Railway Club

Live music, friendly bartenders, great drink specials, clean bathrooms. Overall this place is pretty solid. I love seeing small intimate shows here, but it is a bit of an awkward layout for viewing. Nothing major so I can’t justify deducting any stars. A Vancouver relic with deep history!

Whammy pizza!
Those guys has been there FOREVER.
AWESOME shows going on here and there.
Flawless costumers service.
Everyone seems happy to be there.
Next to Granville St=Well located.
Also in the front of the Granville sky-​train station.
Fresh beer. No headache hangover ever!!!
They are located on the 2^nd floor which is cool.
Seven Eleven is also next doors.
For those night with line-​up (show nite).
So I can grab something while my friends waiting on line…
Muahahahaha!
Wheeeeeeeee!
I love this place. It’s an hiding GEM.

My friends band plays here alot. I used to go, but not anymore. There is never any organization to anything about how this place is run. No one seems to know what is going on. If my friend is supposed to be on at 10, he won’t get on until midnight. The drink prices are way too much, and seem to keep going up. The sound quality of the system there is laughable. Legendary venue? Maybe once upon a time, but now it’s awful.

Ok place, really average place trully to say. Been there several times and it is either overcrowded or empty. The place situated in downtown on Dunsmuir place which is good, convenient located. Beer is not bad but a bit overpriced for this kind of place.

This place has a cool vibe. Been here for years. Hidden location upstairs which is good.
Entertainment is great. Drinks are good. Funky train that runs around as well.

This place is legendary and with good reason. The space is amazing, and they have two different stages that often have shows running simultaneously. It’s so big, though, there’s literally zero noise pollution from one show to the other.
Drinks are stiff and relatively cheap, and the space is nice and intimate. We saw the Perch Creek Family Jug Band here on 7/​20, and it was one of the best shows I’ve seen all year. Not bad for a random Monday night!

Such a great place to go see friend bands play live. I have been going there since I first moved to the City. Lots of fond memories. I like the service and I have never has a bad night out there.

This place is a little rowdy, even though the crowd is a bit older than those who frequent the other bars around this area. Probably not a bar for the faint of heart, but I like it! It’s a great place to watch live music in Vancouver. I particularly like the toy train that runs round a track near the ceiling throughout the interior of the building.

A good dive bar with good live music regularly. If you value live music, you won’t miss here. I wish they could expand the floor to twice the size.

For someone English (like me), this is about as close as you can get to a real pub in Vancouver– no sports screens and thankfully completely devoid of the usual pretentious arseholes you get in this city. I think the slightly grimy look puts them off so lets hope they never decide to redecorate :) Just decent down to earth people, friendly staff, great live music and surprisingly decent food. I have never had a bad night here, I wish there were more places like this in town!

On my list of the top ten small music venues in the world. I have visited on a number of occasions and have found the musical offerings to be if not great at least interesting. On one memorable occasion a few years back we stumbled in to see a showcase of local bands playing original music that reminded me of old school 70’s hard rock– a la Montrose/​Aerosmith. Not sure if it was it a local genre but it was bad ass. (note 70’s hard rock word choice) Other times when the performances were not so stellar a fun evening was had just due to the vibe of the place. Food is ok but who wants gourmet chow at a dive bar. My fellow yanks will recoil at the measured 1 oz of booze drinks that are the Canadian norm but you will be pleasantly surprised when you wake up with out a hang over.

Without doubt, the best pub in downtown Vancouver.
Sitting above a 7 – 11 on a downtown intersection, The Railway is a real bar experience. From the street walk up, to the décor which looks like it’s never been updated, to the bar staff, and the fact that it really is a genuine bar lounge, this place has an unmistakable North America club feel from a bygone era.
Everything about The Railway is honest. This isn’t a bar built in 2010 made to look like a lounge club. It’s been on site since 1931!
If you genuinely like bars and the bar scene, then The Railway is a must.

This used to be such a fun place!
All the old regular staff seem to be gone, and the caliber of shows has declined. I don’t think I’ll be going back.

I’ve been coming here since the late 80s, when I needed a fake id to get served. I am comforted by the fact that it is still in business, doing what it’s always done. Serving the locals, unapologetically.
Come here to visit with friends, drink beer, eat fries, and listen to live music if you want to sit at the front room. If not, go to the back. It gets crowded at the predictable times so plan accordingly.

Life is simple here. Walk up food/​drink ordering, great bartenders and great tap lists. One of the best seating arrangements in downtown, love the multiple room setup. I hope it stays alive in the ever changing downtown core.
There is ALWAYS a sweet show going on in here with a bunch of local bands.
Even if you don’t show up for the show you can usually get into the back room for a couple brewski’s without charge and take off afterwards.
Hell ya, big shout out to this sweet dirt hole. Don’t ever leave us.

The Railway is one of my favourite places on Earth. Through 3 different phases of my life this places is as close to «my neighbourhood pub» as I’ve ever had. It is casual… like me.
In the 90s I played here a few times and always appreciated that the layout allows music fans to sit in, while there is still an option for those that just want to chat in the back and have nothing to do with the bands.
There was a time when everyone used to «sign in» and use the fake name of an existing member, I think that is more like kissing the Blarney Stone now, a tradition to show others «ya,. I’m a regular» sort of thing.
Sometime there is a cover after say 7pm depending on which bands might be playing., and that is annoying so usually people will try to head here right after work and slip in before that (not usually an issue).
No TVs except maybe in the back room which is where I always seem to end up. Skytrain station is kitty corner, in fact I’ve always found the location to be great.
A true Vancouver institution that I will defend to the death if the city ever tried to develop it.

It’s not big, it’s very small, however, it is one of those places that has character and charm in a good way. Best nights to be here are during their open mic poetry nights and comedy nights. Drinks are reasonably priced. Not much on the food department. Staff are always friendly.

I’m gonna give this place a pass even though I’ve never had a non creepy experience here.
Many years ago it was darker and smaller and I would come with other young friends to drink and old men would creep on us.
Last night I met another older Unilocaler here and although I think he was trying to be nice, I just sat at the table with the guy i didn’t know and the only other people I talked to were 2 actual by the book hipsters and the bartenders which gave fair not over the top service.
The waitress stands behind this cute little stand near the kitchen window & is friendly but not easy to get her attn at least not if your lil’ ol’ me.
I guess I would say if you have a group it might be a good place to come (although a bit loud) but dont go there hoping to meet people unless you want to meet men in their 60’s or hipsters.
Also looking at their site, the band line up looks good but I couldn’t figure out where that band might be playing. Bit of a maze.

Haven’t been for a while, and last time I went back, I noticed a huge change in service.
The atmosphere there has changed completely — so instead of having a Venue for Great Bands with good service, it’s now a place with bad service, bad attitude, and mediocore bands.
Never realized how dirty the carpet is either.
The beer is over priced and there seems to be cover charge everynight even when there are no bands there.
I will not come here again.

Worst bar in Vancouver. I come here at least once a year for the Portland Timbers away games and our supporters club always picks this lame-​ass spot as the meet-​up location.
You may as well go to a spa and get pampered if you want to sit in a sauna w a bunch of fat dudes!

Diese Bar ist nicht nur für Touristen, sondern auch für die Einheimischen ein MUSS. MUSS, weil immer wieder hervorragende Küstler auftreten.
UND, selbst für gute Getränke ist immer gesorgt.
In dieser Bar lernt man schnell die in Deutschland so bekannte Art der Kanadier kennen.
Also ein MUSS für jedermann-​/​frau.
Und Vancouver ist nicht mur Hollywood Kanadas. Vancouver ist sogar die zweitwichtigste Filmproduktionsstadt weltweit. Allerdings wird weniger in Vancouver gedreht, sondern hauptsächlich in der traumhaften Umgebung dieser Stadt, vor allem im Westen und im Norden, wo es fast alles als natürliche Kulissen gibt!

Der Railway Club ist ein Live-​Musikclub. Hier wird vor allem Rock und Country Musik gespielt. Der Club befindet sich im 1. Stock (2.floor) über einem ⁷⁄₁₁ an der Ecke Dunsmuir/​Seymour Street. Der Club wird hauptsächlich von Kanadiern bzw. Residents besucht, d.h. man trifft hier nicht so viele Touristen.
Ich war an einem Samstagabend zusammen mit einem Kanadier und einem Argentinier in diesem Club. Man erreicht den Club über eine Treppe. Oben angekommen gibt man dem Türsteher 10 CAD und schon ist man im Club. Links vom Eingang geht es auf einen Balkon für die Raucher, rechts beginnt die Bar und vor einem ist ein ca. 30 — 40 qm großer Raum, an deren Ende eine kleine Bühne ist. An der Seite sind Sitzbänke und Stühle, in der Mitte des Raumes sind lauter Stehtische und Barhocker. Alles ist in braunen, leicht rötlichem Holz gehalten. Sogar die Wände sind vertäfelt und an der Decke sind dicke Holzbalken. An den Wänden hängen Bilder und alte Plakate, unter der Decke ist eine Modelleisenbahn, deren Schienen durch den ganzen Club gehen. Die Bar geht länglich an der Fensterfront entlang, in den hinteren Teil des Clubs, wenn man ihr folgt landet man bei den Toiletten und einem weiterern Raum mit Tischen und Stühlen. Der Club ist noch nicht voll. Wir setzen uns an einen Tisch im vorderen Teil mit gutem Blick auf die Bühne. Eine Band mit einem langhaarigen, bärtigem Sänger macht gerade Soundcheck. Sie spielen 2 Songs zur Probe, der Sänger hat wirklich eine gute Stimme! Wir holen uns erstmal ein paar Bier von der Bar. Es gibt mehrere gezapfte und mehrere Flaschenbiere u.a. Becks, Coronna, Heinicken, Tuborg und natürlich Canadian. Ansonsten ist der Club bekannt für seine Auswahl an Scotch und Whiskey. Der Club wird immer voller und ich gehe auf den Balkon eine rauchen. Obwohl ich nur ein weißes Hemd und eine Jeans anhabe, falle ich anscheinend auf. Eine Frau spricht mich an und meint ich sehe europäisch aus. Ich erzähle ihr, dass ich aus Deutschland komme. Das findet sie anscheinend gut und wir kommen ins Gespräch. Sie arbeitet beim Film (Vancouver ist das Hollywood Canadas) und hat mal in Amsterdam gelebt. Sie stellt mich einigen ihrer Freunde vor, alles Kanadier, als die mitkriegen, dass ich Deutscher bin, sagen die so Sachen wie ich bin ein Ozeandampfer oder ich bin ein Walroß, ich muss lachen.
Mittlerweile hat drinnen die Show angefangen. Ich verabschiede mich fürs erste und gehe zurück zu meinem Platz. Auf der Bühne steht eine blonde Frau, Mitte/​Ende Zwanzig, in einem hellen Kleid mit einer Akustik Gitarre um den Hals und singt selbst kompomierte Countrysongs über zerbrochene Träume, die Liebe usw. Auch sie hat eine wirklich schöné Stimme. Begleitet wird sie von einem Typen auf dem Kontrabass und einem Schlagzeuger. Ich hole das nächst Bier höre der Musik zu und betrachte die Menschen. Die Atmosphäre in dem Club ist wirklich relaxt und friedlich. Das ist das Vancouver was ich sehen und erleben wollte. Ich fühle mich gut, als wäre ich zu Hause. Ich bin in Canada, in Vancouver B.C. oder wie die Menschen sagen die hier leben: The best place on earth.