The Best Live Music Venues In Vancouver Canada

A Saturday night on Vancouver’s neon-flashing Granville strip might resemble any other city’s rowdy, booze-filled main drag, but Vancouver’s local music scene constitutes one of the city’s most outstanding cultural offerings. With shows happening most nights of the week at venues large and small, historic and modern, Vancouver caters to the music lover. Here are some of the best spots to see your next show in this Canadian city.

1. Fox Cabaret

Music Venue

Formerly North America’s last-standing 35mm porn movie theater, the Fox Cabaret on Main Street has since been restored as a hip, unique club and modern live music venue. Bringing independent music, art, performance and entertainment together in one place, the Fox Cabaret is a beautiful cultural space. Upstairs in the former cinema’s projection booth, there’s a cocktail and snack bar. Prepare yourself for leopard print walls, a sparkle-inlaid bar, pink mirror tables and moody pendant lights.

2. Commodore Ballroom

Nightclub, Canadian

A renowned music venue, Commodore Ballroom is known for its great dance floor and lengthy list of iconic performers, such as Duke Ellington, Sammy Davis Jr., U2, Kiss and Weezer. The ballroom opened its doors in 1929 and has since been synonymous with Vancouver entertainment and nightlife. Spacious yet intimate, Commodore also boasts two floors and multiple bars, which helps speed up lines while waiting to order a drink.

3. Railway Stage and Beer Café

Pub, Beer

With pub grub, craft beers and a bohemian vibe, the Railway Stage and Beer Café is one of Vancouver’s oldest continually operating stand-alone music venues, occupying the same space uninterrupted since 1931. The venue has distinguished itself among others by hosting some of the world’s most innovative touring acts as well as local bands, and it has an unmistakable club feel from a bygone area. Honest and a little rowdy with lots of character, this venue is a must-see when in Vancouver.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.