The holiday season leaves space for your favourite drinks
Lea Krusemeyer (She/Her) // Staff Writer
Angelica Blanch (she/her) // Illustrator
Imagine this — it is a winter day in Vancouver and you are supposed to meet your friends for drinks at a new restaurant. After making your way through rain and snow, you finally arrive at the location and order your first drink, after a taste test you realize it is horrible and all your efforts of making it to that new spot were for nothing. T avoid that, here is a list of drinks and spots in Vancouver that will not disappoint anyone’s taste buds.
First, let us begin with a classic. The Vancouver Christmas Market with its broad variety of vendors has multiple spots in which visitors can purchase Glühwein and warm apple cider. A nice cup of Glühwein on a rainy day has brightened up many moods, including my own. The mixture of warm red wine, spices and fruits warms one up from the inside and it has a decently high percentage of liquor in it, so a little buzz is guaranteed.
Also available at the Christmas market is warm apple cider, which is great for people who prefer non-alcoholic beverages but still want to experience a sense of Christmas. Visiting the Vancouver Christmas Market costs $15 to $20 and that only covers entry but the experience of walking from vendor to vendor and being able to try a variety of drinks and food are well worth the price. I went there last year and it was the second-best apple cider I ever tried, right after the one my mom used to make.
If you and your friends prefer to stay warm and like to have a full restaurant experience while sipping your wintery drinks, the H Tasting Lounge in downtown Vancouver offers a variety of Christmas-inspired drinks every winter season. Last year they used Disney Christmas movies as their inspiration for their winter menu, and I am sure they will be just as creative this year. This place came to my mind because my best friend and I accidentally ended up there once after putting the wrong name into Google Maps, so naturally, we had to try most of their drinks since we were already there. This might not be a specifically holiday-related drink, but their Espresso Martinis are to die for.
Now if you are looking for a real escape from the rainy and dark weather, the Shameful Tiki Room is the place to go. Located on Main Street in East Vancouver, it is an exotic and tropical escape. I got invited there once by a friend and nothing could have prepared me for the decor and overall vibe of the place. There are no windows, so once you enter you lose all feeling of time and weather, and the decor makes you believe you are on a tropical vacation to Hawaii.
It is my favorite bar in Vancouver and the drinks are so good. No matter if you are down for a night of drinks or rather sip on a mocktail, Shameful Tiki Room has it all on its menu. The “Designated Driver”, which just as its name suggests, is a mocktail, made out of pineapple, soda, and cinnamon, is my friend group’s favorite drink — the cinnamon gives it a little bit of a Christmas taste.
Exploring different venues is definitely a memorable experience to try with your friends, but in the end, what matters the most during the holiday season is comfort and togetherness. Regardless of the quality of the drinks, what truly matters is the company you keep.