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Go Canucks, Go! Vancouver Chefs and Bartenders Share Their Top Places to Watch Hockey

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With a TV in almost every bar and restaurant in Vancouver, at first glance it can seem like there are no bad choices when it comes to watching the Canucks play while nursing a cold one... But who has the best wings? The finest choice of beers? And - more importantly - the volume turned up high on game nights? We asked a panel of Vancouver's best bartenders, chefs and industry insiders - and in no particular order - here is their map of the best places to watch a game AND get great food and drink.
Got a suggestion for a bar or restaurant you think deserves to be added? Drop us a line or leave a comment.


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The Keg Steakhouse & Bar

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Marc-Andres Choquette, executive chef at Homer St and Tableau: Whenever possible, I like to watch the game live at Rogers Arena -- nothing beats being there! And my second favorite place for watching the game is from the comfort of my own home. But when I'm not at Rogers Arena, or kicking back on my couch, I like to pull up a seat at the bar at the Keg. For me, Hockey Night in Canada often means watching the game, from a bar stool, while enjoying the Keg's Prime Rib Dinner and the Keg's Caesar.

St. Augustine's Craft Brew House & Kitchen

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Chef de Cuisine Nathan Lowey of Campagnolo Restaurant: If I ever have a night off that coincides with a Canucks Game (home game nights are especially busy at Campagnolo), I would head over to St. Augustines on the Drive. They show the game but it's not your typical sports bar; it's a cool neighbourhood pub. They have over 60 taps that change regularly. Right now, I would go in just to drink R&B Brewing Co.'s Spruce Tip Stout.

Via Tevere

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Ned Bell, Chef at YEW Four Seasons: Whenever I get the chance I'd watch the game from the bar at Rogers Arena's Private Box, which has quite the spread; Cheese, Charcuterie, Sushi, Seafood, Rib Eye, Pasta, Desserts and and an open bar; it's the best way to enjoy the game. But I don't get to roll like that all the time! So my go-to is Via Tevere, the arugula salad and then the Capriccosa are what I always get and my boy Max gets the Margherita with Buffalo Mozza!

Tap & Barrel

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Shaun Layton, bartender at L'Abbatoir: The Tap and Barrel has an amazing array of TVs with sound for Sunday football, and (usually, my biggest pet peeve) the bar staff actually know what games to have on! Went somewhere close to there recently and had to painstakingly tell the staff 5+ times to change the snuggie infomercial to the Seahawks game.

L'Abattoir

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Chef Bill McCaig, owner of Nicli Antica Pizzeria: If I’m going to watch the game at a restaurant, I’ll go to L’Abattoir and grab a spot at their bar. The great part about watching the game there is the game is not the focal point of the evening, sure you keep up to date on the score, but the real deal is the conversation, the excellent cocktails and the food. I love the beetroot salad, the sweetbreads, the mushrooms and the pork shoulder. That being said, Chef Lee Cooper isn’t going to steer you wrong, so I’m always happy to check his new creations when they hit the menu. The same can be said for the cocktail menu, and I’d follow that up with any of the wines they offer by the glass or a Lagunatas ale.

The Charles Bar

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Andrew Wong, owner of Wild Rice: I don’t get much chance to get away to watch a game but when I do; I like to go to The Charles Bar in the Woodwards Building. It’s just around the corner from Wild Rice and down the block from where I live. It’s a great neighbourhood place filled with locals. The interior is warm, the staff friendly and there are personal-sized video screens in all the booths so you don’t have to try to see the game from across a crowded room. I’ll order nachos and a draft. Nachos aren’t part of my ‘usual’ diet so I like to choose something I don’t normally have. The Charles offers some local brews on tap and I am all about supporting local.

Score On Davie

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JS Dupuis, Bar Manager Homer St. Cafe & Bar/ Tableau Bar & Bistro: If I'm not at Tableau or Homer St., I like to go watch the game at 'The Score' on Davie and Jervis. I like 'The Score' because they have a good beers and great pub food. I always order the hot wings as they are THE BEST in the city."

Red Card Sports Bar

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Chef Faizal Kassam, Executive Chef, Cibo Trattoria & Uva Wine Bar: I’m a diehard Canucks fan, but life in a kitchen prevents me from catching most of the games. Luckily, Red Card shares a building with Cibo and Uva, so I’m at least able to pop in from time to time. They have a great menu of Italian comfort food and a large selection of draft and import beers. They also have a tonne of hi-def screens, two huge projectors and actually play the sound, which is harder to find than you’d think!

The Famous Warehouse

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Karl Gregg of Big Lou’s and Two Chefs: The Famous Warehouse on Granville is my go-to place to watch the Canucks. It's got a great atmosphere, with lots of TVs and on game nights it’s all about the cold Sols and Dos Equis beers. On the food side, seven flavours of wings and 15 cent wings on Wednesday can’t be beat.

Ceili's Irish Pub

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John Cooper, co-owner Cuchillo's: I like it here because you've got that raucous Kits crowd and they pull a great Guinness and serve a killer vegeburger.

LOCAL Public Eatery Kitsilano

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Neil Charlesworth, Beverage Manager/Mixologist- Joe Fortes: I love the beer selection, atmosphere and the crowd at The Local in Kitslano. I usually stick with their sandwiches, my favourite is the Tuna Club. For drinks, if I am not drinking beer, their classic Caesar in a boot is a must!

Coppertank Grill

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Chef de Cuisine Scott Henderson from MARKET by Jean-Georges: They have a great burger and beer specials, and large HD screens for primo viewing. If you're going with groups of more than 4 people your table gets a player card and if your player scores a goal, you get a jug of beer!

Hog Shack Cook House

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Jay Jones - Eater Bartender of the Year: This BBQ haven is completely underrated. Not the first thought for those living in central Vancouver due to travel, but worth the transit route-planning to get there. Vying for best BBQ in the GVRD, great craft brew (local and Pacific Northwest) on tap, awesome owner/operators (John and Alan) and all Canucks games are broadcast from multiple TVs with full audio. Get away from the city and get lost in quaint little Steveston for an evening. Hogshack takes care of you with honest service and fantastic quality food with great beers. John and Alan welcome you into their home with open arms. I would go there for every game if I could. BBQ, beer and Canucks is a winning formula. Just go there and thank me later.

The Keg Steakhouse & Bar

Marc-Andres Choquette, executive chef at Homer St and Tableau: Whenever possible, I like to watch the game live at Rogers Arena -- nothing beats being there! And my second favorite place for watching the game is from the comfort of my own home. But when I'm not at Rogers Arena, or kicking back on my couch, I like to pull up a seat at the bar at the Keg. For me, Hockey Night in Canada often means watching the game, from a bar stool, while enjoying the Keg's Prime Rib Dinner and the Keg's Caesar.

St. Augustine's Craft Brew House & Kitchen

Chef de Cuisine Nathan Lowey of Campagnolo Restaurant: If I ever have a night off that coincides with a Canucks Game (home game nights are especially busy at Campagnolo), I would head over to St. Augustines on the Drive. They show the game but it's not your typical sports bar; it's a cool neighbourhood pub. They have over 60 taps that change regularly. Right now, I would go in just to drink R&B Brewing Co.'s Spruce Tip Stout.

Via Tevere

Ned Bell, Chef at YEW Four Seasons: Whenever I get the chance I'd watch the game from the bar at Rogers Arena's Private Box, which has quite the spread; Cheese, Charcuterie, Sushi, Seafood, Rib Eye, Pasta, Desserts and and an open bar; it's the best way to enjoy the game. But I don't get to roll like that all the time! So my go-to is Via Tevere, the arugula salad and then the Capriccosa are what I always get and my boy Max gets the Margherita with Buffalo Mozza!

Tap & Barrel

Shaun Layton, bartender at L'Abbatoir: The Tap and Barrel has an amazing array of TVs with sound for Sunday football, and (usually, my biggest pet peeve) the bar staff actually know what games to have on! Went somewhere close to there recently and had to painstakingly tell the staff 5+ times to change the snuggie infomercial to the Seahawks game.

L'Abattoir

Chef Bill McCaig, owner of Nicli Antica Pizzeria: If I’m going to watch the game at a restaurant, I’ll go to L’Abattoir and grab a spot at their bar. The great part about watching the game there is the game is not the focal point of the evening, sure you keep up to date on the score, but the real deal is the conversation, the excellent cocktails and the food. I love the beetroot salad, the sweetbreads, the mushrooms and the pork shoulder. That being said, Chef Lee Cooper isn’t going to steer you wrong, so I’m always happy to check his new creations when they hit the menu. The same can be said for the cocktail menu, and I’d follow that up with any of the wines they offer by the glass or a Lagunatas ale.

The Charles Bar

Andrew Wong, owner of Wild Rice: I don’t get much chance to get away to watch a game but when I do; I like to go to The Charles Bar in the Woodwards Building. It’s just around the corner from Wild Rice and down the block from where I live. It’s a great neighbourhood place filled with locals. The interior is warm, the staff friendly and there are personal-sized video screens in all the booths so you don’t have to try to see the game from across a crowded room. I’ll order nachos and a draft. Nachos aren’t part of my ‘usual’ diet so I like to choose something I don’t normally have. The Charles offers some local brews on tap and I am all about supporting local.

Score On Davie

JS Dupuis, Bar Manager Homer St. Cafe & Bar/ Tableau Bar & Bistro: If I'm not at Tableau or Homer St., I like to go watch the game at 'The Score' on Davie and Jervis. I like 'The Score' because they have a good beers and great pub food. I always order the hot wings as they are THE BEST in the city."

Red Card Sports Bar

Chef Faizal Kassam, Executive Chef, Cibo Trattoria & Uva Wine Bar: I’m a diehard Canucks fan, but life in a kitchen prevents me from catching most of the games. Luckily, Red Card shares a building with Cibo and Uva, so I’m at least able to pop in from time to time. They have a great menu of Italian comfort food and a large selection of draft and import beers. They also have a tonne of hi-def screens, two huge projectors and actually play the sound, which is harder to find than you’d think!

The Famous Warehouse

Karl Gregg of Big Lou’s and Two Chefs: The Famous Warehouse on Granville is my go-to place to watch the Canucks. It's got a great atmosphere, with lots of TVs and on game nights it’s all about the cold Sols and Dos Equis beers. On the food side, seven flavours of wings and 15 cent wings on Wednesday can’t be beat.

Ceili's Irish Pub

John Cooper, co-owner Cuchillo's: I like it here because you've got that raucous Kits crowd and they pull a great Guinness and serve a killer vegeburger.

LOCAL Public Eatery Kitsilano

Neil Charlesworth, Beverage Manager/Mixologist- Joe Fortes: I love the beer selection, atmosphere and the crowd at The Local in Kitslano. I usually stick with their sandwiches, my favourite is the Tuna Club. For drinks, if I am not drinking beer, their classic Caesar in a boot is a must!

Coppertank Grill

Chef de Cuisine Scott Henderson from MARKET by Jean-Georges: They have a great burger and beer specials, and large HD screens for primo viewing. If you're going with groups of more than 4 people your table gets a player card and if your player scores a goal, you get a jug of beer!

Hog Shack Cook House

Jay Jones - Eater Bartender of the Year: This BBQ haven is completely underrated. Not the first thought for those living in central Vancouver due to travel, but worth the transit route-planning to get there. Vying for best BBQ in the GVRD, great craft brew (local and Pacific Northwest) on tap, awesome owner/operators (John and Alan) and all Canucks games are broadcast from multiple TVs with full audio. Get away from the city and get lost in quaint little Steveston for an evening. Hogshack takes care of you with honest service and fantastic quality food with great beers. John and Alan welcome you into their home with open arms. I would go there for every game if I could. BBQ, beer and Canucks is a winning formula. Just go there and thank me later.