Ready to kick back with friends in an upscale setting at night? Visit six Vancouver, Canada lounges whose promise of fun and freedom glitters as brightly as Granville Street’s famous neon signs.
At George Lounge (1137 Hamilton St.), roll up for the magical mixologist’s tour! Some 30 delicious drink creations tantalize at this contemporary London-style lounge in Yaletown. Savour classic cocktails like a $14 Season 500 (cucumber, gin, grapefruit zest, basil, cardamom, vanilla, Aperol, egg whites and bubbly). Beneath a large anemone-like light fixture, relax on red velvet couches, or groove to late-night DJ beats with a 30-plus crowd on Friday and Saturday. If the hearty bar menu doesn’t fill you up, Brix’s West Coast cuisine is right upstairs.
If you liked Helen Mirren’s portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II, you’ll love unwinding at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s classic 900 West lounge (900 West Georgia St.), which has hosted the real Queen. 900 West, the centerpiece of the 68-year-old hotel’s marble-lined lobby, has also offered the royal treatment to celebs like Goldie Hawn and Jack Nicholson. Nosh on ingenious tapas offerings like the ahi tuna tower, or sip an “After the Frost” martini (Bombay Sapphire gin, ice wine, Calvados).
The Gerard Lounge (845 Burrard St.) has been a Sutton Place Hotel fixture since 1986, and this 48-capacity room attracts both locals and international stars like Al Pacino and Elton John by combining taste and discretion with an English bar’s coziness. The elegant surroundings include dark maple wood paneling, bucolic oil paintings, a gas fireplace, and an elk’s head nicknamed “Herb.” Chat with the longstanding bartenders, choose from 34 single-malt scotches, or chow down on a New York steak sandwich.
Just a block away from the Sutton Place Hotel, a flair for Old World romance defines Bacchus Lounge (845 Hornby St.). This beloved Wedgewood Hotel venue is always packed for holidays such as Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, Bacchus creates an inviting ambience with its large fireplace, candle-lit tables, light classical and jazz music, and specialty drinks like Red Satin Slip (vodka, raspberry liqueur, lime juice, cranberry). Sample the famous thin-crust pizza or a BC cheese platter. Bacchus is also a popular après-symphony hangout for patrons of the nearby Orpheum Theatre.