Gay-Friendly Vancouver - Homo Hangouts
Updated Sunday April 25, 2004
The largest gay population in Western Canada lives in this ocean-wrapped and snow-capped city. Its gay community is centred around two distinctly different neighbourhoods - the West End and Commercial Drive. You can get a sense of the city by picking up Xtra West, a free gay and lesbian newspaper, which contains community and event listings as well as a full bar roundup. It's available in stores and cafes in the West End.
The Centre (1170 Bute Street, 604.684.5307) offers a multitude of services that include regular discussion groups, a library, health, legal and youth clinics, and a Prideline (604.684.6869) that's open from 7-10 pm every evening.
Gay culture also thrives outdoors. Most men head to the speedo-free Wreck Beach where gay singles and couples have carved out a north flank of sand and water with an incredible view of the city. In the summer months, lesbians congregate around Trout Lake at Victoria Drive and 15th or head up Highway #99 to the beach at Lion's Bay.
For those of you looking for the more urban beat, here's some information to help guide you through the enclaves of gay Vancouver.
The West End
If you want to know where the rainbow ends, welcome to Vancouver's West End, the heart and soul of the city's gay community. This lively, vibrant locale is one of Canada's most densely populated neighbourhoods, a mix of stylish, young Vancouverites, retirees and lots of little dogs. The area is as ecelctic as the people with beautiful tree-lined streets, skyscrapers, low-slung apartments, and a few remaining stately Edwardian-style houses.Locals head down to English Bay at the crossroads of Denman and Davie Streets to take in the beach, the ocean, the mountains and most of all, the people watching. Grab a bench, sip a double cap and watch folks in tight-fitting sportswear self-propel themselves along the Seawall path with sweaty exuberance.
Davie Street has always been the main drag (no pun intended) for gay men who prefer the catwalk atmosphere. Also known as the Davie Street Village, this short strip is scattered with gay-friendly cafes, brunch spots and anchored by Vancouver's gay and lesbian venerable resource centre, Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium (1238 Davie Street, 604.669.1753). It offers one of the widest selections of gay and lesbian literature in North America. It also has a community bulletin board and a staff that's knowledgeable about local resources and events. While you're there, scoop yourself a free copy the GLBA (Gay and Lesbian Business Association) Directory. It lists gay businesses or those that are gay-friendly from accountants to piano tuners to veterinarians. See also gayvancouver.net
Once you've done Davie, turn onto busy Denman Street for more shopping, eating and ogling. Stop in at Delany's on Denman (1105 Denman Street, 604.662.3344), a homey, friendly neighborhood coffeehouse where you can relax, chit chat with the locals and watch the scene unfold.
Commercial Drive
Lesbian culture is alive and thriving on the Drive. That's Commercial Drive, the main street of an East side neighborhood fueled by Sandinista-supporting restaurants, pool halls that pay homage to Portuguese emperors and cafes that tune into Italian and Brazilian football matches.
Once the centre for the Portuguese and Italian immigrant communities, the Drive has become a hive of world-beat culture, particularly of the revolutionary kind. Old men sip espressos to warm up for their bocce ball games, rubbing shoulders with the pierced, the punk, and the tattooed at local cafes. Hand drumming and guitar strumming are popular pastimes here, as well as the consumption of some of the best coffee in the city.
Try the Calabria (1745 Commercial Drive, 604.253.7017) and enjoy the scene and coffee steam with the local counter culture. Among the authentic Italian delis and coffee joints, you'll find pink-triangle shops and services, including the popular, Womyns' Ware (896 Commercial Drive, 604.254.2543).
Funky shops and budget ethnic restaurants dishing out everything from roti to risotto lend Commercial Drive its unique personality and flavour. Grab a patio table at the Havana (1212 Commercial Drive, 604.253.9119), a hip Cuban restaurant, taste some tapas, sip a local ale and let the vibe of Commercial Drive wash over you.
A cacophany of noise and music echoes down the avenue, a heady brew of reggae, opera, samba, Italian sports broadcasts, buskers and grocer hawking cheap produce.
If you're doing a morning stroll, stop in at Turks (#3-1276 Commercial Drive), 604.255.5805) for coffee and the best cinnamon buns in the city, according to some. Whatever your ideology, there's a bumper sticker and a café here for you.
Gay Bars and Clubs - not all have websites
Big C Grill, 3941 Main Street (23rd and Main), Phone: (604) 871-9096
Body Perv Social Club -Fetish Club 28-195 West Hastings Street 604-688-4947
We have attended this and really enjoyed ourselves here.Cafe Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial Drive, mixed crowd.
Club 23 West, 23 West Cordova, Phone: (604) 688-5351, Mixed. Dance club. Gay night on Saturdays
Dufferin Hotel, 900 Seymour, Phone: (604) 683-4251, Vancouver's oldest pub serving the gay community and friends since 1975, featuring male strippers, comedy nights, impersonations, and music from the 70's to 90's., 3 bars. Mostly men.
Fountainhead (1025 Davie Street, 604.687.2222)
Life in the village wouldn't be complete without a neighborhood pub. The long-awaited Fountainhead, with its large glass windows and an outdoor patio, serves food and drinks with a colorful Davie Street view. Also very favoured by the weekend brunch set.Global Beat (1249 Howe Street, 604.683.4251)
If a night at the Odyssey takes your breath or any other part of your body away, recoup next door at the Global Beat. This is a premier Resto-Lounge, offering tantalizing food, retro cocktails and pool tables for the ultimate relaxation.Milk Bar, 455 Abbot Street, Phone: (604) 685-7777, Shows and Specialty nights
Ms T's Cabaret, 339 West Pender' Phone: (604) 682-8096, Drag Shows.
Numbers (1042 Davie Street, 604.685.4077), Dance club. Mostly men
Shed the khakis and squeeze into some leather or denim for a room as intriguing as its clientele. Corridors connect multi-levels and a pair of bars like a gay starship. Grab a stool in the Cockpit or head up top and play a game at the pool tables. At 10pm the music is cranked and the mid-level dance floor turns to sweat and gyration until closing. For exhibitionists and their enthusiasts, there ís Amateur Strip Night on the first Monday of the month and an Underwear Party on Sundays. Numbers is also the current home of the once-a-month Red Lantern dances for gay Asians and friends.Oasis Pub (1240 Thurlow Street, above Denny's, 604.685.1724)
Sitting upstairs at Denny's, like putting a top hat on top of a leisure suit, sits Vancouver's newest piano bar. Boasting a big, eclectic mix of martinis, a tapas style menu and a private roof-top patio, this is a great place to lounge and listen to one of their many guest pianists. Open nightly.Odyssey (1251 Howe Street, 604.689.5256)
Like its namesake, this dance club can lead you on a long and eventful journey. A mixed crowd of straights and bisexuals mingle with gays, and with the number of women showing up to dance, the club keeps a men-only entrance at the back. This high energy place has more activities than a cruise ship. There are regular drag extravaganzas on Wednesday nights, plays, film screenings and a rear garden to cool off in after the frenzy of the dance floor. And if you're tired of looking at your own buff body in the gym mirror, strip down, lather up and put it on display in an elevated shower on Thursdays. This place really packs them in on weekends so beware of another lineup.
Sublime, 816 Granville Street, After Hours
Lesbian Bars and Clubs
The Heritage House Hotel (455 Abbott Street, 604.685.7777)
With its noirish-named Lotus basement bar and the ground level Charlie's Lounge, this complex recently bought by local clothing store mogul Mark James, is a landmark for lesbian nightlife. Renovations of all sorts are on the go since the new management took over and the Lotus has lost its 'women only' Friday nights although the current buzz is that Charlie's will continue with its 'women only' Fabulous Forties parties on Saturday nights.Honey Lounge, 455 Abbot Street, Phone: (604) 685-7777, Women
Sophia's Tonight, 1610B Clark Drive (upstairs), Saturdays - Women
Lesbian in British Columbia resource directory
Restaurants and Cafes
Hamburger Mary's (1202 Davie Street, 604.687.1293)
When you're craving The Works at 2am, get out the hair grease and cut the crease in your slacks to eat at this 50's styled diner. Start with potato skins or chicken strips with plum sauce before moving on to the big burger. This is their major draw, served with bacon, cheese, or just about any other combo that strikes your stomach's fancy. Although there's a sideline in pasta, the diner roots are going strong with fries served with mayo or gravy and humungous milkshakes served in chrome containers.The Elbow Room (560 Davie Street, 604.685.3628)
Renowned not only for the size of its breakfasts, but also for the abuse owner Patrick Savoie dishes out when you fail to clean off your plate, The Elbow Room is driven by character and comfort food cooking. Whether it's pancakes, an omelette or waffles, eat up or you'll be sorry. Enjoy their wall-to-wall photo displays of celebrities, some famous, some more obscure than a carpet salesman in a late night TV commercial.Stephos (1124 Davie Street, 604.683.2555)
Known as much for its lineups as for its cheap and delicious Greek food, Stephos is a rite of passage in Vancouver's West End. Travel agency posters of Greece deck the white stucco walls and arched doorways, and even with a recent expansion, lineups still persist. Huge portions of lamb, chicken or beef brochettes fight for space on the plate with rice pilaf, lemony roast potatoes, tzatziki and hot pita. The hummous is some of the best in town. Keep an eye out for the daily specials, especially the tender and toothsome baby back ribs.Takis Taverna (1106 Davie Street, 604.682.1336)
More subdued than its boisterous Greek neighbour Stephos, Takis serves food just as tasty and in some cases, even better. Best of all, there's no lineup to get into this warm, friendly restaurant with its more intimate setting. Taki himself can be seen sometimes sitting in the back with friends, drinking, eating, and, occasionally when the mood strikes him, breaking plates. Hang around and he might entice you to join in.Cafe Luxy (1235 Davie Street, 604.669.5899)
Is hearty pasta your heart's desire? Head to the Luxy for large portions of flavourful, noodly fare.Moonbeans Coffee café (1262 Davie Street, 604.632.0032)
When the clubs close and the lunar pull is lulling you to sleep, Moonbeans café awaits with coffee and snacks for late-night nourishment. The café is also a very popular gathering spot for breakfast and afternoon coffee.Annual Event: Vancouver Pride celebration. It's a celebration of diversity and anybody who shares the 'life is a caberet' spirit will feel right at home.
See also:
Gay Montreal
Everything about Gay Toronto
Gay Calgary
Toronto's new Queer West Village
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