First, ditch the QR code only menus. It's not Covid lockdown. Second, the food is merely mediocre. Nothing wrong, but nothing amazing. Ambiance is typical bar fun. Enjoyable enough. The patio is nice when weather is good. It's an OK place, that is all. read more

Terrible experience. NOT queer or trans or women safe!!!! A group of us were trying to play pool and the staff asked us to end our game because others complained about us for taking more than 15 minutes. Multiple men were harassing us during our game, which extended our playing time, but the staff seemed unconcerned about this and preferred asking us to leave rather than to ask other patrons to stop bullying us. I would not recommend that anyone who isn't a competitive pool player or who doesn't have a man in their group spend time there, since you won't be respected by staff or other patrons. read more

Eamon was the best bartender and it was a great time! The vibes were amazing, a great community!

Great hidden gem right in the middle of downtown. Good environment for a late night drink, pool is a plus! Leo is a legend, definitely recommend. read more

Probably the diviest of Vancouver's dive bars. It's the kind of place you'll either love or dislike to a degree that you might want to leave as soon as you step in. There's a pool table, Christmas lights strewn around, interesting paraphernalia, an aquarium built into the wall, and very limited seating. Know the crowd you're taking before you go. If they're good with grungy places, you might have a fine night. This place is best as the last stop of your night, but be warned -- there might not be seating when you arrive. The "seating area" is not designed to accommodate large parties. Think of it like a basement with a couch, a few small tables, and perhaps some stools. If you were hoping for a place to sit down and chat with your circle of buddies, this is probably not that place. Standing against the wall might be your best bet, or crowded around the pool table. It might take forever to order a drink from the old Asian bartender behind the bar. (He was wearing a shirt that said "iPood" with a guy squatting on a toilet.) He does not take any crap from patrons and I respect that. I'm giving an objective review, but I have to say, I love this place. The Brickhouse might be too ratty for you, but for those who love it, we love it. read more

If your looking to pick up a bed bug, this is the place for you.; the cushions and seats are as old as time and ripped and duct tapped. The older Asian bartender seemed friendly enough srt first until I asked him to put on music to dround out the vacuuming and he declined even before the bar closed. Then, when I tried to play music from my phone, he demanded I shut it off. I can only assume that he has worked there for years and years and feels entitled to shut the bar down before closing time. The entire experience made my skin crawl and lacked the slightest remnese of customer service. read more

Came here as a direct result of getting a tip from Reena M. This place delivers big time. Parking is available if you look on the side streets. Otherwise you're looking at metered spots along Main. The Brickhouse really is a Dive bar with a capital D. When I first tried going in, I went to the front door only to realize it was gated and padlocked. Huh? The signs on the glass tell you to go to the back. Simple enough, until you realize you have to go through a dingy alley completely with hobos. At this point you're also checking your back to make sure you're not about to get mugged or shanked. When you finally do get to the back, the door is also locked. Huh? Oh, you're supposed to rap on the door LOUDLY, then someone is supposed to open the door!? My head was filling up with crazy unpleasant thoughts when I went through this "Brickhouse rookie initiation" process. Fortunately, the bartender came a-running and let me in after a few seconds of utter confusion. Wow, this place smells (literally) of character. By character I mean really really dusty upholstery. It was filled literally to the ceiling with vintage knick-knacks, from old textbooks (for those who want to feel "learned") to old soda dispensers. The entire bar is operated by one(!) cheerful girl, who has got to be the friendliest and most dedicated bartender I have ever met in a long time. More on her later, as she deserves a special mention. In the back is a pool table. Seating came in the form of vintage mismatched (and somewhat dusty) couches arranged around the edges, as well as a couple of tables. The place had a very homely feel to it, as if you are in someone's basement. There were some oldies playing in the background, which added to the vintage feel. The drink selection is quite wide, with highballs and cocktails to alcoholic eggnog to beer. The beer is some 8 types, all served draught. Only $4.75 (somewhat cheap) for a glass, and $17 (average priced) for a pitcher. I need to talk specifically about the bartender. She went WAY beyond her duties for my friends and I tonight. When I asked about a beer, she gave me a small "sample glass" after telling me a couple of things about the brew in question. When my friends wanted coffees (some didn't drink), she gladly made a pot for them, no questions asked, for free. She even helped them add their sugars and creams. Our group left her a generous tip at the end of the night. Even though a few of my friends initially wanted to cancel last-minute when they realized the location and surroundings of this bar, at the end ALL of them were very glad they showed up. The Brickhouse really is something. You won't be here for the upscale experience, but this is the place to be if you want character. Recommended. read more

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Anyone who identifies as woman- beware. The man working the front door was rude and aggressive to the point that myself and three others felt unsafe. He was clearly drunk and/or high and was slurring that my friend needed to check a side bag, despite the five other people around us having bags of equal or larger size. She couldn't hear him because of the slurring and asked him to repeat himself and he told her she can go somewhere else. She ended up checking it, but the people behind us let us know he called her a skank multiple times once she walked away. Honestly checking the bag was no problem and the bartender was friendly once we got in, but I'll never be back. I felt gross and unsafe. We eventually had to have a nice man who heard the whole thing help us get the bag back. Hopefully the guy at the front was having an off day and doesn't call people skanks on the regular. read more

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got, especially if you find yourself in the neighbourhood of this bar. Located 3 blocks North of the death metal bars and 3 blocks South of Crackville, The Brickhouse is the cozy nook on Main and Union that is so perfect that I probably shouldn't be writing about it. This diamond in the rough looks exactly like what you always wanted to do with your treehouse. With it's elegant furniture, antiquated decorations, and just the right amount of dusty useless oddities, it emanates the human condition and feels like home. During the week it maintains its "coziest place to drink yourself to death" demeanor, but on the weekend it fills up with droves of people who all think they discovered it first. Good for friends celebrating random things, bad for people trying to have sex with strangers. Just make sure you leave promptly when Leo the bartender starts playing "Hit the road Jack" over and over. read more

Brickhouse - the entrance to the building - Dive Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Brick House has a clock with No Time Brick House has Goldfish that will not remember You. Brick House has a Bitter Bartender, his name is Leo. Brick House has 2 popular beer (420 & Pilsner), the rest are Sour. Thus this is the Tragedy that creates beauty in Life Brick House is most Awesome on TUESDAYS; Travelers from all over the globe gather through Couchsurfing. 'Yay! I'm a fan'. read more

Brickhouse - Tuesdays at the Brickhouse - Dive Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

My first time back since before the pandemic. This place has not changed at all. It is still THE chillest place in town to grab a drink, and mingle with some real people. The Brickhouse is rough around the edges, but that is part of its charm. 5 stars. read more

I don't like jam, but dive bars are my jam. The Brickhouse is hella cool dude. I can't describe the decor. Just check it out. Grab a pitcher and sit on one of many collectables. This is one of the places you could spend hours at without even glancing at your phone. Happy place. read more

rock in a Comfortable atmosphere, bring a a few friends and some Zest the Brick House will do the rest :) service free of inhabitation's - food is unexpectedly delectable. read more

Okay, I'm confused. How is The Brickhouse a "Late Night Bistro" in any way? I guess they do sell bags of chips. Anyway, that aside, I really do like The Brickhouse. I've had times where I go often and times where I don't, but I'm back to visiting this bar at least once a month. Why? Well, firstly, it feels like being in my dad's basement, if my dad had lots of space and could do whatever he wanted with it. The kitschy pictures on the walls, fishtanks, old records, lights, pool table, dart board, and old mismatched couches combine to make it feel funky and cozy in there, which I really appreciate. Secondly, the wine pours. The bartender/proprietor does not skimp on the wine - for about $5 you get a FULL glass of house red or white. And it's not even from a box! Once, I spilled half my glass, and I didn't even mind because it was STILL a good deal. The proprietor works every day, alongside an occasionally-changing door/coat-check/cleaning girl. Bag check is free, but mandatory. There is indoor bicycle parking. If you get rowdy, you will get kicked out. Sometimes if he wants to go home early, you will get kicked out. The proprietor's personality is part of the attraction. I think his name is Leo but I've never been formally introduced. read more

The smell was pretty awful. It smells of years of old couch and moldy carpets. But I could be wrong. I don't know how one man can work a bar, especially if you have a large crowd, but alas.. I'd come back, but I'll put my coat down before I sit on the couch. read more

I VERY much understand the charm of this place. It's not really an acquired taste. You either get it or you don't. Leo is the best. *Short review warning: Sometimes I write excessively short reviews because this place is either 1) A consistent 5-star shut out review (meaning not even a MINORITY will give it less than 5 stars), or 2) There is something so special about this place that it's worth GOING and not mulling about on yelp to decide if it's worth it. read more

I had a friend growing up who's dad had a 'man cave' in the basement that was *just* past it's prime and ready to be remodeled. You know the one I'm talking about, designed in the 70's, worn shag carpeting, fish tanks filled with some form of aquatic life (my friends dad had Piranha's), an old wooden bar that had seen it's fair share of mixed drinks slid/spilled across it, old random pictures of places traveled and gifts from friends, a dartboard, a pool table, and old worn our furniture that you might get a spring up the rear if you sat down too quick. Man I loved that place. Now picture this 25 years later, and you have the Brickhouse. Frozen in time and as cool as it was when I was a kid playing pool with my buddy and drinking Grenadine straight our of a rocks glass (it was all we could find in his dads bar). The Brickhouse has been my go-to place for years now. If we're wondering were to go for a cheap drink - Brickhouse. Need a place for a birthday shindig - Brickhouse. Friend in town out of nowhere and need to go somewhere in a pinch - Brickhouse. Cat just died and need to drink your sorrows - Brickhouse (okay this one hasn't happened yet, but you get the idea). There really isn't much more to say. Some people love it, some don't. It's a great place to relax and have a drink with friends. I wouldn't call it a 'Bistro' so much as I don't recall them ever having and kind of food except bags of chips but if you ask Leo nice enough you can get a pizza delivered... read more

The Brickhouse is an awesome neigbourhood bar where you can drink a pint or whiskey and just read a book in the afternoon. Or hangout with friends and shoot some pool, play some cards or dice! They have a small assortment of BC craft beer on tap (Storm Scottish Ale, R&B Raven Cream,Tree Pilsner, R&B Red Devil Ale). Pitchers run $17, but they usually have a $4.50 sleeves and several Bourbon/whiskey specials. One of the cooler features of the bar is the indoor bicycle parking. I love the character of the Brickhouse! read more

Filthy fun. This place is a glorious and legit dive bar - the bar owner literally stops the music when he's about to throw someone out. It's not a place you'd really want to go to sober, which I guess is why it opens quite late. The lighting is low, the decor is worn, the furniture is comfy. You can start a tab at the bar (I think their card limit is pretty high otherwise), and most likely you'll be amazed at how cheap the total is come the end of the night. It must have been only around $4 for a glass of wine, if that. This place is like hanging out in the living room at your most irresponsible friend's house. May it live forever. read more

I have been to dive bars that I would easily give 4-5 stars for the drinks, atmosphere, food and service in a lot different NA cities. This place barely deserves one. Have people really convinced themselves that this place is 'comfy?' Drinks suck, the beer is old, the furniture stinks..I am having a hard time finding a single thing I like about this place. 5 stars to me represents the absolute best dinning, drinking experience one could have. It should exceed your expectations to the point where very few others can match. This place fails on so many levels. The place was full of people trying to look like they don't care about their appearance, drinking shitty drinks all under the guise of what they think a dive bar should be, under the radar from the Roxy or corporate crowd. This place is a dump. read more

Huge fan, but this is not a bistro. Just go here for drinks and a good time with friends. This bar is an unpretentious, friend's basement-type of place. They have all sorts of random things on the wall and Leo, the bartender is pretty cool. He's a man of few words I think, but if you visit him and follow his rules (it is HIS establishment after all), you'll be alright. The beer on tap are awesome and cheap! It gets packed on a Friday night. FYI, unless you inform him before you order that you want to pay by credit card, pay with cash. Also, they will check your bags at the front and make you leave your larger bags at coat check. read more

When I stayed at the now defunct Dominion "Art" Hotel in Gastown, I was looking for a local watering hole where I could wet my whistle. I had already gone to a few bars and hadn't quite found the dive bar type place where I could find some random strangers to befriend for my short time in Vancouver. Luckily, that's when the clerk at the hotel suggested Brickhouse. After making my way through Chinatown and the minefield of crackheads (literally) looking to buy or sell, I stumbled upon the bar. I knew I liked it as soon as I walked in, but then I saw it -- confirmation that there is a cosmic force beyond rational explanation in the universe. I found the one bar in Vancouver that happened to have a Hartford Whalers jersey hanging in it. If that wasn't a sign from the universe that I was in the right place, I don't have any other explanation for it. read more

This is a fun little place with affordable drinks and comfy couches. Check your coats and bags at the door (it's free!). The drink line can get long, but you'll likely meet some new friends while you wait. No cash? That's okay, you can run a tab. My only issue is the fish tanks... cool idea but the water is so low in some of those tanks it is not even up to the level of the filtration system. Those poor fishies do not look like they're destined to last long. SAVE THE FISH! read more

Brickhouse - Save the fish! - Dive Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Looks divey on the outside, but on the inside is a bar full of character and characters - good ones, including a good crowd of good looking youngish folk, a good-guy bartender, and some good goldfish swimming around in in-wall aquariums. Comfy couches, tasty drinks, a pool table, and bike parking. Authentic vintage decor is the old-school cherry atop this casual sundae of a watering hole. read more

For me, The Brickhouse is a tale of love and loss and then back to love For many years - it was my local. But then, there came a point when I felt the Brickhouse had become quite intolearable. Cliques of hipsters in ironic clothing and bourgeoise wannabe activists have descended on the bar like locusts. But now, with the surge of gentrification sweeping through Chinatown, bringing DHM style sports bars like the nice-looking-but-otherwise-suburban-meathead-watering-hole that is London Pub .. Brickhouse is back to being a favoured destination. Sure, it's a bit run down and service can be shoddy - but that's part of its charm.. if not packed - the Brickhouse is the best local pub to have a nice sit down conversation.. read more

Although it couldn't really be classified as a pool hall as there is only one pool table I really enjoyed this establishment. The beer wasn't anything special and the shots of whiskey were overpriced but it is a charming place. Half the time I played pool and for the other half I played darts. I gave my I.D. and a credit card and had the benefit of being able to run a tab. There was two people working the bar, however it did take some time to get a drink. All and all it is a nice place and I enjoyed myself so I will definitely be back. read more

Is this Eric Foreman's basement?! Equipped with couches, a pool table, and darts this place is soooo chill for a group of friends to hang out and drink beer...legally. The Brickhouse is easily missable on the streets of Main. In fact, I missed it and probably would've kept walking for weeks if it weren't for a friend pointing it out. IT'S WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE COBALT & MAIN STATION FOLKS!!! Being missable also means it's a hole in the wall- the most welcomed hole in the wall! There's free coatcheck so tropical babies, no need to cheap out and layer them coats like there's no tomorrow! Once inside, the place is sooo cozy I could've fallen asleep. The staff is super friendly and the bar is not too busy. The only downside is since the space is so tiny, a lot of time will be spent standing unless you're one of the lucky ones to grab a seat then guard it with your life! All in all, a great place to grab your friends and have a good time. read more

Rec-room bar. It's got games, comfy couches and lots of eye-candy on the walls. It's even got a pool table and darts! It's a tight squeeze though. The place gets busy around 9pm on weekends and apparently the 2nd bartender doesn't start until 10:30pm-ish (based on being there two nights) so either get there early or suffer confusingly long wait times until around 11pm. You better be good at patience. Also read the signs near the bar as they serve as the basic FAQ of how the bartender works. So I recommend get pitchers, if you're drinking beers. Otherwise during the week, it's chill. Table service, food service or talking to the bartender: Not going to happen. read more

If you're looking for a dungeon-y, swanky, and utterly grungey-cool dive in bar to sink your butts in (because their seating is an assortment of comfy couches), then you're probably looking for Brickhouse. Brickhouse is located only a walk away from Main Street-Science World skytrain, so it's accessible. The decór is neat, the music is mediocre, and the only bartender I've ever seen there is Leo. (I think he actually owns the place, but don't take my word for it.) Leo's got a bit of charm, but has tendencies to scare off some customers with his cranky, grumpy attitude on the Friday and Saturday nights. Although, I guess if I had to serve a bunch of drunk assholes all night, I'd get a little impatient as well. Other than that, there are some alright drink specials, nothing crazy. There's no food, so if you're just looking for a place to hang out with friends and play darts, pool, or just get cuddly on a couch and chat, Brickhouse ain't a bad pick. read more

The Brickhouse is this strange place on Main Street that looks more like a basement full of odd knick knacks than a pub. The Brickhouse was pretty empty beside our large party and the actual bar was way in the back. The place is charming but odd and the bartender was as well. The service wasn't great and the bartender just seemed out of it in general. I like the place because of its charm but that's pretty much it. There are cool open spaces for games and such, but I had fun because of the people not so much the place. Unless, you like the novelty factor and kitschy decor, check out another bar. Otherwise it's a neat place. But I have no idea why it's listed as a "Late Nite Bistro". Did I miss something? read more

Finally. I found a bar in Vancouver that reminds me of home.... literally - there are so many couches. The Brickhouse has a great vibe. Laid back. Nice bartender. There's music but you can hear your friends talking. The fish tank could use some more water. There are pool tables for those inclined... This has been the bar that I've been searching for in Vancouver for years. I recommend getting there early to nab a good seat. read more

I heart the Brickhouse. It's fantastic. As for the "late nite bistro" part - hmm. I've had some packaged chips there? Fine dining? All jokes aside, this is a great little bar. It's cozy and kitschy. There are copious amounts of comfy couches around the place, and a random mix of music playing. It's the perfect place to grab a few pints with friends, settle in for a night, have a good chat and play some darts or pool. Oh, and the bar owner Leo is a legend. read more

It's been a while since I've stepped into this beauty. Everything around this place changes, the Brickhouse does not. Drink Prices go up, these stay relatively the same haha. Crowd is pretty mellow, everyone is usually in a good mood and its just a weird place in general where time stands still. Its a bit grungier than I usually dig but I'm not usually showing up here for my first beer of the night.... read more

Cosy, the music is great (mystical/good), great atmotphere, great prices and stuff to do! I've heard it is packed on during weekends. My self I went here late on a saturday but still, got a great vibe from it! Will defenitly go back! read more

Cool place with a lot of characters. The decor is great and it feels like somebodies living room in the 80's or something. Places like this are becoming a rarity in this city, I hope it will stays for a long time. We had a bunch of pitchers and a good time! The old school bartender Leo is pretty chilled too! read more

There are very few actual dive bars/taverns in Vancouver and our culture trends more towards Shark/Cactus/Browns Club than little authentic establishments with individual character. This place is a hidden gem, but I fear greatly for its long term survival. read more

This is,nt a dive bar. Its a badly run business with regular priced drink. long lineups, no waitress night I was there, bartender was pissed off and bitched about being short staffed. If this is vancouvers idea of a dive bar were embarrassing. cant recommend , wont be back. read more

On a gusty wet Friday night my lovely friend and I swept into the Brickhouse and whoa....it was nearly empty. Are Vancouverites that afraid of the weather? It's a very comfortable place.....sofas, high-backed bar stools, an aquarium, pool table and a dart board. Leo....our affable barkeep kept us entertained between serving drinks....and more drinks. There's a great library of assorted paperbacks...lots of bric-a-brac and some mighty fine Scotches and Bourbons. The place filled up somewhat over time but never felt claustrophobic. I'll definitely be back. read more

I've seen some reviews of the Brickhouse that list it as serving food; they do not. Until recently, they allowed patrons to bring in some food of their own, which I thought was very accommodating, and one of the reasons I really enjoyed going there. This policy seems to have changed, however, which was frustrating enough to discover, before discovering that now apparently the tap water is either unsafe or forbidden, and getting some water requires waiting at the bar, which can take a forbiddingly long time on a busy night and also irritate the bartender. The comfy couches are a real draw, though as some others have said, it's important to get there early if you want to reserve them for your group. On weeknights the music is often quiet enough to be able to conduct a conversation without yelling; on the weekends the volume gets turned up. Contrary to the information in the header, there is actually a coat check. I think that's recent though, and it might not be available every night. read more

Definitely a dive. But for the prices and wait time, I'd pass if I were you. Drinks aren't expensive, but they're not cheap either. Atmosphere is nicely divey, though it smells like someone is perpetually cooking curry burritos in a mystery microwave. Service was fine, but wouldn't consider it friendly at all. My main problem was with the wait times for drinks. You go to a bar to drink. When you have to wait upwards of 30+ minutes, in a literal queue, for a drink, it's time to go somewhere else. I was here for more than 90 minutes and 75 of them were spent standing in line waiting to order. It was ridiculous. I even asked the guy in front of me if this was normal, and he said "yeah" and shook it off like it was nothing. Overall, a pretty miserable experience that my friend and I couldn't wait to get out of. read more