Let’s Go Out! The Best Places to Go Dancing in Vancouver

There’s a dance party out there for everyone. You just need to know where to look. 

Emo Night at the  Hollywood Theatre

Saves The Day, Taking Back Sunday and all your moody faves. For elder millennials who still have feelings (and are maybe even rocking an extreme side part). 3123 W Broadway, hollywoodtheatre.ca

Golden at the Fox Cabaret

If you’ve gleaned that the name of this monthly dance party is a nod to Jurassic 5, this night is for you. Spanning hip hop tunes from the eighties to the oughties, this dance party belongs to anyone who’s ever vibed to OutKast, DMX or De La Soul. 2321 Main St., foxcabaret.com

Queers and Beers at The Birdhouse

This queer- and trans-run arts space gets a banging patio party vibe during Queers and Beers, which is often timed around unofficial—but very celebrated—holidays like Pride. Think DJs, dancing and drafts. 44 W 4th Ave., @birdhouseartspace

Homecoming Thursdays at the Yale Saloon

Whoever thought that line-dancing would be a thing of the past was definitely wrong. This country-inspired bar serves up line-dancing lessons for (mostly) 20-somethings on Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m., at which point the vibe turns decidedly club-like. 1300 Granville St., yalesaloon.com

Home by Midnight at the Anza Club

Mom jeans abound at this club night—both because they’re fashionable now (everything truly comes back!) and because plenty of actual moms are busting a move here, too. This dance party started for parents who need both a break and their zzzs, but, really, it’s for any ready-to-boogie folks who want to party and still look fresh for their meetings in the morning. 3 W 8th Ave., homebymidnight.ca

The Dark Eighties at the Wise Hall

A cult ’80s dance party that would make Robert Smith blush. This goth-leaning monthly romp demands that you dig out the lace and leather from your closet, plus a generous helping of eyeliner. 1882 Adanac St., @wisehallandlounge

After Hours at Gorg-O-Mish

In contrast to those who want to be “home by midnight” (see above), Gorg-O-Mish is the spot for those who don’t want to go home until the sun is up. Every Friday and Saturday from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m., the dance party gets bangin’ with a state-of-the-art honeycomb sound system and some of the best DJs in town. Now that Downtown Vancouver’s liquor laws allow sales ’til 4 a.m., we think we might see a few more folks rushing through these doors. 695 Smithe St., gorgomish.com

Cancun Nites at the Red Room

If you haven’t been to Cancun Nites at this downtown spot, you might be… young. The party has been bumpin’ Latin music and Top 40 jams every Friday for nearly two decades—okay, well, pandemic times excluded. Pop over here if you want to get a taste of legacy Vancouver culture. 398 Richards St., redroomvancouver.com

Where You At? at Fortune Sound Club

Known to have one of the best sound systems in the city, Chinatown’s Fortune Sound Club is the place to be if you like your music loud and throbbing and your dance floor intimate (tables, bottle service areas and a stage outline the sweaty bods). Bust a move to all decades of music, from ’80s hip hop to the latest dance-y jams with the help of DJ Seko, Clu and The Boy Jesse. 147 E Pender St., fortunesoundclub.com

K-Pop Thursdays at Celebrities

Calling all Blinks! Start your weekend early at Vancouver’s only weekly K-pop night. DJs hype up the crowd to K-pop from multiple decades, plus $4 soju shots and $7 soju bombs abound. And if this is the first time you’ve heard the term “Blink,” consider this your required research. 1022 Davie St., celebritiesnightclub.com

Good Music Weekends at Portside Pub

This East Coast-inspired seafood eatery becomes a veritable meat market for 20-somethings every Friday and Saturday as the pub turns to club at 10 p.m. under the spell of resident DJs Lupo and Relly Rels. If you don’t happen to shack up with a stranger during the night’s events, you can at least get your next Hinge profile pic here—many a fish-kissing photo is featured on the spot’s Instagram feed. 7 Alexander St., theportsidepub.com

VANMAG READERS ALSO RECOMMEND

“Salsa night at Mangos on a Thursday.”

“Guilty Pleasures at The Fox.”

“The empty dance floor at Bimini’s because you can ask the DJ to play whatever you want.”

“Hot Dyke Party at The Birdhouse.”

“Zap the Party for house and techno! Six DJs draw numbers from a hat for set times.”

“The World After Hours  is Granville’s longest-running underground nightclub.”