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Amsterdam
Pub, La Boca, The Brasserie All three are as one, the outdoor sidewalk cafes of each blending seamlessly to anchor one corner of Whistler’s Village Square and around and up the Village Stroll. Plunked at one of the wee tables outside, you can gaze upon the moveable feast that is Resort Whistler. Each has its own sense of wacked-out décor, with the Brass going for something Paris-ish, La Boca going for god-knows-what, and the Amsterdam offering up an old-world-weary red brick and dark wood café/pub theme. B.B.K.’s Lounge Size doesn’t matter. Okay so it’s too tiny for a pool table, much less a dance floor, but it’s the kind of cosy bar you always thought you’d like to run yourself. The smallest lounge in Whistler seats 20 comfy souls and makes for a nice place to deke in for a quiet tete a tete. Black's Pub Proceed to the windowed east corner under the TV. From here you can see up Whistler Mountain, left over to Blackcomb Mountain, and down on fellow visitors shambling along to points unknown. Sitting at the bar is good, too, but the view is limited to a delicious row of scotches, and we can't be having that, eh? The Boot Pub Whistler's oldest bar, aka "the local’s livingroom." Stalwart purveyor of live music of all sorts. And on alternate days, the ballet. The Boot’s best seat is at the bar stool to the left of the one right on the corner of the bar rail. Face the bar and it's as if you have your very own TV to watch the hockey wars. Spin around and you get a high sightline at the extreme sport vidz flashing on the big screen. For the "ballet"-minded, this best seat is, well, the best seat there is. When the music action is live and on stage, your best seat gives you the periscope perspective that the Boot's unfortunate pillars deny so many others. If the Boot is the local's livingroom then you are the Dad in the comfy chair. The Brew House They have their own brewery putting out an easy half-dozen varieties of sipable suds. The pub side is an easy-going sports bar with a hearty huge fireplace beckoning you from its position of prominence. Knowledgeable locals come here for the mid-week menu specials, including a selection of excellent wood-fired crispy crust pizzas. Buffalo Bill’s Think "cougar country." One of Whistler’s bigger establishments, Bill’s brings ‘em in from an older demographic, but these are folks who know how to shake their assets with the best of them. A deejay spinning the classics and top-40 dominates the entertainment sked, but Bill’s has brought in some serious names to do the live and sweaty music thing. Lots of cruising room to roam about looking for that special someone. Cinnamon Bear Bar The pride of the Delta Whistler Resort Hotel, this large-ish high-ceilinged lounge features two excellent pool tables, a separate darts room, and cerebral sports (backgammon or chess) built into the bar top. Occasional live music of the solo guitarist variety. Too many comfy chairs – and any comfy chair is a good chair. Citta's One of the originals. The best seats are just inside the west side of the doors leading to the deck, or at the east window at the jukebox. Both positions give you a look at all traffic swirling in, out and around Whistler Village and from all directions that the other nearby bars don't offer. The large deck outside is excellent when the weather co-operates for the casual observer to get a lengthy look at the hunk or sweet thing striding up the Stroll (depending on your inclination). The Crab Shack It's Sunday night, or Wednesday night, or fight night, or Hockey Night in Canada night. Either way, what you want to do is get the best seat: at the bar beside the server's pick up station. You are at close and easy viewing distance to the big screen, being perched on the bar stool gives you an edge to observe the impassioned antics of the musicians over to the stage, and because customers have to pass you by to get drinked or washroomed, you get to meet them all, should you so wish. Crystal Lounge If you perch along the banquette down from the bar, you are rewarded with scanning power of the room and eye contact potential with the occasional solo performer who knows every song ever written. Finger food menu. Dubh Linn Gate Och man, tha’s a fine pint. An authentic old Irish pub imported to the new sod, there are all sorts of crags and crannies to huddle in. The Guinness-owned Gate has a draft lineup of Irish and British barley sandwiches that’ll have you yodeling "The Wild Colonial Boy" in no time. Live entertainment by lads and lasses to put you in the Emerald Isle mood. Dusty’s This is the phoenix, risen anew. For nearly 35 years, Dusty’s was the anchor for Whistler Mountain’s gonzo après scene. The last day of the thoroughly worn-out bar last April was the biggest party of the year for Whistler locals and all those who’ve come to love what we do best in slopeside snowdom. Then they tore the beer-soaked bugger down to make room for the next big thing. Whistler/Blackcomb has put the boots to construction crews all summer and fall to get the new Dusty’s – and the enveloping Intrawest compound of luxury condo hotel and boutique shops – ready for opening by mid-December. Classic bar food on the menu, but augmented by serious Deep South-style barbecue. Get ready to lick your fingers. FireRock Lounge The place to relax at the Westin Resort & Spa. Intimate in a blonde wood and river rock décor. Cuddle by the fireplace over a brandy or two. Occasional soft guitar noodling by a local performer. Garfinkel's The always-packed gallery is before you as you make your way into one of Whistler’s largest establishments. Sitting high and pretty gives you a wide scan of the rest of the joint, front row seats to see the hustlin' bartender action and access to a steady stream of fellow Garfers parading by. But what, you want to know, is a "Garfinkel?" To find out, take a gander at the large collection of famous people mug shots who thank him many little favours. The GLC Also known as the "Garibaldi Lift Company" after the original name of the corporate hoo-haas who ran Whistler Mountain’s slopes ‘way back in 1966. Look for the aluminum can gondola hanging at the entrance hard by the foot of the Village side of Whistler Mountain. The only ski-in/ ski-out bar in the Village for that après craving of liquids and touch-friendly bar food. Hoz’s Pub The locals’ hangout in Whistler Creekside. Bar menu is a simpler list of the fine fare at the Creekside Grillroom next door. Eat better for less. After the work day’s done, a good place to find a plumber or tradesman to fix/build whatever . . . as long as it’s not a broken heart. Well, maybe even that. The Listel Wine Bar Next to the Bear Foot Bistro, this quiet bar is as good as its name: wine, wine, wine. Plonking yourself at the bar means you can keep a line of quizzing going with the bartender pouring those oh-so-tasty glasses of grape joy. Bar menu comes from the gold-star quality of the Bear Foot restaurant, or you can order from the main menu. The Longhorn Saloon Not quite the yeehaw bar it was when country&western line dancing was the rage, it still rocks hard during the après hours. A honkin’ great outdoor patio heated by those genius propane trees makes lounging on this concrete beach the place to be. Pool tables indoors and out, plus a table tennis field until it’s time to boogie. Menu is burger-bar food and go-big-or-go-home sandwiches. The Mallard Lounge Whistler’s most upscale of hotel lounges. Located in the Chateau Whistler, this resort’s most upscale hotel. While a jazzer tickles the ivories, chit-chat of the day’s adventures mixes with glances out the wall of glass toward the lower slopes of Blackcomb Mountain and the far slopes of Whistler Mountain. Las Margaritas Lounge It’s haunted, for one thing. You never know who you’ll meet in Whistler where the world comes to play, but at this place it could be the occasional appearance of a ghostly woman who seems rather disturbed about something. Maybe it’s because you haven’t bought her a round. Hop to it, ghost buster. Maxx Fish The funkiest-looking bar in town, this place set the standard when it opened with its big city ultra cool décor. Park yourself along the bar closest to the dance floor to scan the masses, or dock along the other side of the bar to cement the deal. An assortment of latest music deejays play the week, but Mr. Fish sometimes brings in something live - breakers to jazz, worldbeat to trash-n’-thrash - to tickle your ears. Merlin’s The flagship bar of Whistler/Blackcomb on the village side, its sun-soaked monster patio has launched a billion schooners of beer during the après hours. Infamous through spring skiing season and the hotter summer weekends as the home of rousing guitarists who know every popular song ever written and will get you doing some crazy-assed things to earn a jug of draft. Basic bar food menu, but where the nachos are king. Moe Joe's Go to the far side of the bar. Sit yourself down at what would be the right back corner if you look at the stage, but one seat to the left of the seat beside the pillar.From here you command a view of the entire bar, the stage and its striving musicians, the fast and furious action of the bartenders, and yet you also have room to yak it up with surrounding bar mates. Monk’s Grill All Beverley, all the time. Classy joint to shoot some stick, get all warm and fuzzy by the fireplace, or look deep into your partner’s eyes to see how much hunger resides there . . . for you or for dinner next door. Savage Beagle Bar Go upstairs. Get one of the bartenders to crank up one of the Beagle's excellent martinis (shaken, not stirred) and plump your buns down on its best seat: halfway down the bar rail. Look worldly and the world looks at you. Tapley’s Pub Long-term locals of all sorts can be found here, especially at the end of the working day. Need a plumber? Electrician? Drywaller? They’re all here, as well as those who’ve climbed the corporate ladder but remember their blue-collar roots. The first bar to open in the central village back in the late 1970s, it is the least resort-looking one of the bunch. Hefty helpings from a burger and beef dip-themed menu. Tommy Africa's Jungle up at this bar's best seat which would be, if you are on the dance floor, to the left of the stage. The main bar side is too hectic to qualify and the "other" side of the main bar is too quiet. Nope, you want the best seat and stage-left is it. Settle back for some big game viewing. As for trolling for swinging singles, any veteran fisherman will tell you sometimes the calm pools are where the trophy fish are. Dig it |