Vancouver’s hip east side neighbourhood, Commercial Drive is a mash of immigrant and alternative lifestyles. Dubbed the city’s “Little Italy,” the Drive has its share of amazing pizza and pasta places among the many other ethnic influences — Caribbean, Cuban, Mexican, Japanese, and Middle Eastern cuisines are all well represented. The Drive also plays host to Vancouver’s hippies and forward thinkers, making it a fascinating eclectic region to explore.
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Cannibal Cafe
3-6pm (Mon-Fri)
$5 sleeves of Blue Buck Pale Ale, 1516 Lager, Parallel 49 Gypsy Tears, and Hopparazzi; $5 house wine, $4 highballs, $5 shots, $6 doubles. Select appies $1.50-$5.
Casual diner serving up big specialty burgers with rock and roll attitude
1818 Commercial Dr. | 604.558.4199 | www.cannibalcafe.ca
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Havana
3-6pm (Mon-Fri)
$5 draft beer, $5 house wine, $4 tequila, $5 mojito (1oz), $7 mojito (2oz). Select appies $5-$6.
Funky restaurant and art gallery offering Nuevo Latino cuisine and Cuban cocktails
1212 Commercial Dr. | 604.253.9119 | www.havanarestaurant.ca
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La Mezcaleria
3-6pm (Tues-Sun)
$5 draft beer, $5 house wine, $5 Paloma cocktail. $6 ceviche callejero, $8 quesito fundido.
Vibrant, hip eatery offering traditional Mexican fare
1622 Commercial Dr. | 604.559.8226 | www.lamezcaleria.ca
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Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
2-5pm | 8-close
$4.95 beer, $4.95 house wine. 50% off appies.
Serving traditional Neapolitan pizza fresh from their bell-shaped stone oven
1380 Commercial Dr. | 604.250.2292 | www.famoso.ca
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The Reef (Commercial)
4-6pm
$4 select drinks. 50% off select appies.
Colourful Caribbean joint serving authentic regional plates
1018 Commercial Dr. | 604.568.5375 | www.thereefrestaurant.com
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Storm Crow Tavern
2-5pm (Mon-Fri) | Late night (Mon-Fri)
$5 sleeves of Brew of Cthulhu, $5 Phillips Blue Buck, $5 house wine. Select food on special.
The city’s original nerd bar with a fully stocked game shelf
1305 Commercial Dr. | 604.566.9669 | www.stormcrowtavern.com
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Toby’s
3-6pm
$4.50 33 Acres of Life, $4 Red Truck Lager, $14 pitchers of Red Truck, $5 house wine.
Unfussy pub featuring karaoke and live music
2733 Commercial Dr. | 604.879.2099 | www.tobys.ca