Once the sun hits, the open area, picnic table-covered back lot of The Boxcar is instantly packed with friends – furry or otherwise. The laid-back Main Street drinkery is the perfect place to pair conversation with a local craft beer or on-tap Negroni, all while giving pets to your pup. Bonus points for the rotating DJ nights showcasing anything from minimalist house to Dad-rock, not to mention the occasional soundcheck coming from The Cobalt next door.
Certainly not a secret anymore, Boxcar is still a unique place for a drink in an interesting part of town. Situated on Main Street just south of the Georgia Viaduct, this long, narrow space used to be a covered driveway alongside the Cobalt Hotel. Today it’s flanked by dive bar/music venue The Cobalt and primo pizza-slingers Pizzeria Farina, for a combination that delivers great food, drinks and music. Boxcar is decidedly more beer-forward than the rest of this list, with 24 taps lining one wall, but the bartenders can mix up whatever you need if a brew isn’t your style.
The Boxcar is a new bar that just opened in the neighbourhood right in between Pizza Farina and The Cobalt. I loved it the minute I stepped inside. It’s a cool space with a long narrow bar, a great beer selection and hip-hop music on the stereo. If I drank more and I had more time after teaching classes I’d go there every day!