First time here and didn't know what to expect. I'm not a pub or bar person as I still find it a bit intimidating since I don't drink much. Not into beer at all. My friend is performing that night in the band and has invited me and some other friends down to watch them play. That was pretty cool. Great music! The jukebox is also quite fancy with touch screen buttons. No more traditional type of jukebox. There are pool tables and dart boards too. This pub is over 100+ years old, since it opened in 1907. Amazing how it stands the test of time. Drinks are really cheap according to my drinker friends. I had a cocktail though it was more of a mixer and it tasted quite watered down for that. A Malibu rum pineapple drink. Food is available at the other side and it's run by Cat who is very lovely. She's a one woman show - cashier, server and cook. So be patient as it takes at least 30 minutes for the food to arrive. Affordable prices for the typical pub food of burgers, wings, fries. No table service for the pub. Go to the bar to order and get your drink. The staff is good in clearing the tables though. The place is very down to earth with pretty friendly clientele. No airs here. Just real people here for cheap drinks, good music and dancing. Yes! People actually got up and dance when the band started playing at 9 pm. Love it! read more

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We were a table of 6 to 7 people here. We knew someone who was playing in the band the other night and that is why we were there. We were very surprised why the pub was not that busy and especially given the night that we showed up was St. Paddy's day. The music was great. The drinks are very cheap here which was great. The pub is close to a skytrain so if you have a little bit too much to drink, you can easily catch the skytrain. I was surprised why there is not a lot of review on food here. The food is separate from the pub. Meaning they are two separate businesses (different owners) but the food window is accessible through the pub. I got the Mushroom burger for $13 and it came with fries. The burger looks small but the beef paddy was a reasonable thickness and size. The burger was actually quite tasty. If you do eat here, I suggest ordering food first because the wait can be awhile. The chef, server, cashier is the same person. We waited like 45 mins for our food but it was not an issue given that we were a big group and we didn't mind chatting and waiting. The pub has the usual pub smell. read more

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Nice dive bar by the former train station. Parking is available on the side streets if one is lucky. The place is surprisingly large and deep. Half the bar is for seating, while the other half is a games room, with 2 pool tables and a darts section. There is even a mini "stage" area for live music, towards the front windows. The kitchen is accessed by a secret hidden window on the N wall between the pool tables and darts. It's quite easy to miss. Staff were friendly and helpful. Just like a diner. Beer selection isn't the best. Maybe 10 on tap. They were trying to play up the St. Patrick's Day thing, but didn't even have draught Guinness, despite having a sign at the bar. I'm sorry, but cans are not the same. Knock 1 star off. With that said, beer pricing is pretty decent. The food here is surprisingly good. Not sure why other reviewers were ripping on it. Friends and I had the mushroom Swiss burgers and it hit the spot. Decent sized patty, and quite tasty with the fixings. I'd gladly eat it again. The place does get quite loud when there's live music. I'd recommend bringing earplugs. My friends decided to leave early because they couldn't chat anymore. Something to keep in mind. I'm not sure if this place has a schedule. Not a bad place to check out overall. read more

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The Hoe! Epic place with a lot of old timers and stories to be told. Been here a couple times, would recommend.

Howdy folks. Well, there are certain types of reviews that I really enjoy writing and that is of classic American dive bars. Only this gem is not in the good ol' United States. It's north of the international border in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I'm talking about the Ivanhoe Pub. So without any further due let's get into this bad boy. Or bad girl. Whichever you prefer. Hole in the wall dive bars are a dying breed. At least down in the states they are. But I am glad to know they are alive and well in Vancouver. The Ivanhoe Pub in located very close to Pacific Central Station which was very convenient for me as I had a southbound bus to catch. So having a few hours to kill I needed to find me a place to grab me a drink. There is nothing like traveling when you're buzzed. That and Barbara Streisand's "Yentl." WTF! Ok never mind. Lets get back to the Ivanhoe Pub. So after watching a few Canadian Geese cross the street, I headed over to Ivanhoe Pub. As soon as I stepped inside I knew that I was going to dig this place. The decor had Dive Bar written all over it. It even had that classic Dive Bar smell. For those of you who know what I'm talking about, there's nothing quite as refreshing as walking into a bar and getting a refreshing whiff of stale cigarette smoke and booze. It's better than the smell of a new car. I bet ya all thought I was gonna say that it was better than s**. Gotcha! Before I go any further I want to point out how when I say "Dive Bar" I don't mean that in a derogatory fashion. It's actually a groovy thing as the Dive Bar is my bar of choice. But as I mentioned earlier, they are a dying breed. Anyways, I make my way over to the bar. It's not long before I am greeted by my bartender. I failed to get his name. So I'll just refer to him as "Canada Bob." He just looked like a Bob. Now I need to spend a whole paragraph devoted entirely to this guy. This guy had SCTV written all over him. I have a feeling that he was TV actor in a former life. That or a Mountie. He was tall with grey hair and a goatee. And when he spoke it was a pure Canadian accent that came out of that Elkon tunnel. I knew right away that I was gonna dig this guy. Well, not in the way that some of you who know me well might be thinking. I ended up going with my usual which is a margarita on the rocks. Now I had sampled a few Canadian margaritas at some other establishments I visited during my stay in Vancouver. But none of them would live up to the "Nasty" Standard of what a margarita should taste like. But the margarita that Canada Bob served me met the Nasty Standard to a tee. This was the kind of margarita I'd expect to be served at Louie B's in Santa Maria, California. Seriously this margarita set the standard for how a margarita should be served. It had the perfect mixture of ingredients. It was a stiff brew, but not to the point where I was breathing tequila fire. I must tip my hat to Canada Bob for this tasty beverage. In addition to the fine cocktail itself, one of the things that I really digged about Canada Bob was his attentiveness. When my glass was starting to get low he came over to ask me if I wanted another. That's a sign of a great bartender. He should never let your glass go empty before checking to see if you want another drink. So many bartenders leave you empty handed before they even bother asking you if you want another drink. That's something that has always irritated me. But that was not the case with Canada Bob here at the Ivanhoe Pub. All in all I'm going to say that my experience at the Ivanhoe Pub was absolutely fabulous. That means I'll give it a Ten Fingers review. Top notch, I would definitely go back to the Ivanhoe Pub for a good stiff margarita the next time I'm in Vancouver. Hopefully Canada Bob will be working the bar that day. So until next time, may the reviews be "Nasty" and the margaritas be stiff. Alrrrrrrrriiiiiiiight! Happy trails. NASTY NATHANIAL read more

Ivanhoe Pub - Ivanhoe Margarita. The way a good stiff Margarita should taste. #ivanhoepubvancouver #margaritaontherocks #nastynathanial - Pubs Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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This is a great place to go... the service is good they have live bands!! And fries are crunchy ! Lots of fun read more

The Ivanhoe definitely has some redeeming qualities, like comfortable seating and cheaper than cheap drink specials. It's just that it also has certain negative implications, like the filthiness of the floor (and customers), and the fact that there's a good chance that you'll get in a fight. Tough and lowbrow, it earns some of its reputation by being located in the death-metal district of Vancouver. People are usually happy though, and if you can swallow your pride you'll probably have a good time. It's always nice to drink somewhere where everybody else is already drunker than you. Think middle aged and tattooed, but the music is pretty dead-on. Like I said, as long as you don't hold eye contact with any of the regulars for too long you can enjoy yourself and get hammered for less than $15. read more

Ivanhoe Pub - Pubs Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I went to the Ivanhoe when I was 18 (1994?) with some friends. We were in town to see Pink Floyd. When we arrived, this bar was full of old folks watching soccer and drinking pitchers of beer by themselves. i walked with my friends to the arena for the concert and then walked back (I did not have a ticket) to this bar for more drinks (they had let me in already, so why not try again?). When I arrived, the Ivanhoe was a whole new world, gone were the old folks and in were the young hipsters of Vancouver. I met some rad folks, drank a ton of beer (a Loonie a beer was a great deal) and found out about a punk show near by. When I got back to the bar (post punk show) my friends arrived shortly after and we had more beer. Years later, a friend of mine who was on that adventure told me this place got shut down for selling "dregs beer" (which he said was keg dregs re-kegged and sold cheaply to the bar). I had never heard of this practice. I liked the beer that I had at the Ivanhoe and did not think it tasted bad. Seeing that it is still open after all of these years makes me happy. Keep up the good work Ivanhoe. - Micah read more

A cheap bar that's open late and serves food early. The regulars are covered in tattoos and there's always motorcycles parked in the back. I've seen people pull out knives in the back corner of the bar before, so watch out who youre making fun of. Theyre not the only people here on any given night though, a lot of construction workers, old men, and pool sharks make up the roster of a typical night here. This bar used to be a lot more easy going when there was a smoking section. You'll still find yourself talking to strangers going out back to smoke, but people like to keep to themselves with their cheap beers. The beer tastes like water, but for $11 a pitcher, you cant expect much better. There's a jukebox with some OK music selection available, and a live blues cover band that can be a lot of fun to watch on the weekends. There's never any cover to the bar, and the security is of a take-no-shit variety that will have you leave the moment they sense trouble. I am probably more partial to this bar because I live up the street from it, and remember visiting it between bands at the cobalt for cheaper beer and a quieter atmosphere. Now that the cobalt's closed I am betting the clientele will be a bit less mixed, despite the hostel rooms upstairs. read more

Ivanhoe Pub - Pubs Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Let's face it, this is an awesome bar. Sit back and wallow in the authentic local "down to the ground" crowd with an amazing dedication to inebriation. Well worth checking out if you have not been here before or even if you are a Vancouver resident. For Christ sake they serve Strong Bow Cider... read more

Ivanhoe Pub - Strong Bow is awesome all the way down to the lime... - Pubs Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

My first time at this bar, and I can't complain! Cheap drinks and there was a great band performing. Yuppies, check your ego at the door. This is a dive bar in the best way possible. Everyone you talk to keeps it real. read more

This Ivanhoe always catches my eye during a drive into Chinatown. I never knew I would ever step in and I'm so glad I did! The pub offers plenty of comfortable seating and played some laid back music. Bartender was very sweet, drinks were reasonably priced for Vancouver. The highball I ordered tasted mediocre, not sure if it was due to the diet soda I wanted or the alcohol... The atmosphere and crowd was pretty welcoming, talked to a few people while others minded their own business. Definitely recommend coming here at least once, it is a pretty iconic place that few people talk about... read more

My first time in Vancouver, a mans leg fell off and someone grabbed it and was running around the bar with it. I knew this was my new home away bar. Wonderful wonderful read more

Interesting place.... My friend and I popped in here for a quick drink before catching our train. I've been in my fair share of dive bars but we were definitely out of our element here. I think we were the only females in the place besides the bartender. It smelled like stale beer and looked like some patrons had been there for days. One had their dog in the bar and he was right at home. Not a friendly dog as it snapped at some guy trying to say hello to it. We sat directly at the bar and had to wait a good 10 minutes to order 2 beers. The place was pretty quite so I was surprised on the wait time. We quickly drank our beers and left. As we were walking back to the train station, I noticed that this pub is also a hostel. Now it all made sense. It was a sketchy place with some scary looking people in my opinion. read more

Original, unique, and real - the Ivanhoe is straight outta the movies. Think Julian, Ricky, and Bubbles. And especially Ray. (disregard if you aren't into the TPB). Not my usual choice of places to grab a drink, Campagnolo was closed so my buddy and I went here for an early evening Sunday beer after art shopping at an East Hastings gallery. A colorful crowd of mostly guys from across the board: seemingly homeless transients to pool sharks and hustlers to dudes selling "brand new jackets" and old timers to blue collars doing weekend business over a pint, and then there's me and my buddy with nice coats and designer jeans. Not an ounce of judgment came down upon us though - a pleasant surprise considering the vibe in the typical DES dive. The beer was cheap, the poutine tasty, and service smiley and charming. The Ivanhoe definitely has its place - it was crowded and entertaining, clearly doing good business. Go here for a raw local experience, one that will likely be pushed away in the next decade as the gentrification of the area propagates. Proceed with caution if interested in being a spectator tapping on the glass... I expect the freedom judgment is a two-way street, and the Ivanhoe crowd is likely not to be trifled with. Enjoy! read more

There are nearly three thousand residents in the immediate Ivanhoe Pub area who've been concerned over noise levels from the live band performances especially on Sunday afternoons/eves. In the past, the fire doors were set ajar presumably to let in air. Unfortunately, this also flooded the neightbourhood with the band sounds which are actually amplified even louder upward along the corridor of buildings on National Avenue. After years of dealing with the pub and the City on this, there was finally a simple resolution - abide the fire regulations by keeping the fire doors closed, and the neighbourhood hears nothing. However, to get around this, the pub has since installed large windows which slide open with the band playing directly next to them making the situation even worse, So from the immediate community's point of view, the pub is not a very considerate neighbour. read more

I thought this place was going to be hipster chic. I've never been so wrong. read more

A regular's bar. This is definitely a place people who live minutes away go to. You can show up in sweats and a mask and no one would be the wiser. That being said, neighborhood bar = awesomely friendly people! In my search for the bathroom, 2 people went out of their way and ended up walking me to it! So nice. There was even a game on and STILL room to sit and watch it. What? A place in Vancouver that you don't have to show up 2 hours before game-start?! Ridiculous. However... this bar is not for everyone. There are some overly friendly people. Ladies beware because you will probably get hit on so I'd recommend bringing some dudes or dressing up in a garbage bag....but bring dudes. Seriously. Also, the live music is great but anti-social. It's soooo loud you'll be screaming all night long. Don't take your date here but if you're looking for cheap drinks and a place to hang out close to Main Skytrain Station then DOIT! read more

You know how you used to watch those Old West TV shows where the bartenders'd pick up a drunk guy and literally throw him through the swinging doors out on the street? I finally got to see that happen. In real life. And it was at the 'hoe. It was out the back door, mind you, and it was kinda nice to have that fightin'-spirit drunk dude out the place, but I think it told the story of the night. My companion and I were assailed by the too-close tales of an older drunk'n'friendly Quebecois fella with a huge backpack whose breath smelled unfortunately (and almost unforgivably, if not for his friendliness) of sardines. Sardines packed in mustard, I think. He was pretty close. The corona was cheap. The people were real, and regulars. I just haven't found a reason to find my way back. read more

This place is usually a good time, lot's of regulars here and most of them don't seem to mind the newer folk such as myself. I've been coming here for a while now and must say the place is pretty welcoming. Prices here are good, and you can even get a meal AND a beer for under $5. (May have changed now) I know the kitchen has changed since. The food is decent and the prices are affordable. Mostly good vibes & Sundays include a live band from about 5-8. Check it out if you're near Science World or getting off the Greyhound at the Terminal. Mind you, there are obviously better pubs in the area, but for what you get.. I'd say it's a thumbs up. Oh ya, the washrooms can get pretty grimy. Bring sanitizer.. read more

OoooOoo!!! On a whim, i came here a few nights ago for some cheap dinner.... and holy shit, was i ever impressed!! I only remembered seeing signs outside Ivanhoe advertising cheap food, and they weren't kidding! It was 5 bucks for a burger and fries (and all month long in July, on Monday if you buy a beer you get a free dinner!) but it was a damn good burger! The patty actually tasted identical to the ones they serve at Cactus Club, and everything- the bread, lettuce and tomatoes- was really fresh! The little diner also had the same laid back atmosphere i love so much about Ivanhoe. The servers were really friendly and the eating area was super neat and tidy! They also have a tv NOT set to a shitty sports station, which is a nice touch if you're eating there alone. I'm definitely putting Ivanhoe on the top of my list of tasty but cheap dinner options! read more

I generally don't like staying downtown when I'm visiting Vancouver. However, I Priceline'd a deal (4-star for $72/night!) and ended up near the stadium. I'm no Yaletown fan. It reminds me of the shitty Pearl District from my hometown of Portland, Oregon. Except someone how it's even more boring and expensive. So, being my birthday weekend, I wasn't excited about the late night drinking options in the 'hood. I have already done my time with the Cambie and the Railway Club and wanted to try something new. So after a failed attempt at one place, I regrouped and remembered seeing a dive bar earlier in the day that I've always been intrigued by: The Ivanhoe Pub. Home sweet home. The staff was really nice. The house band was fun. I loved everyone dancing. And, there were hot nuts out of a vending machine. My friends and I found a little corner niche to hide out in and just enjoyed the night. They served meat pies and pizza. Didn't try either. Going to the bathroom was an experience. I don't recommend going alone past a certain hour (to the Ivanhoe or the bathroom at the Ivanhoe). If you are looking for a night of good quality people watching (and, I'm not talking about chichi Yaletown) and cheap beer, give the Ivanhoe a try! read more

Great little dive with great drinks and hilarious atmosphere. Not for the faint of heart. Keep in mind, this is Chinatown after all. Recommend for those after a cheap drink and cheeky service. read more

this is for sure an insider tip, the beer is cheap, the people super friendly, the staff is cheerful and friendly. this is a real local bar, not a chi chi place, which charges top dollars because they made some renos and everyone thinks they are so cool.... I am looking forward watching the playoff finals there, Go on a monday- they have a special, ( at this time) you get a free dinner when you buy a drink.... and surprisinly the food was actually great and the kitchen is clean read more

Ivanhoe Pub - BY LAURA ZEBERSKI - Pubs Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

This a great place to drink some cheap draft and play some pool. There's a restaurant, but the food is atrocious. I ordered a beef dip and got an extremely small portion of beef along with a tiny bun and there wasn't any au jus! It was just thick gravy.. the kind usually served with French fries. But the regulars and staff are all awesome. I recommend the place, but I don't recommend the food. read more

My favorite Ivanhoe memory (granted, this was years ago): finally getting up the guts to use the washroom there one night only to find a woman with an ice cooler in the bathroom selling stolen steaks. read more

When I walked in the door, people looked at me like I didn't belong. I probably didn't belong, but it was exactly where I wanted to be. For some reason I had never sat foot in the Ivanhoe before which is a shame because it's up got to be up there for best dive bars in Vancouver. Right away my eye was drawn to a pinball machine. PINBALL! How did I not know there was a machine, let alone Getaway which is a fun one? It's in pretty good shape too, which will now put this place up on the pinball list. It's your basic dive bar set up, there's some sort of food place in the back, which I didn't check out. They had free darts and free pool, the pool may have just been free on the day I went because it was written in chalk on the board, but still a good deal. Plenty of TV's to watch a game on if that's what you're interested in, which I was, as I had come in to watch the rest of the ALCS baseball game. The clientele all seemed like regulars. "Come step into my office." The patron at the bar says to his friend, they exchange insurance papers for their mom's places. They were actually doing business here, like it was their second home. The bartenders were friendly, some of the staff off hours were just hanging out in the place, which seemed like a good sign to me that the Ivanhoe was a pretty stand up establishment. Some guy came around and offered a bag of shoes to us. What struck me was that he wasn't looking for money for the shoes, he just wanted to give them to the Ivanhoe staff, because they've been working hard on their feet. It's the friendly neighborhood bar where every weirdo knows your name, and even though it didn't look like I fit in, I felt at home. Warning: Apparently on Sunday there is a house band that plays, so that will probably dramatically shift the ambience of the place depending on if that's your thing or not. 17/30 Yelp 30 in 30 read more

Going to the Ivanhoe is a terrifying experience. The patrons are unsavory and the staff are unfriendly. Not to mention, eating/drinking at the Ivanhoe is like playing a risky game of Russian roulette with food poisoning. read more

This place is filthy. The beer is super cheap. I went on a Tuesday and it was $2.50 for a beer I believe. There was no need to order at the bar or anything as the waitress just circulated with a tray of beers(draft lager) and pizza slices(Delisio?), which are the only thing really worth ordering. You can just dump some change onto the tray and take what you need. There is a jukebox too which plays lots of classic rock as well as pool tables. This is a really cheap place to get drunk real close to main and hastings. It has a sketchy crowd. It's super friendly though, don't wuss out go and enjoy it and you can have an outrageously fun and relaxed time. OR get some filthy pre drinks. If it's a bit much you can check out The Cobalt or Brickhouse which are both super close. read more

Best cheap night out at the pub- play some pool, meet your buddies, drink your face off, dance at the jukebox and pretty much have the greatest time ever. read more

Oh boy... Is all I can say. This place has some interesting characters. It did seem like a larger pub. If you've gotta go here, go with friends. read more

There's a great line in Ian Tyson's song Summer wages- " In the beer parlours along Main Street, all the dreams of the season get spilled down on the floor". When Tyson wrote that song, it was. loggers and commercial fishermen he was talking about. Well the dreams still get spilled down on the floor here but the clientelle has changed a bit. Walk through the front door and you'll see the usual crowd. Guys with bags under their eyes, tattoos and a thousand yard stare. Half of those people are DES regulars....the othet half are local film industry workers. It's hard to tell the difference sometimes. After a hard day workig on " Hot Tub Time Machine" or some other schlocky movie that's never gonna win an Acadamy award it's a great place to let your VFS dreams spill down on the floor. "Start paying back that student loan? - screw that, I'm gonna get me another Pabst!".....yeah...if that grubby old carpet on the floor could talk..........Shit - I gotta go, I just got a great idea for my next unfinished sceenplay... read more

I've been coming to this pub for 20 years and it's definitely more 'cleaned up' than it used to be. The bar staff is fantastic and friendly, the beer is fresh without any crappy 'unclean lines' taste and the weekend bands are fun. Still miss the 'back in the day crazy 'Hoe with Leigh the bartender dishing out her sassy attitude.... :) read more

Omg we literally smelled urine inside the pub!! Its not very well-maintained and the people coming there are a little scary! The drinks are cheap and decent. The staff is also friendly. The music is awesome!! It was a fun experience going there once but not anymore! read more

This is my favorite bar in the world. Fantastic, friendly patrons and staff. Food is delicious and super cheap. Hot Nuts!!!! read more

Great bar back in 1994-1996 when I was living in Vancouver. Used to be able to leave a cassette tape (remember them?) behind the bar which they would play. Beer $2.00 and tequila shots $1.00. What more so you need? Hope to go back someday for a pint and a game of pool. read more

Its a great atmosphere, cheap beer, the people are always very friendly, the food is pretty good quality for the amount you pay, I was surprised that they have vegetarian options, the live music is fun and there is no cover read more

Management doesn't know how to hire or supervise staff; worst pour of beer I've ever seen, right down the center of the glass. Disgusting. Afternoon crowd is fine, but Clientele goes downhill - gets uglier - after 6pm, as does the service. Food not worth mentioning. read more

I have been frequenting the "Ho" for the last 5 years. What a place to rock out! The metal rules!!! Beers are cheap and the atomosphere is tough but fun!!! The food in particular is quite amazing for the Price! The fry cook (nicknamed Swiggy Cans) has the most amazing techique in his onion Frying! They are the best!!!!! I always order them when I go there!!! The man can fry a mean Onion! The house bands have changed over the years. But I will never forget one house band that really rocked out and the girls (all two of them) went wild for a drummer that would sing the ballads from behind the kit! He wore a moistend white speedo, brooks high tops. The sweetest Richard Marx mullet. And for some odd reason wore a dead rat on his head. He did rock the skins though. Last I heard he went up North to hunt crab. Shame really. Quite the entertainer. But regardless the IvanHoe is highly recommended by me to anyone looking to rock out! Just don't go when Vince Rebel is playing. read more

This is gotta to be the best kept Canucks fan secret ever- First the parking is free- first come first park of course. Then it is just 5-10 minutes walk to the arena. This the best pre or post game bar/pub, ungentrified mind you in the city. It's a pub that right away tells you to leave your Yaletown ego at the door.Good atmosphere. Bathroom needs some TLC after 9pm. read more