I shudder to think of the times that Happy Hour was banned across B.C. in the early aughts, when I was but a broke college student who really could have used a cost-effective margarita and cheap eats without having to settle for the Ikea food court.
But it’s been 12 years now since B.C. liquor laws relaxed enough to bring Vancouver’s best dining and drink deals to the masses for a few hours—and here’s my long weekend of happy hours plotted out.
Friday
If you’ve been following Vanmag‘s food coverage in the past year, you know our editorial team loves a good oyster deal—especially me. Until March 31, Coast is offering a nearly-unheard-of oyster deal during happy hour: $1.50 per shuck. Plus, the Alberni Street spot also just launched a few new items on their happy hour menu: a scallop ceviche ($17) that serves a spicy, fresh kick (scoop it up with taro chips); four forno baked oysters ($16) that have a depth and a funk delivered by the baked aged cheddar atop of them; and a savoury scallop gratin ($17). Pair these dishes with a glass of house red, white or rose wine ($5) or, my personal favourite, a juicy blood orange margarita ($8) with a black salt rim.
2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday; 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends
1054 Alberni St.
Saturday
For the gathering before and after the night out, Pax Romana on Commercial Drive is a great spot for a nosh. If you’re about to catch a show at the Rio Theatre, perhaps small bites like the pan con tomate ($3) or a small dish of mixed or warm tangerine chili olives ($6) will keep you from going famished. To complement them are $5 Estrella draughts and pax negronis, pax martinis, pax espresso martinis and vermouth spritzes (all $12 each). After 10 p.m., come back and soak up the drinks with an Iberico sandwich (chorizo, Gruyere, garlic aioli, honey, Dijon, chili oil) for $16.
Thursday to Saturday from 5 to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight, all day Sundays
1670 Commercial Dr.
Sunday
If Sunday were a meal, it’d be brunch—but for happy hour, I’m not waking up before noon. This, of course, was before I became a parent but HYPOTHETICALLY I’m not waking up before noon. Once I do, however, I’m heading to La Taqueria’s Pinche Taco Shop for some happy hour bebidas, like a $12 frozen margarita (flavours are rotating so it’s always a surprise!) and a $5 beer, or a trio of tacos olvidadas for $5.
2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays
367 Seymour St.
Monday
Okay, we know you just had the weekend—but in case it wasn’t long enough, the Fairmont Pacific Rim’s Lobby Lounge and RawBar beckons you to clock out early and grab a gossip session with your favourite coworkers for their dirty hour. Think tableside-shaken tiny ‘tinis—we loved the Prohibition martini ($14) made with gin, apricot and orange and the saketini ($14), a refreshing cucumber-forward ‘tini with vodka, sake and vermouth—freshly shucked oysters ($9) with ponzu and bites of spicy tuna tartare on cubes of crispy rice ($8). With two items per dish, the tender torched wagyu beef nigiri ($13) and kampachi nigiri ($12) is perfect for splitting with a friend. Pssst, they also do an unforgettable aburi salmon nori taco that we’ll never stop raving about.
3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays only
1038 Canada Pl.
