After a day well spent exploring all Nelson has to offer, it’s time to relax and kick back with a tasty beverage or two. Nelson has some incredible options for funky cocktails and some establishments that are so cool it’ll make even a standard pilsner seem like the coolest drink you’ve had in years!
It’s all about pairing the vibe with your mood, but these drink hotspots all get our seal of approval for an unforgettable midday refreshment, happy hour, or post-dinner drink. If it’s REALLY late though, you’ll want to check out our list of late night Nelson establishments, but you’ll find plenty of overlap. 🍻
Where to Grab a Drink in Nelson
If you’re only in town for a few days, these are the places you should start if you’re looking for an ice cold drink. If you’re looking for a place to eat, you’ll want to check out our visitors guide to Nelson restaurants to hit the highlights of Nelson’s culinary scene.
Mike’s Place @ The Hume Hotel
When the clock says happy hour, the vibe is just as important as the drinks, and the vibe is just right at Mike’s Place. This feels like the kind of bar they just don’t make anymore, with its warm hardwood accents, classic wood chairs, and vintage carpet. It feels like a time capsule in all the best ways. It’s an irreplaceable Nelson institution, and one of the best late-night spots in Nelson!
Cozy, right downtown, and brimming with personality, this should be an essential stop for anyone looking to just hang out and have a few drinks. The top part of the pub is where the entertainment is at, with pool tables, darts, shuffleboard, and fooseball, so if the conversation gets slow, you’ll always have something to do!
Cantina Del Centro
Cantina’s margaritas are legendary in this town. It’s what made them famous! They come in all flavours: hibiscus, classic lime, mango, ginger-cardamon, cucumber-jalapeno, and many more. They’re all made from scratch and completely satisfying. If you have any tequila skeptics in your group, take them here to change their mind. 😇
Even after a decade, we’re still going back to Cantina for our favourites and to try the drinks we haven’t gotten to yet, and we haven’t even talked about their other cocktails, many of which are Mexican inspired, or their rotating selection of taps.
Finley’s
Catch a game, play some pool, and have a drink at Finley’s – Nelson’s best (and only) Irish pub! If you like your pubs lively, you’ll have fun here. If there’s a party happening anywhere in town, it’s here: Canada Day, New Year’s Day or just a Friday, Finley’s will be full of laughter, the sounds of glasses clinking, and on Sundays – karaoke! 🎤🥳
When it comes to drinks, you’ll find Finley’s is well stocked with local and import brews, ciders, cocktails, and a full menu of pub fare for all occasions.
One of Nelson’s 3 Breweries
Of all the incredible breweries in the Kootenays, Nelson is home to three: Nelson Brewing Company, Backroads Brewing, and Torchlight Brewing.
Nelson Brewing Company
Nelson Brewing Company is the West Kootenay’s original craft brewery, coming up in the early 90’s – a time when most people still thought Molson was as good as we ever needed.
Since those days as a craft beer pioneer, they’ve continued to be popular both in local restaurants and for casual Fridays, parties, and happy hours across the region.
In 2017, NBC opened their tasting room. It’s a few blocks up from Baker Street, right by the historic Nelson Fire Hall. Their tasting room has a cozy indoor seating area and seasonal patio where you can enjoy one of their classic craft brews or their rotating selection of small batch offerings, alongside some light bites. Take a 6-pack or a growler with you to-go when you’re ready to take the party back home!
Torchlight Brewing
Torchlight opened as a nano brewery in 2014, launching a full size craft brewery in 2017 just off Nelson Ave, close to the waterfront. Of Nelson’s three craft breweries, Torchlight has the biggest food menu. They smoke and cure their own bacon, offer some top notch appies and burgers, and offer tater tots as a standard side – always fun.
On the beer side of things, they offer 10+ rotating taps of their own brews, and a few tapped ciders for you to enjoy in their taproom or on the patio. You’ll find the biggest selection of Torchlight’s offerings right here on tap, with their major offerings being available in cans, and they offer growler fills as well.
Backroads Brewing
2017 marked a marvellous new addition to Baker Street with the opening of Backroads Brewing. These guys knew their audience, theming their taproom around a cozy backwoods cabin, with locally sourced lumber and custom made furniture fabricated by local craftsmen for a warm and inviting hangout spot that’s popular with both the after-work and the after-ski crowd.
Their location is phenomenal – right in the middle of Baker Street. They do have basic beer snacks to accompany your beverage of choice, but their food policy also allows customers to bring in take out from other restaurants in town, making this a great meetup spot for groups looking to sample a few restaurant offerings. They also have a spacious seasonal patio that adds to their casual charm, perfect for sipping on a golden ale in the sunshine.
Easy Tiger Speakeasy
There’s no cooler place to grab a drink than a speakeasy, and Nelson’s is Easy Tiger. It’s relatively new, and gives off proper speakeasy vibes with its industrial frontage entry. Its long, narrow shape and glamorous classic bar send off just the right vibes for a night out with friends in what’s sure to be a highlight of your visit. If the decor and showmanship aren’t enough to keep you, the drinks will do it: modern takes
