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Hot Dining: Bistro Redux Deluxe

Moules frites at Tableau Bar-Bistro. Photo by KK Law

Tucked in below soaring glass towers in downtown’s Coal Harbour, Tableau Bar-Bistro at the Loden Hotel offers a West Coast homage to the classic French bistro, complete with black and white marble tiles and dark marble long bar. Chef Marc-André Choquette delivers a delicious updated take on classic French fare, such as French onion soup, rare-seared tuna niçoise and tender, juicy lamb chops. Drop in for a glass of local beer, sazerac or almond pastis, before moules frites (pictured) or a perfect lunchtime burger.—Tim Pawsey

Across Canada: 10 Great Craft Beer Destinations

By Red Hunt

A coast to coast beer journey, visiting the best brewpubs and beer bars in Canada. In recent years the Canadian craft beer scene has seen an explosion of new micro-breweries, meaning you can find local suds anywhere from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland. Here are ten of our favourite spots to grab a pint of craft beer.

: Situated in a historic stone building in St. John’s is the Yellow Belly Brewery (288 Water Street, www.yellowbellybrewery.com). This five story building is a pub, brewery and dining destination offering succulent seafood and steak dishes, along with a selection of their own craft beers. Try the Wexford Wheat or Fightin Irish, which both pay tribute to the Irish immigrant heritage of Newfoundland. (Photo by jessica @ flickr

: Brewers of handcrafted ales, the Gahan Brewhouse (126 Sydney Street, www.gahan.ca) offers tours of P.E.I.’s only brewery. After the tour, grab some classic pub grub or local Prince Edward Island mussels and enjoy a few quiet pints in charming Old Charlottetown. Photo by ActiveSteve

: Our Nova Scotia nod of approval goes to the Rare Bird Pub in Guysborough (80 Main Street, www.rarebirdpub.com) for its unique Chedabucto Bay Brewing Company beers and picture-perfect setting. Home to the oldest commercial brewery in Atlantic Canada you can walk, drive or sail to this pub, which has its own marina. We suggest you grab a seat on the summer patio and order a Guysburger with a Hummingbird Ale.

: With a selection of ten regular beers and 16 seasonal beers ranging from a classic lager to a blueberry ale, the Pump House Brewpub (5 Orange Lane, www.restaurant.pumphousebrewery.ca) has won more than 20 brewing awards over the years, including Canadian Brewery of the Year. The Scottish Ale is our favourite, but we can’t blame you if you want to sample them all. Photo by Ben-I Photography

: The province of Quebec reigns supreme when it comes to the sheer number of micro-breweries and craft beers being produced in Canada. For a taste of the Quebec beer scene seek out Dieu du Ciel. This brewpub (29 Laurier West, www.dieuduciel.com) is renowned for pushing the envelope of flavours and ingredients in their beers and their aptly named Aphrodisiaque beer is hard to resist. Photo by Danielle Scott

: A cozy bar with a nice patio during summer, Bar Volo (587 Yonge Street, www.barvolo.com) has developed a world-class reputation for beer lovers in recent years. With their own ‘nano-brewery’ in their kitchen, and a daily changing tap list, this fame comes as no surprise. Ontario craft brewers like Mill Street, Beau’s and Great Lakes are all heavily represented, as are some rare gems from the US and Europe. Stop by on a Monday and enjoy $5 pints – a deal hard to beat in Toronto.

: Half Pints is the brewery in Manitoba and the Luxalune Gastropub is one of the best places to seek out their beers, as well as other local brews from Fort Garry Brewing. At Luxalune (734 Osborne Street South, www.luxalune.com) there are more than 150, mainly Canadian, beers available to choose from. With a daily happy hour special, their extensive and impressive Tapas menu is perfectly suited for sampling a range of different Manitoba beers.

: Beer Cuisine in Regina? Indeed! A casual dining destination, BeerBros (1801 Scarth Street, www.beerbros.ca) offers local beers from Paddock Wood and Great Western Breweries, as well as a long list of beers from across Canada. This gem of a beer bar infuses their cuisine with the flavours of beer and their menu comes complete with suggested beer pairings. We recommend a pint of Great Western Pilsner.

: Located in the heart of beautiful Banff, Alberta the Banff Avenue Brewing Company (110 Banff Avenue, www.banffavebrewingco.ca) has a welcoming family-friendly pub atmosphere. Their beers are all made with premium hops and malts, as well as glacier water from the Rocky Mountains. Their Head Smashed IPA beer is a tribute to the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump UNESCO site in Alberta.

: On the edge of Gastown is a modern tavern called The Alibi Room (157 Alexander Street, www.alibi.ca), offering a selection of 50 beers on tap, including many local BC beers and cask ales. Head downstairs and be greeted by a blackboard wall of beer or take advantage of their locally sourced menu and dine in their main floor restaurant. Photo by world of jan

Hot Dining: All Shook Up

Jay Jones of Market by Jean-Georges. Photo by KK Law

The city’s cocktail culture is on fire thanks to a growing community of serious practitioners, such as Jay Jones (pictured), the debonair lead bartender behind the sleek bar at Market by Jean-Georges. The classics inspire many of Jones’ more popular concoctions, such as a BC blueberry sangria, while his uniquely styled Royal Canadian Mint Julep combines small-batch Canadian whisky with fresh BC cherry purée, mint leaves and barrel-aged bitters. Taste more good drinks and eats at funky The Refinery, marble-wrapped Oru and second-storey The Diamond in Gastown.—Tim Pawsey

Nightlife: St. Patrick’s Day Hot Spots

• Durty Nelly’s on Argyle Street: Traditional pub, serving Irish grub and imported beers.
• The Red Stag on Lower Water Street: Friendly vibe, wide selection of beer on tap, located in historic Brewery Market building.
• The Split Crow on Granville Mall: One of the city’s most beloved pubs, live music, rollicking atmosphere.
• The Old Triangle on Prince Street: Owned by folk-music legend Brian Doherty, live music, Irish beers aplenty.
• Pogue Fado on Barrington Street: Hip young bar, party atmosphere, live music.

Hot Dining: Retro Room

Chef Ned Bell in the Tiki Bar. Photo by KK Law

Grab a cab to this East Hastings hangout, where ‘50s cool is all the rage in the city’s original bamboo-and-black-velvet-art-adorned Tiki Bar. Once long forgotten, it has re-arisen as part of the impressively restored Waldorf. Drinks range from the mai tai to the mimosa, while the all-day cafe and casual dining room—under chef Ned Bell—celebrate all things regional and sustainable. Order Latin-inspired street food such as Yucatan ribs, and local classics such as BC spot prawns.—Tim Pawsey

Hot Dining: Cheers!

Durty Nelly's

• Durty Nelly’s, Sackville Street: Irish pub, imported beers like Harp and Smithwick’s, plus local microbrews.

• Split Crow, Granville Street: The quintessential Maritime pub: historic setting, daily live music, friendly crowds, daily beer specials.

• Fife & Drum), Upper Water Street: Smart-casual Scottish-style pub; Stella Artois, Guinness and Heineken on tap.

• Brussels Restaurant & Brasserie), Granville Street: Belgian cuisine; huge imported beer selection: Leffe Bruin, Chimay Première Red Label, Mort Subite Kriek Lambic and many others.

• Old Triangle, Prince Street: Irish pub, co-owned by singer Brian Doherty, “Guinness & Oysters” special on Wednesdays.

Hot Dining: Raising the Bar

Danielle Tatarin of The Keefer Bar. Photo by KK Law

A cool crowd hangs out late at The Keefer Bar (pictured), a recent arrival on Chinatown’s edge. Bar manager Danielle Tatarin wows the locals just as she did the judges at this year’s Giffard International Cocktail Challenge in France, at which she beat out bartenders from around the world to scoop first place. The mood is funky, with Asian small plates and considered concoctions, often tweaked with traditional tinctures, teas and other uncommon ingredients. Find more cool sippin’ next door at Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie and at Gastown’s Pourhouse, The Diamond at Maple Tree Square and Boneta.—Tim Pawsey

TIFF List: 6 VIP-Friendly Lounges

The Toronto International Film Festival is ramping up for its 35th excellent year, with more than 300 movies showing between September 9 and 19. Follow this space in the days leading up to TIFF 2010 for features on much-anticipated premieres, the Bell Lightbox—the festival’s exciting new headquarters—and scads of sites at which to spot visiting celebrities. During the festival itself, we’ll bring you details on each day’s film offerings plus what to do before or after your screening.

TODAY: SUPERB SIPPING SPACES

Tomorrow: 5 Face-Saving Spas

Hot Entertainment: Game Day

The funky interior of Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery is great for kicking back and watching the game

Just because 18 TVs are showing sports (probably the FIFA World Cup) doesn’t mean you’re stuck with beer and chicken wings all evening. At Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery, homemade pastas, risottos and pizzas are on the menu, along with a huge assortment of wines, cocktails and craft beers. Now that’s something to cheer about.—Sheri Radford

Hot Entertainment: Shake Your Groove Thing

Granville Street photo by Caroline Toth

There’s nothing laid-back about Vancouver’s nightlife scene. Downtown Granville Street (pictured) lights up the night with Vegas-esque neon signs outside everything from dance halls to live-music venues. In Gastown, old-world charm is abundant in the pubs, while world-class DJs spin in tucked-away clubs. Davie Village shows its true colours with numerous gay- and lesbian-friendly hot spots. There’s no excuse not to dance the night away.—Jennifer Patterson