Forget about January and its harsh, unforgiving reality. That’s a problem for the “future you” to figure out. In the meantime, your job is to wring out every last drop of the holiday spirit – and the best way to do that is by kicking back with friends and family. Sure, beach walks are lovely (and free), so we recommend loads of those; but if we’re honest, nothing quite tops meeting up for a cocktail.

Although by no means an exhaustive list of good places around town, if you’re looking for somewhere solid to have a drink in Vancouver right now, each of the following establishments has our stamp of approval for a glass of something tasty. (But keep in mind that the holidays could impact business hours, so double-checking before heading out the door to your choice spot is a good idea!) Did we miss your favourite? Let us know via @scoutmagazine. But for now, from our glass to yours, cheers!

Cantina 189

Cantina 189 (pictured above) is an intimate, cocktail-forward bar that exudes a “sexy glow” thanks to its dim lighting, candlelit booths, and an intimate bar. The menu at this tiny Hastings Street bar focuses on imaginative, low-waste cocktails crafted with innovative ingredients (like beeswax, tamarind, Epazote and sea buckthorn), alongside snacks like chicharrón and conservas. Open late (until 2am on weekends), it’s a standout destination for creative drinks and good company. One of our absolute favourites. Drink this: El Campo (Bacanora, Mezcal, Green Chartreuse, Sake Kasu, Yuzu & Epazote). Runner up: they make a mean Mezcal Last Word. WEBSITE

Mezcaleria

Vibrant, welcoming, easy and fun, this is a real-deal Mexican situation with top-notch cocktails, great hospitality – plus, they have great food (not that we’re talking food right now). In our opinion, these guys make the best classic margarita in town – but don’t stop there: Mezcaleria’s cocktail card is strong from top to bottom! Drink This: Merida Sunset ($16), a magical mix of Mezcal, raspberry-infused Campari, lemon juice, passion fruit puree and agave syrup. WEBSITE

Good Thief

The cheeky younger sibling to Main Street’s Anh and Chi restaurant. True to its Vietnamese roots, Good Thief reimagines the tradition of “nhậu” through a playful, globally influenced lens. The 40-seat space has just the right mix of chill vibes and chaos to take you from a quiet bite to a full-on party without skipping a beat. Drink this: Six Inch Yellow, a vibrant mix of Starfruit and Whistlepig Rye, balanced with Yellow Chartreuse, salted honey, galangal, pineapple, and a kick of spicy super foam. Tart, refreshing, and with just the right amount of heat. WEBSITE

The Keefer Bar

Chinatown’s Keefer Bar is a destination for cocktail lovers from around the globe. The Chinese apothecary-inspired space has achieved the status of a Vancouver institution for good reason (it consistently puts out some of the best, most thoughtfully constructed drinks in town). Entertaining staff. One-of-a-kind patio – even in cold weather. Ans always a good call for last call. Every season, the Keefer team comes up with a new theme and creates a unique line-up of drinks around that it. For Winter 2024, that theme is ‘Nostalgia’:  Drink this: The Cinnamon Toast Punch ($19), a clever, sophisticated take on a childhood favourite cereal (and, if we’re being real, current guilty pleasure), thanks to a mix of Barley armagnac, nocino, hazelnut, olorosso, cassia maple, citrus, and the clincher: corn pop milk. WEBSITE

Caffé La Tana

Caffé La Tana might not immediately spring to mind as a cocktail spot, but it’s easily one of our favourites. Happy Hour (3–5 pm) is a golden window when this pretty Commercial Drive pasta and wine bar often has space for walk-ins. If you didn’t snag a reservation, this is your chance to grab a seat and enjoy an afternoon cocktail—solo or with a friend. Bonus: the drinks are delightfully affordable. Drink this: Volpi Sbagliato (Banda Volpi Amaro, Campari, Aperol, Prosecco, Rosemary). WEBSITE

Cuchillo

When it comes to having a good time, this Japantown restaurant’s sense of humour and ‘let’s do this’ mood, along with Chef Stu Irving’s tasty food and affordable cocktails, make this a great choice for a drink. Grab a table with friends, or slide onto a seat at the bar. Drink this: The Spanish Lebowski ($16), which is made from dairy-free horchata, rum, coffee liqueur, ancho reyes, and Derrumbes Guerrero spritz. Rich, creamy and spicy. WEBSITE

KISSA TANTO

This second-storey, sublimely sexy 75-seat Italian-Japanese hybrid channels a 1930s jazz vibe effortlessly. Consistently ranked among the best restaurants in Canada, it unsurprisingly boasts a bar program to match its acclaim. Well-executed classics with kitschy twists perfectly complement the sultry setting. Drink this: The Japanese Vesper is a glass of impressive depth of character and texture thanks to Nikka Coffey Gin, Nikka Coffey Vodka, and Cocchi Americano Bianco. WEBSITE

CHICKADEE ROOM

While guests can still order from Juke’s menu, the vibe at their cocktail-forward sidekick, The Chickadee Room, is entirely its own. Channelling a dark, neon-lit Miami Vice-meets-‘80s mallright down to the palm tree silhouettes, flamingo pink accents, and apple green neon light washing over the room. This late-night bar shakes up a mix of contemporary creations and well-executed classics, keeping the energy going until midnight Sunday–Thursday and 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. Drink this: Cailleach (Glenfiddich, Averna, El Dorado, lemon, cinnamon + egg white) WEBSITE

MEO

Right below Kissa Tanto is Meo. Their 1970s love motel inspired decor creates a low-key and super sexy lounge vibe. While you can expect a laid-back food menu of really beautifully executed small plates bursting with bold, eclectic flavours, Meo is first-and-foremost a cocktail lounge, and the drinks are why the room is full.
Drink this: Shake things up with a Meo Shakerato! This concoction of white chocolate-washed Campari, Haku vodka, fermented rice syrup and lemon creates a frothy, creamy indulgence with a sharp citrus edge. As Meo explains: ‘Think Alexis Colby crashing Krystle Carrington’s Christmas party, cocktail in hand.’ WEBSITE

BAR CORSO

While Chef Luke Boswell’s thoughtfully prepared dishes command much of the attention at Bar Corso, the bar program deserves equal praise. The drinks live up to the Italian inspiration and the moody, seductive atmosphere—dark, sexy, and with just a hint of mischief. Candlelight and subtle lighting cast a warm glow over the narrow, intimate space, with tow-person booths and shadowed corners that add to the room’s allure. The Grappa & Amaro menu is strong, but we suggest a cocktail to kick things off. Drink this: Burro e Sesamo ($17) Butter Fat Washed Lambs Spiced Rum, Tahini Maple & Cinnamon Syrup, Esquimalt Vermouth & Walnut Bitters WEBSITE

THE LIDO

The Lido, with its dark wood and unapologetically unfussy decor—overstuffed chairs and couches casually stashed in corners—feels like your coolest friends’s first college apartment. You know, the one with just the right amount of charm and chaos. The Lido pulls double duty as a live music venue, so check their schedule before you go to see if there is a show happening. Gig or no gig, the ‘come-as-you-are’ energy is the cherry on top. Heads up, though: At The Lido is cash is king, so don’t even think about handing over a credit card. Drink this: Any of their Beer Cocktails ($12.50) i.e. a bottle of Miller High Life filled with booze, juice, and either a lime or orange wedge. Simply because this is the sort of place where no one will judge you if you do (in fact, you’ll fit right in). WEBSITE

El GATO GAB GAB

Agave-forward cocktails and modern Mexican-inspired snacks come together at El Gato Gab Gab, a vibrant Mount Pleasant spot bursting with colour and personality. Brought to life by the team behind Main Street favourites Published on Main and Bar Susu, this modern Mexican cocktail bar and botanero invites you in for a drink…and then tempts you to stick around all night long. Drink this: El Gallo Loco ($17), with Rooster reposado, Tromba Cafeto, con leche horchata stout froth, cocoa. In their own words: “Have you ever booked an airbnb in Mexico and they have a loud rooster outside the house? It’s kinda like that.” WEBSITE

Bao Bei

This Chinese brasserie has been a Vancouver favourite since they opened doors in 2010, making it one of those rare spots that’s stayed popular for all the right reasons. The bar program is tight, weaving in ingredients like plum wine, peppercorns, and lapsang tea to match the Taiwanese- and Shanghai-inspired share plates. Creative, but with respect for the classics. Drink This: Chino Margarita ($16). You’ll order it once, and then every time thereafter. WEBSITE

TOCADOR

The Cuban-inspired cocktail program at Tocador never misses. The space is colourful, with playful wallpaper, bright tropical hues, and a design that feels like it’s always on holiday. The back bar, dotted with vintage dressing tables (“tocadors”), adds a quirky charm, while the staff—lovely and absolute pros at their craft—keep the drinks flowing with flair. The lively hum of conversation and laughter of relaxed people makes it feel like you’ve slipped away to somewhere far more exotic, if only for a little while. Drink this: La Ciguapa ($17) is a dessert-like cocktail for people who prefer cocktails for dessert. Butterscotch infused 400 Conejos mezcal, home-made plantain oat milk, piloncillo, and Mexican guajillo bitters. WEBSITE

Andrea Gail

Andrea Gail, or ‘The Gail,’ The Gail feels like stepping into a laid-back basement rec room with a casual bar edge—earthy tones, eclectic art, and curiosities from owner/operator Todd Graham’s personal collection set the scene. It’s unpretentious and effortlessly inviting, a place to unwind with friends, share a laugh, and forget the world outside. The vibe is easy, the service relaxed, and the focus is on creating a space where dropping in feels as natural as staying for another round. Drink this: Ask about barrel aged pre-batched Dubliner, Sazerac and Negroni’s made for The Gail by long-time collaborator and friend to Chef Todd, Joel McNichol who (also the Brewer/Distiller at Odd Society Distillery – see below-down the street).  WEBSITE

Odd Society

At Odd Society Distillery, you can sip on booze crafted right at the source. Housed in a converted motorcycle garage, Odd Society features a lounge that is “designed to represent the soul of Odd Society — warm and welcoming, but out of sorts and charmingly unusual.” Complete with quirky art, and an easy room with a view of the traffic (that you aren’t sitting in) adds to the charm. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls separate the lounge from the distillery, giving you a front row seat to the magic of where the spirits are made. Here, founders Gordon Glanz and Miriam Karp blend “Old World distilling traditions with New World creativity”, which translates to a menu of inventive drinks reflecting the diversity of their collection of spirits. Drink this: Pocket Posey (Odd Society Commodore single malt, garryana smoke & oak whisky, tamarind, ginger, honey, galangal and lemon). WEBSITE

BOTANIST

Located on the mezzanine floor of the Fairmont Pacific Rim, along the elegant pathway that leads into the restaurant proper, Botanist Bar features an innovative cocktail card thoughtfully divided into the ecological regions that inspire their flavour profiles: Mountain + Meadow; Coastal + Oceanic, Orchard + Field, and Desert + Tropical. The talent behind the bar is on-point, and the experience is top-notch. Drink this: Their most famous (and frequently photographed) drink is the $40  Raincouver Cocktail, a stunning mix of vodka, cherry blossom, yuzu, pine, aperitif wine, fennel pollen, vegan foam, Perrier sparkling, and an edible rain cloud (seriously). For something equally impressive to the taste buds, try the Beekeeper ($22), a perfectly balanced blend of bourbon, honey, lemon, candy cap mushroom, and yellow chartreuse — a tribute to the natural architects and unsung heroes of nature. WEBSITE

JACKALOPES

If you don’t already know, Jackalopes is an unpretentious, dark but fun-loving Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood dive bar with a penchant for heavy metal music, creepy art, and good times. Cheap drinks and comfort food, too! Drink this: You’ve got a long night ahead of you, so start gently with a Love Drive ($13.13), made with Deep Cove vodka, lemon juice, soda, lavender simple syrup…but before the night is through, don’t leave without ordering a one-of-a-kind The Beefback (Canada Club Rye, chased with a shooter of hot & savoury au jus; $7) for fortitude. WEBSITE

The CASCADE ROOM

Launched in 2007 and named after a long defunct but once-popular beer brewed just a few blocks from here (Cascade was “the beer without peer”), this Mount Pleasant restaurant and bar was one of the engines that helped drive Vancouver’s recent craft beer boom. Stake out a spot at the bar, where there’s a good view of the enormous chalkboard menu (all the better to advertise their rotating list of BC beers on tap and inspired cocktails), and be prepared not to budge for a while – this place is open late and tends to suck you in. Before your beer, try a cocktail. Drink this: What’s Up Doc ($16), a prescription of Torres 10 Brandy, Cointreau Noir, Amaro Montenegro, House Ginger Syrup, House Spiced Honey, Acid OJ, and Carrot Juice – with or without Whipped Cream. WEBSITE

Bagheera

Hidden behind the unassuming façade of the Happy Valley Turf Club at 518 Main Street, Bagheera is a beautifully designed speakeasy concept named after the black panther in The Jungle Book, with British and Indian influences woven into every detail – from the jewellery-adorned ceiling to the clever newspaper menu. Cocktails also reference Kipling’s literary works, while the food leans South Asian. You’ll need a password to gain entry: place a bet on “King Louie”. WEBSITE

Grapes and soda

Grapes & Soda is a Kitsilano neighbourhood gem and a go-to for industry folks. The tables are cozy, but grabbing a seat at the bar or by the window is “the move” if you want to soak up the energy of the warm, fast-paced room. Seasonal cocktails take centre stage here, blending unique ingredients with classic techniques for consistently memorable sips. Heads up: there are only a few days left to visit before Grapes & Soda takes a holiday break — but don’t worry, they’ll be hosting a Siu Mei Pop-up from December 27th to 30th (4–10pm, last call at 9pm). The regular menu will pause for the pop-up, but it’s worth stopping by! Drink this: Zipangu ($18), a refined blend of sansho-infused gin, junmai sake, Suze, Cocchi Americano, and Bitter Bianco. WEBSITE

Ama Raw Bar

Backlit wine shelves, a glowing bar, and rich, moody hues make slipping into Ama feel like an exhale after a long day. The minimalist modern design is effortlessly sophisticated, with muted rust, warm orange, and soft yellow tones drawing your attention to the bar located at the heart of the room. Inspired by Japan’s legendary pearl divers, the “ama” — women who plunge into the sea, holding their breaths in search of pearls or seafood — the concept weaves a story of strength and allure through the Japanese inspired flavours and seafood-focused menu. With its cocktails and tranquil depths-of-the-sea atmosphere, Ama “blurs the lines between reality & fantasy”. Plus, they are open late (until 1am). Drink This:  S&B Sour (bourbon, pineapple, ginger, Japanese curry spice blend, turbinado, lemon). WEBSITE

The Flamingo Room

Access this sultry Miami-themed bar and performance venue through the side door tucked next to Havana on Commercial Drive, and follow the pink-painted staircase to a subterranean oasis where a solid selection of inventive rum-centric cocktails do their best to complete the transportive experience. Bar and table seating are available, but it’s the booths that everyone wants: big, rounded and positioned to give a nice view of the room. Grab a few friends and huddle together for some very nicely made cocktails! Drink this: Turn up the temperature a notch with a spicy Rodeo Wishbone ($17), made with Espina Negra Espadin mezcal, amaretto, house ginger liqueur, house cowboy candy shrub, lemon, and jalapeño. WEBSITE

L’Abattoir

A modern, stylish, formality-free den of French-inspired West Coast fine dining in the heart of casual Gastown. L’Abattoir strikes the perfect balance between sophistication and ease. While exacting chef Lee Cooper’s food takes centre stage, the drink card has always kept up. Few fine dining establishments make stopping by for a cocktail and snack at the bar feel so natural—but L’Abattoir does. The sleek, slighly sunken bar area, with its iconic black-and-white tiles, angled shelving, and street-facing windows, has an airy, inviting charm that makes it easy to settle in for more than just one round. WEBSITE

Bar Tartare

Ok, not cocktails, but so cool, it had to crack the list. Bar Tartare’s rotating roster of some of Vancouver’s most innovative chefs, and cool-as-heck visiting talent add something special to their always on-point natural wine selection. We won’t even try to suggest what you drink here – just let the Tartare crew set you up with something that suits your mood in the moment. WEBSITE