to 5pm). It’s bustling, and transports you to Barcelona. You get free tapas at the bar with a drink purchase. Otherwise, they give 35% off all bottled wine and 25% off their regular food menu (except for the Raciones and Media sections). So, snack on discounted bites like goat cheese stuffed peppers ($8 regular price) and fried Iberico chorizo ($12 regular price). Other drink options range from select Cava ($11) to Estrella ($6 for 16oz).

Commercial Drive is a truly multicultural neighbourhood, with fun happy hours at establishments like La Mezcaleria. The lively Mexican restaurant feature a happy hour/lunch menu Wednesdays 4-5:30pm, Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 5:30pm, and Saturdays and Sundays 3-5pm. The drinks are flowing with margarita ($11), palomita ($11), and Cantarito pitchers ($120). There is plenty to choose from food-wise, including tacos (e.g., asada $10) and queso fundido ($25) for sharing.

Anh and Chi often has long lines during peak dinner time so happy hour (or Ham Chơi, as they call it, meaning “to play”) is an ideal way to experience their food and drink. It happens Mondays to Fridays 3-4pm. You won’t be able to stop eating the chicken crackling ($8) but make sure to also order dishes like grilled skewers ($6 veg/$7 meat), curry crab arancini ($12), and chicken wings ($11). Drinks consist of rotating local beer ($6) and rotating craft cocktails ($12).

Elevated Sips and Bites

MICHELIN-recommended Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar is one of the top restaurants in the city. They also have a stellar cocktail hour (3pm to 5pm daily), with oysters, of course, being a big draw ($2 each, min 6, max 12 per person, per order). Other small plates, representative of their West Coast, sustainable cuisine, on the menu are albacore tuna tataki ($16) and local cod tacos ($16). Boulevard crafts exceptional cocktails, like a sbagliato ($10) and espresso martini ($10). Happy hour wine is $8 per 5 oz glass, with $40 bottles and 20% off regular wine menu bottles.

Hy’s, one of the city’s classic upscale steakhouses, has many devotees of its happy hour (Mon-Fri 3-6pm, Sat-Sun 4pm-6pm). Champagne and other sparkling wines are 40% off, wine is $10 for 6oz glasses, and their feature cocktail is $11. You have to order their signature cheese toast ($8.50) but there are other great eats like mini lobster, crab, and shrimp rolls ($26.95), and prime beef sliders ($17.50).

The high-ceilinged room of Coast is gorgeous, and the happy hour (daily 2:30pm to 5:30pm; starting February 1, Sat and Sun 11:30am to 5:30pm) features premium dishes like Hamachi crudo ($13), wagyu beef carpaccio ($16), and mini lobster and prawn rolls ($10). Feature oysters are $1.50. Accompany your bites with a Yuzu elderflower spritz ($10) or prosecco ($6).

Aperitivo (3-6pm daily) at MICHELIN-recommended Bacaro is an elegant affair, with bites like tuna crudo on crostini ($6), duck liver crostini ($6), and potato chips with crispy herbs ($6). You’ll receive a complimentary one of these cicchetti with a drink purchase. Drinks during happy hour include prosecco ($10), wines ($9), and espresso martini ($15).