The Alibi Room

Lazy bar in Gastown favoured by bookish intellectuals

Talk of the town: The original bar was founded in the 90s by actor mates Gillian Anderson, Jason Priestley and Tom Skerrit as a hangout for creatives.
Word to the wise: The owners aren't just beer snobs. They offer creative cocktails, and a wine list featuring local boutique and organically grown varieties.

On the edge of Gastown, Alibi markets itself as a 'modern tavern', by which it really means 'pub for grown-ups'. It has changed hands a few times through the years, and today it's an airy, contemporary space with large tables downstairs and comfy armchairs upstairs, complete with books and newspapers that are replenished regularly.
The bar is renowned for its craft ales, specially selected from independent breweries. There are usually about 50 on tap and another 50 available by the bottle, and the list changes frequently as the owners discover more gems on their travels. The kitchen serves a satisfying array of gourmet pub grub like cheesesteaks and pork belly sandwiches, but only opens for lunch at weekends.