The American is a barcade/sports bar and events space located at the intersection between Mount Pleasant, Strathcona and Chinatown in Vancouver, BC. We have an open concept, communal space with a mix and mingle atmosphere that is perfect for groups both large (up to 250) and small. We also have a craft beer and natural wine store located at our front entrance for all your takeaway needs.
The American is a welcoming space for everyone that is all about good drinks, good food, and good times. Our motto is simple: Don’t Be a Dick! We are also home to DownLow Burger brought to you by Doug Stephens and Lindsey Mann from DownLow Chicken Shack. You may or may not have seen their burgers listed on multiple best burger in Vancouver lists and for good reason because these burgers are de-lish.
We are a great place to catch all your favourite sports and offer NFL Sunday Ticket as well as Canucks games with the sound on! We are also one of the best places in the city for pinball aficionados and we offer a constantly rotating lineup of some of the best games around. We also host special events like trivia, music bingo, karaoke and drag brunches. The American has something for everyone and everyone is invited.
The American is a liquor primary establishment with a family food service extension. Meaning we are 19+, so make sure you have a valid photo ID on you. Minors are allowed on-premises with a parent or legal guardian until 8pm 7-nights a week.
Born of co-founder Doug Stephens’ love of burgers and inability to get out of work in time to eat the ones he loved in the city, he decided to start making his own.
A large selection of local taps featured alongside mouth-watering, seasonal cocktails. Our selection is always rotating so come find your new favourite drink today!
We have pool, arcade games and pinball! We show sports every night of the week and we love to host special events. There’s always fun brewing at The American.
The current version of The American opened in 2016 but the building itself has been through many incarnations and is definitely an iconic part of the neighbourhood’s history. Built in 1907, the building was originally called the Clarendon. The Ivanhoe was built at the same time and The Cobalt just a few years later – making the trifecta of hotels a hotspot for the low-income working class and travellers alike.
The 70s saw the evolution of the bar scene in Vancouver and with that came drugs and gang activity. For years the area of Main St. between the Ivanhoe, the Cobalt and the American was aptly named ‘The Devil’s Triangle’. In 2006 the city revoked the American bar’s liquor license and evicted the residents of the hotel.
The building sat empty for five years before low-income rental units were revived upstairs and the bar reopened as the Electric Owl – an Izakaya-inspired restaurant/live music venue. The venue was a vibrant part of Vancouver’s live music scene before closing its doors in 2015.
The space was revived in 2016 with a return to its original name. The American was given a big facelift and its spirit was renewed as a fun, approachable pub where people could get their fill of local craft beer, delicious burgers, sports and games all in one spot. The bar has seen a few changes since opening (more games, hosting more events, and DownLow Burgers setting up shop in the kitchen), but one thing never changes: there are always plenty of good times to be had at The American.