The Biltmore Cabaret

Credit: Flickr / Tylor Sherman

The Biltmore Cabaret is unapologetically distinct from Vancouver’s swath of mainstream nightlife venues.

Biltmore Cabaret is unapologetically unique from the swath of mainstream Vancouver nightlife venues

If you’re craving a fun night out but want to escape the bar-star bustle of the Granville Strip, head to the Biltmore Cabaret.

Along with creepy stuffed animal heads, this vintage off-Main Street venue hosts an array of local and touring musicians, top notch DJs, stand-up comedy acts and bring-on-the-Jagerbomb house parties, including retro hip-hop nights. The best nights to attend are Thursday and Friday nights, which feature up-and-coming touring bands for cheap.

The crowd is unpretentious yet trendy, reflecting a place that’s on the cusp of going mainstream yet still under-the-radar enough to be considered cool. The room, which recently underwent extensive renovations, is red, retro and oozes some serious mood.

Originally an island girl hailing from Saltspring, blogger Jess McMahon lives in downtown Vancouver and writes about the random occurrences of everyday life, music, and events through her blog, The Van Hag. She also works as a communications coordinator for the Whistler-based video solutions company, Epic Mountain Video. Blog | Email