TOP BARS & LOUNGES: NORTH VANCOUVER

There's often a familiar problem with distilleries that serve food: the drinks shine, the kitchen exists. That imbalance doesn't exist at Copperpenny, located at 288 Esplanade East. Head chef Michael Tiefenboeck has spent 13 years shaping his career on the West Coast, and it shows — his cooking reflects both journeys: modern dishes rooted in fresh, seasonal ingredients, layered with old-world influences and a relaxed Vancouver sensibility. The house-smoked burrata is a personal starter that leads with smoke and creaminess, followed by the gentle bitterness of endive, crunch from toasted walnuts, and little bursts of sweetness from pomegranate. The duck breast is cooked exactly where you want it, paired with a peppercorn sauce more commonly found alongside steak. And the Figgy de Bourgogne — triple-cream brie topped with fig liqueur honey — delivers one of those rare, table-stopping moments. But the cocktails are the reason you came. The Pomona is dangerously drinkable: bright, refreshing, and so easygoing you could have three before realizing you should slow down. The Reverie — Copperpenny No. 002 Premium Vodka, red wine berry cordial, lemon juice, bitters — is the more sophisticated sibling. These are cocktails made with spirits distilled on-site, and it shows in every sip.

Arcana is the kind of bar that makes you feel like you've found something. The speakeasy-gothic aesthetic — witchy details on every inch of the décor, low lighting, an atmosphere that feels genuinely curated rather than assembled from a mood board — sets the tone before you've ordered a drink. And then the drinks arrive, and the décor becomes secondary. The cocktail program is exciting and fun in a way that few bars in the region manage: complex without being pretentious, creative without being gimmicky. The food is a pleasant surprise — the kettle chips and farro salad are genuinely addictive. Happy hour is the move: a good selection of food and drink at prices that make you want to stay for another round. Which you will.

Finch & Barley is loud, tight, and exactly what a neighbourhood bar should be. The red lighting sets a mood that's somewhere between intimate and energetic — it works for both. The cocktail list is impeccable, the bartenders are knowledgeable and friendly, and the portions are decent at prices that won't make you wince. Come at 5pm if you want a seat; come later if you want the full experience. It's the kind of place where you go for one drink and stay for three, which is either a warning or a recommendation depending on your Thursday night plans.

Pier 7 sits at Shipyard Square with views of downtown Vancouver that are, frankly, unfair to every other patio on the North Shore. The Golden Hour cocktail is a fitting name for what you're doing here: watching the light change over the water with something cold in your hand. The food is genuinely good — the tuna stack is a standout — and the $55 three-course menu is one of the better value propositions on the waterfront. The prawn cocktail, the steelhead salmon — these are dishes that justify the reservation. Come for the view, stay for the food, and order the Golden Hour at least once.