Alibi Room
GO HERE: to hang with all the East Van beer-loving locals. There’s an impressive 50 taps of both local and imported craft beers at Alibi Room, and they all have your name on them.
ORDER: something from local breweries Four Winds or Brassneck, the latter of which is run by Alibi’s owner, Nigel Springthorpe. Get a burger or the jalapeño chicken “samwich” with fries, if you start to feel hangry.
THE VIBE IS: laid-back and friendly, with life buddies, work buddies, and plenty of flannel. You’ll overhear deep conversations about everything, from new video games to upcoming canoe trips. Despite its large industrial-heritage digs, Alibi Room is still crowded most nights, so you might have to wait a few minutes outside on Alexander Street before ordering your first brew.
PRACTICAL STUFF: Open every day: Monday to Thursday, from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Friday, from 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.; Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. (brunch from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.); and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (brunch from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.). Reservations are occasionally taken, but there are a lot of rules. We prefer to just walk in.
—Lindsay Anderson
