8 Vancouver bars land on Canada’s 50 Best Bars list

A classic martini and Snowbird are two signature drinks at The Keefer Bar in Vancouver. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

Article content

Hot on the heels of the reveal of North America’s 50 Best Bars, Canada’s 100 Best has released its own homegrown ranking.

Article content

From the Toronto-based team behind Canada’s 100 Best, the list highlights the 50 best bars across Canada.

Article content

Article content

“As Canada’s bar scene has evolved, it’s become more confident, more assured in its talents,” says Kate Dingwall, editor of Canada’s Best Bars. “The best bars are only getting better, like the continued reign of Montreal’s Cloakroom, Toronto’s Bar Raval, now at No. 10. And they’re evolving to open new concepts like Keefer Bar’s new projects Lala and June, Bar Dominion from Cloakroom’s Andrew Whibley.

Article content

“There’s real energy and enthusiasm across the country.”

Article content

The Canadian list sees a Montreal outpost — Cloakroom Bar — take the No. 1 spot. The assemblage includes eight Vancouver bars including:

Article content

• The Keefer Bar (No. 3)
• Prophecy (No. 18)
• Lala at June (No. 19)
• Botanist (No. 23)
• Laowai (No. 26)
• Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions No. 35)
• Bagheera (No. 43)
• Good Thief (No. 44)

Article content

This year’s Canada’s 50 Best Bars list also includes one Vancouver Island outpost: Humboldt Bar (No. 34) in Victoria.

Article content

Article content

Article content

Article content

Article content

It’s interesting to compare the new list to its North American counterpart. The two rankings, which are both chosen by feedback from industry insiders and judges, see the usual suspects called out in each major city, with a few more unique additions highlighted on the Canadian iteration.

Article content

According to Dingwall, this evolution is due to a changing perception and definition of a traditional bar.

Article content

“People are really exploring the breadth of what a bar can be,” she says. “New to the list year, we have a groovy diner with Asian influenced cocktails (Toronto’s Lonely Diner). Next of Kin in Edmonton is this day-glow, subterranean post modern lounge. And Vancouver’s Good Thief centres Vietnamese ingredients.”

Article content

The Canada’s Best callouts will continue on May 4 with the reveal of the Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants 2026 and rankings. See the full Canada’s 50 Best Bars list online at canadas100best.com/best-bars.

Article content

Article content