Where to drink refreshing tropical cocktails in Vancouver
Do you like piña coladas, and getting caught in the rain? Thankfully you can do both in Vancouver where tropical cocktails are a year-round affair. From alcohol-soaked pineapple sippers to multi-coloured bellini slushies, there’s no shortage of icy drinks in this city. So get ready for a boozy brain freeze at these local bars where the Tiki trend is in full force. [Photo courtesy of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts]
Sula Indian Restaurant
4172 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5V 3P7The island vibes are seriously strong at The Reef, where Jamaican patties, jerk chicken wings, and calypso oxtail stew put Vancouverites in a tropical mood even on the greyest of days. Rum is the drink of choice behind the bar – of course – and there’s no better way to have it than served in a coconut shell. Mr. Gee’s Rude Bwoy is a Barbadian drink made with three ounces of dark rum, Triple Sec, Malibu, orange juice, grapefruit, pineapple, bitters and nutmeg. Or go for the OG Jamaican beach punch: a straightforward blend of dark and white rum and tropical juices.
Reflections : The Garden Terrace
801 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 1P7A summertime hideaway above Vancouver’s maddening downtown crowds, this fourth-floor outdoor bar at the Rosewood Georgia Hotel underwent an impressive renovation in early 2016 to reveal a revamped look and new menu. Coastal decor, heated cabana seating, water features and Pacific-inspired tapas all set the stage for a truly unique urban oasis. When it comes to boozy libations, the cocktails range from straightforward classics to oversized tableside punch bowls. Try the Georgia Straits Sling (a riff on the ever-popular Singapore Sling) or the easy-drinking Wreck Beach Lemonade, a gin-based lychee-infused drink that’s sure to be a new summertime fave.
Guu With Garlic
1698 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6G 1C7Vancouver’s original izakaya, Guu continues to attract nightly crowds thanks to its energetic atmosphere and modern Japanese fusion dishes. In the summer months, limited edition frozen cocktails make an appearance on the menu to further liven up the mood. These seasonal refreshers change annually but are always guaranteed to loosen you up (if you don’t mind a little brain freeze). Previous offerings have included a frozen sake bellini with peach puree, frozen Moscow mules served in traditional copper mugs, and frozen beer cocktails, which pair cold beer with mango juice for a refreshing alternative to your usual craft brew.
The Union
219 Union St, Vancouver, BC V6A 2B2The Union’s Filipino-style bangas earn a spot on this list for their fun presentation and inhibition-erasing potency. Served in glass jars with crushed ice and a stick of lemongrass, these refreshing concoctions come in four different variations, which means you can pick your poison (gin, tequila, bourbon or cardamom cachaça) and flavour profile. Each incorporates a few Asian-inspired ingredients – lychee, calamansi and mandarin orange to name a few – and is guaranteed to put you in a feel-good mood for the night. Snag a spot on the street-facing patio if you can and enjoy the open air on those warm summer nights.
Clough Club
212 Abbott St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2K8Put a little glitz in your night out and order up a signature pineapple cocktail at the Clough Club. Served in gilded copper pineapple tumblers, these upscale sippers make for a perfect photo op. Drinks feature a base of premium Absolut Elyx vodka (a smooth, highly refined spirit with subtle notes of vanilla and pepper) and are available two ways: option one is a zesty blend of crushed ice, lime juice, lychee, Greek yogurt, kaffir lime leaf, hellfire bitters and cava; while option number two is made with Cointreau, Peychauds’ bitters, sugar and Fat Tug IPA.
Rogue Kitchen & Wet Bar
601 Cordova St W, Vancouver, BC V6B 1G1Get your frozen cocktail fix on the cheap at this Gastown standby. Two-ounce frozen bellinis are less than $5 when you visit during Happy Hour (between 3:00 to 6:00 pm daily). Made with white rum, peach schnapps, champagne, peach slush and sangria, these seriously sweet sippers are also on special all day Tuesday if you’re looking for a little mid-week treat. Alternatively, top off your frozen slushy with an apricot ale to make it a beerlini. The sprawling patio is conveniently located near Waterfront Station if you need to unwind with a post-work cocktail before your evening commute.
Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie
163 Keefer St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1X3The food menu at this Chinatown fave might be Chinese-meets-European, but the cocktail menu definitely has a south-of-the-border feel. Citrusy margaritas and palomas will put you in a tropical mood, but you won’t want to miss the wow-worthy frozen piña colada. Served in a tall glass complete with a decorative umbrella, this party-ready cocktail is billed as “the best frozen sissy drink you’ll ever have” – and we have to agree. You’ll want to sip slowly when drinking these deceptively delicious cocktails.
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