Canada is a country that’s famous for its picturesque natural scenery, unique culture, and friendly locals. The last point I’d exceptionally important because it makes Canada one of the best destinations in the world for incredible nightlife experiences!
If you’re planning to head to Canada soon and are wondering where best to have a drink, enjoy live music, or simply party the night away, check out this guide on the top party cities in Canada, and the best establishments to visit when there!
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1. Montreal
Located along the east coast of Quebec Province, Montreal is best known for its charming European vibes, elegant architecture, and colorful culture. It is also the second-largest French-speaking city in the world and one of Canada’s most popular destinations, thanks to its vibrant culinary scene.
What’s more, Montreal is, unsurprisingly, widely regarded as one of the best party cities in Canada. The city offers a plethora of vibrant nightlife spots to check out, from upbeat dance clubs like Stereo to ambient, themed bars like Café Campus and Candi Bar.
If you’re feeling lucky, you can also head over to the Casino de Montréal where you can try your luck, or head to the casino’s Valet Bar where live DJ performances keep the party going. For those who like a classier evening out in Montreal, visit the city during summer so you can attend the famous Montreal Jazz Festival!
2. Quebec City
In the mornings, Quebec City’s old town district, with its cobblestone streets, is an enticing destination for culture vultures to explore. After all, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to many unique attractions, galleries, and historical landmarks that exude a romantic European ambiance.
After sundown, the same area transforms into a bustling nightlife district, making it one of the best places to party in Canada! The streets of Basse Ville and Haute Ville in particular come alive with plenty of charming street performances and vibrant bars!
Some of the must-visit nightlife spots in Quebec City include Pub St-Alexandre, an old-school English tavern with great beer and live music; L’Oncle Antoine, a unique bar set in a historical landmark and serves local microbrews; and Bar Ste-Angèle, a popular cocktail bar with a warm atmosphere.
Meanwhile, slightly further away from the old town district, you’ll find nightlife spots like Le Dagobert, a multi-floor dance club with plenty of fun vibes, and Le Sacrilege, arguably Quebec City’s most popular drinking hole!
3. Vancouver
Mention Vancouver, and most people will instantly think of scenic hiking routes, picturesque natural scenery, and sunny beaches. Some may even think of snowy winters thanks to the city being home to Canada’s best ski resorts.
However, something that many travelers sometimes forget is that Vancouver is also one of the best party cities in Canada! Gastown and Granville Street, in particular, are popular nightlife hotspots where you’ll find plenty of clubs, bars, and cafes to keep you occupied until the sun comes back up!
Ask any local in Vancouver and they’ll tell you that The Roxy Cabaret (or just The Roxy) is a must-visit for party-goers in Canada, thanks to its high-octane clubbing nights, while The Lamplighter offers a more laid-back night out filled with classic arcade games and ambient mood lighting.
Don’t forget to also grab a few drinks at Vancouver’s longest-serving bar — Cambie Bar!
4. Victoria
Another top destination to party in British Columbia is the capital city, Victoria, where blissful city parks and gardens meet charming, well-preserved heritage buildings.
During the day, I recommend hunting down the best eats at the Victoria Public Market, taking a stroll amidst beautiful floral displays at the Butchart Gardens, and exploring the ever-popular Beacon Hills Park.
At sundown, embark on an epic bar-hopping journey through the city! Unsurprisingly, given the city’s history, you’ll find plenty of English pubs where you can enjoy a good pint and comforting pub food. Some of the best pubs include Batholomew’s Pub, Yates Street Taphouse, and Garrick’s Head Pub, one of the oldest English pubs in the country.
One unique experience in Victoria is the Pedal Pub Crawl, a curated tour where you basically pedal a bike bar through the city’s top nightlife spots!
5. Toronto
I don’t think anyone would be surprised to discover that Toronto is one of the best party cities in Canada. After all, this bustling metropolis is the largest city in the country!
The sheer size of Toronto is well-matched by the diverse experiences it offers travelers. Whether it be checking out vibrant street markets, visiting cultural attractions, catching a theatre performance, or heading out to Niagara Falls, the capital of Ontario is a treasure trove of endless activity, even at night!
The best party spots in Toronto are the areas around King West and Queen West, where you’ll find many of the city’s most famous nightlife establishments. One of the most unique themed bars you’ll find there is SPIN, a drinking establishment where you can find 12 Olympic-sized ping pong tables! I don’t know about you, but alcohol + ping pong sounds like a memorable night for many, many reasons!
If you prefer more conventional bars and clubs, check out REBEL and the Lula Lounge, which is famous for its Latin-themed nights and Jazz performances.
6. Ottawa
Compared to Toronto, Ottawa is a pretty small city, but don’t let its size fool you for even a second! Whether it be exploring the city on a leisurely bike ride, sailing on the Rideau Canal, or hiking up Parliament Hill for a mesmerizing view, Ottawa has plenty of attractions to keep visitors occupied.
The same can definitely be said of its nightlife scene. In fact, Ottawa is, in my opinion, one of the best, underrated party cities in Canada! Once the sun sets, you can dance the night away at Babylon, party to your heart’s content at City at Night, or chill with your friends at Mulligans Golf Bar.
Even avid gamers will be able to find something to do at night in Ottawa, thanks to Level One Game Pub, which features comforting pub food, beer, cocktails, and over 1,000 video games to play!
7. Kingston
Yes, I admit, Kingston isn’t as well-known a city as Toronto or Ottawa, but this underrated city in Ontario is the perfect definition of a hidden gem. The beautiful city, located on the scenic Lake Ontario, is home to many majestic 19th-century limestone buildings, earning it the nickname, “Limestone City”.
For nightlife goers, Kingston is one of the best lesser-known places to party in Canada, with a bustling nightlife scene punctuated with ambient bars like The Mansion, where you can sip on beer and enjoy live music on an outdoor patio, and The Toucan, an Irish pub with chill vibes and good comfort food.
If you want to enjoy a night out by the waterfront, hit up BLU Martini, a lively cocktail bar that also serves classic pub food!
8. Hamilton
Another one of the top secret party cities in Canada is Hamilton, a port city in Ontario that’s located on the western tip of Lake Ontario. Like Kingston, Hamilton is a lesser-known city that houses mesmerizing travel gems, such as The Niagara Escarpment, a massive forested ridge that divides the city in the middle.
Even when it comes to nightlife spots in Canada, Hamilton has plenty to offer. From cocktail bars like Bar Sazerac to a vintage arcade bar (The Arcade) where beer and classic games flow, this lovely city is sure to keep you busy even after the sun goes down!
9. Calgary
While Ontario is home to many of the most well-known party cities in Canada, I personally prefer enjoying the nightlife in the province of Alberta, specifically in Calgary.
During the day, tourists often flock to Heritage Park to dive into the rich history of the city or visit Prince’s Island Park or the Calgary Zoo. At night, however, is when I feel the city truly comes alive, with its plethora of nightlife hotspots that not only offer plenty of fun but also reflect the city’s western cowboy culture.
One of my personal favorite party spots in Calgary is the Commonwealth Bar & Stage, a high-energy establishment housed in a two-story warehouse. Expect a rowdy atmosphere, plenty of drinks to go around, and lots of music to get your feet moving. to drink and two-step the night away. Alternatively, you could head to Cowboys Dance Hall for a real, old-fashion western-style hoedown!
10. Edmonton
With its quaint atmosphere and leisurely pace of life, you’d be forgiven for not knowing that Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta. And yet, this down-to-earth city is in fact the province’s main trade and culture hub.
While the city doesn’t have world-famous attractions like other capital cities on this list, it does have a respectable nightlife scene that makes it another one of the underrated party cities in Canda to check out.
Start your evening by sipping on cocktails at the classy Bar Clementine before heading to El Cortez for some vibrant live music. For those who really want to let loose, head to Y Afterhouse, arguably THE most famous nightclub in Edmonton. You can literally dance the night away because it opens at 1am and closes the next morning!
Fun fact: If you visit Edmonton in August, you can experience the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, the largest and oldest of its kind in North America! Expect plenty of exciting performances from artists around the world and a party atmosphere to match!
11. Halifax
Statistically speaking, Halifax is the best party city in Canada. That’s because it has the most number of pubs per capita in the whole country!
But before painting the town red, I recommend checking out some of the attractions in this coastal city steeped in Celtic traditions. Not only are there plenty of maritime museums and historical gems (like the Halifax Citadel and Old Town of Lunenburg) to see, but Halifax is also the starting point from which to discover the best natural wonders in Nova Scotia.
After a day of exploring, head to Argyle Street to party through the night! The most popular night spot here is definitely The Dome, a massive nightclub with vibrant live music and plenty of drinks to go around. It’s actually the most common “first stop” on bar-hopping itineraries!
You could also head to Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub to experience the Celtic cultures that are embedded in the city or visit The Lower Deck, an ambient waterfront bar offering chill vibes and fun times.
12. Winnipeg
Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba Province is a city surrounded by green and natural allure. This quaint destination is famous for offering an intimate experience of Canada’s polar bears, rustic escapes to the wilderness, and plenty of green spaces in the city, nestled between ambient landmarks like the St. Boniface Cathedral in its French Quarter.
More than that, Winnipeg is also one of the lesser-known party cities in Canada. What makes the nightlife in Winnipeg unique is the city’s exciting live music scene, where local performers entertain the crowds all night long at the historic Exchange District.
Here, you can visit King’s Head, one of the city’s oldest pubs in the area, or have a drink at High And Lonesome Club, a relaxing Blues bar with nice ambiance. For something more check out the unique, real-life video games-themed Activate Games!
13. Charlottetown
Like Winnipeg, Charlottetown is a destination that is better known for its mesmerizing scenery and cultural heritage. This quaint town on Prince Edward Island featured majestic Victorian architecture, a diverse culinary scene that heavily features fresh seafood, and plenty of cultural events throughout the year.
Surprisingly, this small town doubles up as one of Canada’s top nightlife spots too, featuring a plethora of pubs, taprooms, and beer gardens. For those who like to enjoy a few drinks in an alfresco setting, head to Hunter’s Ale where you can enjoy free-flow beer on two outdoor patios. You could also drink at Craft Beer Corner, where you can find over 20 different types of craft beer.
Meanwhile, Peake’s Quay offers great seafood along with spectacular harborfront views and memorable live performances.
14. Fredericton
The lovely city of Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick, is another underrated party city in Canada that offers visitors unique nightlife experiences often not found anywhere else. One such example is Unplugged, a board game cafe and bar with plenty of recreational activities, an escape room, and, most importantly, a wide selection of drinks to set the mood.
For those who want to dance the night away, head to Twenty/20 Club for live DJ music and happy hour sessions. You could also catch an outdoor movie under the stars or embark on a night hike through ambient locations.
During the day, if you’re not already hungover, take the time to explore some of Fredericton’s best natural gems, such as Odell Park and Killarney Lake Park.
15. Regina
Saskatchewan Province is one of the most rustic locations in Canada, punctuated with vast grasslands, untouched natural scenery, and idyllic lakes and rivers. Regina, the capital city, provides a gateway to explore these natural vistas, and at night, laidback nightlife spots to chill at.
Some of the must-visit spots in this party city in Canada include Habano’s Regina, which offers live Latino music, themed events, and a warm atmosphere. For a wider selection of beers and ales, head to O’Hanlon’s Bar, a traditional Irish pub that also serves comfort food.
For hard-core partying, head to The Lot, where live music lounges, fun cocktails, and DJ performances dominate the nights from Thursdays to Saturdays.
16. Saskatoon
While Regina is the capital city of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon is the largest city by population and area. Naturally, this makes Saskatoon one of the more underrated party cities in Canada.
A popular option is Six Twelve Lounge (now Carver’s Steakhouse & Lounge), where you can expect a relaxing atmosphere, a mixture of classic and creative new cocktails, and upbeat music. Another top nightlife spot is Red Zone Premium Sports Bar, where you can enjoy a variety of sports broadcasts.
Meanwhile, for high-octane partygoers, Hunter’s Eastview Bowl is a unique establishment where, apart from late-night partying, you can also enjoy some bowling!
17. St. John’s
The lovely coastal town of St. John’s in Newfoundland is where one can enjoy picturesque coastal views, rustic natural scenery, and hiking trails dotted with iconic natural and man-made landmarks, such as The Cape Spear Lighthouse.
At night, this quiet town turns into one of the most surprising nightlife spots in Canada. George Street, in particular, houses many ambient bars and clubs to keep partygoers occupied.
For exciting DJ performances and cheap drinks, try the popular Shamrock City Pub, or Karaoke Kops, a unique karaoke bar with excellent drinks and fun karaoke rooms. For a more energetic night out, Velvet Club and Lounge is the top LGBT-friendly bar in town and features a lively atmosphere and reasonably-priced drinks.
Final thoughts
And there you have it: 17 of the best party cities in Canada for nightlife lovers to check out! Whether you’re a bar and lounge drinker or like dancing the night away, Canada has plenty of nightlife hotspots to keep you occupied. And, if you’re looking for more fun nightlife spots on your travels, check out our pick of party cities in Spain and in Europe too!
