Multiple Vancouver spots land on North America's 50 Best Bars extended list
North America’s 50 Best Bars just revealed its extended list, ranking drinking holes across the continent from 51 to 100, and multiple Vancouver spots made the cut.
Among the highest Vancouver spots on the list, Bagheera was listed at 59. The speakeasy is no stranger to awards, having been named the best new bar in Canada and landing on the list of Canada’s 50 Best Bars, as well as being named on the New York Times list of 10 of the world’s most alluring hidden bars.
Opened in 2023, Bagheera is brought to us by Lewis Hart and Brij Rathi, co-owners and co-founders of Three Kingdoms Hospitality and are also part of the team that created the Shanghai-inspired Chinatown speakeasy Laowai (which also made the list, coming in at 72).
Cocktails here are period-inspired and named after various Kipling works, and incorporate uncommon ingredients like saffron-infused gin and smoked paprika, to name a few.
It’s located behind Happy Valley Turf Club, and to enter, folks must place a bet on “King Louie.”
“Beyond the betting shop façade where guests must place a wager to enter, Bagheera is a transportive experience inspired by Victorian India. Brimming with jewel-toned velvets and antique brass, the venue pairs theatrical storytelling with a subcontinental-inspired cocktail programme that majors on South Asian spices,” wrote 50 Best Bars.
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Next on the list of bars is Meo, coming in at 64. Located in Chinatown, Meo combines coy and playful’ 70s-inspired nostalgia with inventive cocktails, small bites, and intimate seating.
“Concealed beneath Vancouver Chinatown’s bustling streets, Meo oozes seductive, 1970s romanticism. Sitting in its plush, retro-glamorous lounge places guests centre-stage of a Wong Kar Wai movie set, while an exceptionally playful selection of beverages flow all-night-long, all to the soundtrack of spinning vinyl,” said 50 Best Bars.
As previously mentioned, Laowai also made the list, landing at 72.
“Finding the entrance to Laowai – hidden inside a functional dumpling shop’s freezer – is the first challenge of any visit. The second hurdle comes via the hard choice of deciding your first order, be it a bespoke Chinese-inspired cocktail or a neat sip from its unrivalled library of baijiu bottles,” wrote 50 Best Bars.
Last, but certainly not least, at 91 is the much-loved Mount Pleasant Vintage and Provisions. Housed in a heritage home attached to a new development with a sign promising it’s not a cult, the entire space has been designed with vintage decor, from starburst clocks to a functioning jukebox to lighting fixtures straight out of an antique shop.
“Opened in 2022, Mount Pleasant is one of Vancouver’s coolest hangouts. For locals and visitors alike, its highly craveable cocktails are given the same reverence as ice-cold beers, wines and boozy slushies, to be enjoyed inside its large retro-dining area or on the al-fresco terrace during warmer months. Ordering the tater tots is a must,” added 50 Best Bars.
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50 Best Bars is preparing to share its list of North America’s 50 Best Bars 2026 on April 22. Which Vancouver spots do you think should make the top 50? Let us know in the comments.
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