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Biltmore Cabaret
Category: Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Music Venues [Edit]
395 KingswayVancouver, BC V5T 3J7
Neighbourhood: Mount Pleasant
(604) 676-0541
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 8 pm - 1 am
Fri-Sat 8 pm - 2 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ, Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
62 reviews for Biltmore Cabaret
62 reviews in English
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Review from Angie G.
Vancouver, BC
2/3/2012
I don't even know how to categorize this bar/nightclub. It's everything I'd ever want out of a bar and everything that I'd want out of an eclectic nightclub.
I like how there is such a great mix of people to the crowd; from hipsters to upscalers. There never seems to be a dress code (which I LOVE) but whatever mood you are in this nightclub will fit in some way.
I was introduced to this bar a few months ago and since then it's been the only one I frequent. The music is great, the DJs are rockin', the bartenders keep the beers and spirits overflowing and all of this is yours for such an inexpensive price!
I love their "Soul" nights because the masses come in full 60's attire and dance to Motown music while the B&W videos are projected on a big screen. I actually fell in love with my boyfriend during one of November's Soul nights. Otis Redding, "Try A LIttle Tenderness" will always be a fiery song in my heart all thanks to The Biltmore Cabaret.
I highly suggest this place to anyone who doesn't quite know where to go or how they feel about hitting up a nightclub. This place changed me forever. I'm not a nightclub kind of gal but this place is AMAZING. So come on in and dance with the rest of us! I honestly don't know how you wouldn't have a great time! -
Review from Lindsay E.
Vancouver, BC
11/24/2011 16 Check-ins Here
I love The Biltmore. I love red plush interior and steamy-hot winter dance nights. I love the 'old' people that show up and feel at home and the 19 year old kids from the suburbs that don't know what to think of the place. I love the stage and how they've put a ton of work into making it a better place to have a show - I love that they don't always use red light to showcase acts anymore (so much easier to photograph). I love Talent Time and Glory Days and Kitty Nights and The Rock & Roll Pizza Party and Jr. High 90's night. I love that it's next door to my house. I love that the pretentiousness is at a minimum, that the PBR is cheap and that it's easy to get to know the staff. I love that every night is different at The Biltmore and that they have a Mars Attack pinball machine.
Oh hey, and If you want a good place to watch the band, head to either side of the stage and take a seat on one of the big, black boxes right there at the front. Best seat in the house. -
Review from honky t.
Vancouver, BC
11/13/2011
The stage is low... sightlines are poor....if its crowded here....you can't see the band unless you are in the first row. The bouncers bodysearch everyone WITHOUT notification or a sign indicating that this is what you agree to when you enter. The door staff are ALWAYS rude about this.
The drinks are OVERPRICED. And they you use poor judgement when ID'ing people who are OBVIOUSLY of age. Thank you, EVA B. for feeling the way I do. The poor bands that come into town and play here....the stage is a small box(and the band members can barely move on the stage) , and AGAIN only six inches high. I hAVE HAD MULTIPLE BAD EXPERIENCES SEEEING BANDS I REALLY HAD TO SEE....BUT NO MORE., Biltmore!.
Honestly, this 'club' is an embarrassment to the city of Vancouver. -
Review from Robin M.
10/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Everything within a context, nothing can be outside. Hence: 5 stars, Biltmore.
Vancouver is town in need. A town in desperate and dire need of a bars with a vibe. Any vibe -- just a vibe, fergadsakes! Gimme cowboys, gimme dive bars, gimme gutter-trash, gimme real hipsters, gimme anything that has a pulse and hasn't succumbed to the top-down homogenization forced upon us by the ghettoization and absurd laws of this otherwise lovely city.
/ end rant
So we've got the Biltmore, a perfectly open venue that has enough diversity going on during any given week to allow a for a motley crew of fun folks to turn here when a requisite decent time is in order. It's one thing for a venue to offer great shows, but to attract people who actually want to stand up and talk to strangers who are also enjoying the exact same show? That's a real feat in Vancouver. Biltmore has it going on. Cheap drinks, positive atmosphere, fun people, rad staff -- one of the best Vancouver has to offer.
I like it here. A lot, like. -
Review from Antonia U.
Burnaby, BC
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Biltmore is a great place for cheap booze and cheap concerts, and with a serious lack of great venues in Vancouver (I still reminisce of the days of the Starfish Room), is one of the best places for shows. You can get up close to the bands and the smallish dance floor gives it a nice, tight vibe. The whole staff is really friendly too.
The only real drawback to this place is getting that 6'2" guy standing in front of you since the stage is pretty low. However, the atmosphere is so laid back that you can sit on tables or stand on the couches without getting in any trouble. -
Review from Rohan S.
New Westminster, BC
11/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a fantastic little bar. Great for all kinds of live shows.
I've been here for a couple concerts and the burlesque show and I've had a great time every time.
This place manages to attract a really unique and diverse crowd, so people watching is often as fun as the actual show.
There is a great selection of beer on tap and in bottles, the prices are reasonable and the staff is pretty friendly.
I can't exactly put my finger on what kind of character this venue has, but it has character in spades. It reminds me a lot of The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto.
If you ever get a chance to see a show here, take it, You don't be disappointed. -
Review from Cody S.
Surrey, BC
12/8/2011
This is my new favorite night spot in Vancouver! If you enjoy going out and having a few(or more) drinks and doing a little dancing, then look no further! If you enjoy dancing, but hate the pretentiousness that comes with the bright lights of Granville street, then this is the spot for you. All the patrons are there to have a good time and not start fights! Reasonable drink prices, great mix of music genres, and no dress code(don't quote me on that). The only down side is the location. Everyone knows the joys of getting a cab on weekends in Vancouver....
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Review from Eva B.
10/7/2011
I enjoy going to concerts at most venues, but not the Biltmore. Every time I hear of a band I like coming to town and then see they are playing there I let out a long sigh as if to resign myself to having to be in that space. Knowing if they played somewhere else the experience would be so much better.
Perhaps part of the problem is that this space does not appear to have been designed for playing concerts. The stage is centered between two hallways which lead to the washroom facilities. The stage itself is very low and is usually curtained along the sides. Another issue I have is that the sound is ok when it is good and terrible when it is bad. I have actually left a concert early at this venue due how crappy a particular band I really like sounded. Trust me I need a good reason to leave a concert. Also, yes the décor is 'funky', but the space is also funky in the sense I don't want to touch anything. I would hate to see the place when the turn the ugly lights on. That and what is with the line up situation outside. More than once I have shown and there is a huge line up outside of people with and without tickets that isn't moving. Then have walked up to the front of the line feeling the daggers in my back from the people I pass to ask if it was ok to go in as I had a ticket. The door man quickly steps aside and lets us enter only to find out there is hardly anyone inside. They need to coordinate the front door a little bit better. A sign or two would suffice.
I do like how you can get up close and personal with the band. Although I have seen bands that look a bit uncomfortable and have commented during their performance on how distracting it is to see people walk past to the bathroom in their peripheral vision. However, the price must be right to put on a show here or groups wouldn't keep coming back. That and the bar tenders are always fast and efficient and the selection isn't half bad or overpriced.Listed in: Yelp's 30 Day Review Challenge
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Review from Brandon S.
Vancouver, BC
11/22/2011
Poor sight lines and low stage. Sub par lighting and average sound system. And yet it's Vancouver's #1 hipster hangout. Go figure. Also the arcade machines are busted.
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Review from Sarah D.
8/1/2011
Few venues in Vancouver can boast friendly door staff, cheap stout on tap, and night after night of amazing entertainment. Luckily for discerning Vancouverites, the Biltmore has all three.
Filled with red velvet booths and tin ceilings, this subterranean club is one of the sexiest venues in the city. (I hesitate to use the word "club" -it conjures up too many images of oversized-hoop-earing-wearing ladies, and overly-beefy-wife-beater-wearing men grinding to bad Euro-techno) A word of warning, though: this place gets sticky-hot at times, so dress in layers!
With the price of tickets to see big-name bands skyrocketing to ridiculous levels in this city ($71 to go see Portishead, REALLY??), paying $10-$15 to see smaller bands is a much better option. And no -you don't have to have heard of the band you're going to see; I'll wager at least half of the people there are in the same boat as you if you haven't. Chances are you'll still have an amazing time, and hey, you may discover a new favourite too.
So ladies, put that over sized flower in your hair, and fellas, put on that cheesy bow-tie. Just stop being a square, and head over to the Biltmore, mmkay? -
Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
5/16/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The Biltmore is a great venue out of the Downtown of Vancouver. Located in the basement of the Howard Johnson the Biltmore is a great place to see music, burlesque shows, djs and anything else.
Saturday nights are Glory Days with My Gay Husband which is fun if you like cheap beer and indie to 40s (I think is the best way to describe it). Usually gets quite crowded but if you come for the early show and get a stamp you can hang around for Glory Days which is typically quite fun.
Sundays is Kitty Nights, local burlesque and always a hoot. The DJ after isn't my favourite but people seem to bust a move on the dance floor regardless.
Years ago it used to be a real cabaret but it has since been renovated and cleaned up. Booths line the walls which are great for watching shows from and they have a great dance floor.
I say check it out. Especially if you live South East of downtown and want a fun local hang out. -
Review from Victoria R.
Vancouver, BC
3/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've had this place bookmarked on Yelp for ages, and when The Coronas were in town and playing there I jumped at the chance to check it out.
It's awesome - kitschy, retro, kind of a dive but really cool at the same time. Red velvet covered seats line the perimeter walls, a small stage and 2 bars to choose from.
There's a painting of a matador as soon as you come down the entrance stairs, and two deer heads (which I spent the night trying to figure out if they were real). The place isn't classy, it's a dive and it doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is. But the booze is plentiful, the seats are comfy, and they seem to be great at bringing in good shows. I plan on seeing a burlesque show there and reviewing again.
Also, an inordinate number of men in plaid shirts.. not sure what that means, but, heads up! -
Review from Rheanna F.
Vancouver, BC
1/26/2011
This place is growing on me more and more each time i go there! The first few times i went, i was too drunk by the time i arrived to notice much of anything- seriously, i didn't even notice the huge ass deer taxidermy until my third or fourth visit- but the stars eventually aligned and i have since come to appreciate it much more!
As a bar, the staff are nice, the prices are average and the drink options exceed my expectations as they have quite the selection of hooch (liquor that is, though i have seen plenty of loose women there too). The wait for a drink can be killer if they don't have the bar at the back of the room open, but if that's the case it just means you should get a drink AND do a shot!
The decor is also quite lovely. I'm in love with the red baroque wallpaper and chandeliers! It's sort of like Count Dracula met this hip, young broad and decides to renovate his dank crypt to make it look cool and sexy before he invites her over, but he's so out of touch that it just looks like a gothic spinster went nuts at a thrift store. (i have never seen a romantic comedy about Dracula, but if there is one i'm sure that scene is in it, complete with a montage of Dracula decorating).
Sorry, where was i? Oh yes, about the Biltmore as a venue to see bands. Their sound system is great, but i find you have to be centre stage or else the sound levels are off. I've been to a few shows here where the band won't sound too great if i'm sitting on one of the stools on either side of the stage, but once you stand in the crowd it's great.
Another thing is that if you're short like me, you're pretty much S.O.L. if you aren't standing near the front. The stage is only a couple feet high, which is AWESOME if you're in the first three rows, but not so great if you are stuck at the back. That being said, i saw one of the best shows of my life here last weekend (Wovenhand!) and was beyond stoked to be 5 feet away from the band seeing them live!
Aaaaand one last thing: There is pinball. YES!Listed in: Best Places to Drink Til You…, Make Mine Music!, Taxidermia
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Review from Jon S.
Vancouver, BC
4/10/2011
I went here for a concert a while back and I keep hoping an act I want to see will play here. It's a bit hard to find around back and under the hotel, but keep looking.
Booze is cheap, the music is good, the people are awesome. I'm taking a star off because they had Reup BBQ in the bar itself that night and it just smelled like BBQ. Don't get me wrong, I love Reup, I really do, but why not set them up in a kitchen area or out in the parking lot.
Check this place out! It's off the beaten path, but worth the trip. -
Review from Cyndi H.
Vancouver, BC
10/25/2010
I love this bar!
The Biltmore is such a fun, quirky place to be. Located below the Biltmore Hotel (I can't imagine how people are able to sleep) is underground saloon with plush booths, textured wallpaper and chandeliers-- but not the boutique-y kind. This place is a place of vintagey happy people! The bands are indie, the crowds are fun, there's rarely a lineup, yet the place is always buzzing with activity (such a great mix).
The space is so fun and relaxed that it's perfect for hosting events (the VAFF fundraiser was a blast here) and of course shows.
I miss Richards on Richards dearly, I'm am so thankful that we still have the Biltmore!Listed in: Hipster Hangouts, Music Venues
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Review from Rick C.
3/3/2011
Sweet lounge type place for drinks and concerts. I like the vibe. The location is really interesting too on the edge of East Vancouver.
The Biltmore has a homey feel and the sound is sweet and vibrant. I like the place. Parking is always easy around and it's a cool change of pace from the regular venues on Granville and such. -
Review from Garth C.
11/12/2010 3 Check-ins Here
If you wear a 1 piece velour suit, do not sit in the booths! You will never be able to get out, it will be like human velcro.
Ok now that I have that public service announcement out of the way I can continue with the review.
To say this place is awesome is an absolute understatement. I had no idea what to expect, no clue who was playing but that was no problem at all. From the comfortable booths to the pinball and retro tetris in the corner I knew at first glance I could call this place my home.
This place is my new favourite place to take in a show, it's a comfortable friendly environment with a decent selection of draft beers at a good price. The sound quality is excellent and the bands that are booked are just top notch, top this all off with a very reasonable price.
So even if you don't know who is playing, come on down and you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Alicyn C.
11/12/2010 3 Check-ins Here
After living in suburbia for the past 4 years you begin to relaize that you are missing out on Vancouver and must start venturing back into the city to enjoy what great night life this city has to offer.
We were in the main street area and decided to check out the Biltmore for something to do and see a live band play as it had been such a long time since we had done that.. Wow, we are so glad that we did. We had such a great time, met new people and just enjoyed the great music.
The atmosphere was just what we were looking for. A great low key, casual, fun experience. The sounds is perfect in this venue and the red velvet booths are exceptional.
We loved the Biltmore so much that we are venturing back there again tonight Yay! -
Review from Kimberley B.
Vancouver, BC
9/21/2010
As a non hipster, I had my trepidations about trying out this infamous Vancouver venue, fearing myself not cool enough to be there. I'm probably not, but that is part of the fun. Every sort of person seems to go there and have a good time. I've never had to wait for a drink and the drinks are perfectly reasonably priced. I had my first (cliche coming) Pabst Blue Ribbon there! This is unlike any other venue I've ever been to and it lets me feel like there's still a part of an era I'm nostalgic for but didn't actually experience (out of diapers, anyway).
The dance floor is fantastic and there is a myriad of live musical acts throughout the week. The decor is divey but in fun way and there are bar tables, booths and even a battered lounge section towards the back where if you're really special (or are in a group) they'll let you take it over. It's more fun to mingle though so I recommend not roping yourself in.
I'd give it 5 stars if coat-check hadn't lost several of my friends' coats over the last year without showing the least remorse. Nobody's perfect, but if you have a really nice coat you are attached to, leave it at home. Ratty cardigans are in, after all. -
Review from Kevin K.
Vancouver, BC
Sunday night at the Biltmore, Kitty Nights Burlesque. You know you're doing something right when you get a card-carrying homosexualist and a gaggle of his gays to come see women strip down to their g-strings and nipple tassels. Which we did (not the stripping, the seeing), and which we'll do again.
How many reasons do you need to go and see for yourself? $3.75 cans of PBR? An excellent dance party afterward? A lively crowd, talented performers, costumes, corsets, feathers, gloves, satin, lace, boas, breasts?
I mean, really. If you aren't convinced by now that Kitty Nights is the best thing you could be doing on a Sunday night, and well worth showing up to work hungover on Monday morning, then there's just no getting through to you. -
Review from Mars K.
Vancouver, BC
1/23/2011
Sunday Kitty Night (Burlesque Show)
I didn't know what to expect when a friend invited me here for her going away party, it happened to be the weekly burlesque night. After having recently watched Burlesque, the movie starring Christina Aguilera, I was excited to see a real show. Hot girls dancing and lip-syncing in lingerie at a bar, without the stigma of being in a strip-club, sounds like a good idea to me.
In the movie, the burlesque club was full-time dedicated for burlesque, so the venue was accordingly built for such, pretty much as you'd expect from a Broadway musical. And for the movie, all the dancers were 9s and 10s. That was a movie, not a fair comparison.
The Biltmore is more of a basement bar under a motel. There is a small stage at one end where live performances take place through out the week, on Sundays it's Burlesque. The show consists of a host, who doubles as a comedian who performs in between each burlesque scenes. There were 4 dancers, each performed one after another, followed by an intermission, then each dancer performed again.
How were the ladies? Well they're no Christina Aguilera. One dancer was quite attractive so her performance was enjoyable in the conventional sense. While the other 3 ladies, perhaps was supposed to cater to a different niche. One for example, played an angry-at-the-world role and gave the crowd the finger repeatedly. Another was a rather large woman, a very confident one. In any case, this isn't a beauty pageant, this is burlesque. From what I gather, burlesque is more show than just sheer beauty. -
Review from Tim S.
10/16/2010 11 Check-ins Here
What do I love most about the Biltmore? Is it the awesome bands they book? Is it the surprisingly wide draft beer selection? Is it the friendly, chilled-out, hipsterly crowd? The old-school Tetris arcade machine in the back? (That's right: a TETRIS ARCADE MACHINE.) The jocular bouncers? The red plush decoration? The excuse to go to Zulu to pick up tickets without paying outrageous service charges? The spacious booths lining the dance floor? The somehow not-at-all-out-of-place deer head hanging on the wall (RIP)? Did I mention the reasonably-priced beer (and I don't mean PBR, but yes, they have it if you must), and the short lines at the bar? Or how about the hot dog truck that parks outside?
How's a girl supposed to choose?
The Biltmore, hidden on the back side of the HoJo's at 12th and Kingsway, is one of my favorite venues in any city. Mathieu's right that it gets awk when it's packed, and the stage is pretty short, but I haven't had much trouble seeing the bands -- maybe I just get there early. I need to go see the cabaret some night! -
Review from Shannon M.
North Vancouver, BC
7/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
I adore seeing shows at the Biltmore. Even just walking in is an experience, as you descend the wide stairs inside the entrance and the room opens up before you... Red wallpaper! Circle booths! Old arcade games! Chandeliers! Animal heads!
They've got an extremely impressive beer list (both on tap and in bottles - have you tried Mirror Pond from Oregon? You should) plus, for the more price conscious hipster, cans of PBR for $3. Who can go wrong! I also greatly appreciate the water jugs they put out next to the bar because it can get pretty hot in there.
There are several seating and stage viewing options (multiple levels, table heights, etc) with the best being, of course, the large open dance floor right in front of the stage. As someone else mentioned, if you see a band here, chances are you'll be hearing about them playing a larger venue sometime in the very near future (recent example: Frightened Rabbit - saw them at the Biltmore a couple months ago and their next Vancouver show will be at the Vogue). So it's a perfect place to see those awesome unknowns before they blow up.Listed in: Do Stuff!, A Cold Pint
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Review from Stacey H.
Burnaby, BC
9/16/2010
I have nothing good to say about this establishment. Sorry.
I am a huge music lover and go to many concerts and many different venues. this place has got to be the worst venue to see live music (for me, people- this is my experience and opinion only).
But I have to say... there is not one good seat in the house to see a show. Everyone stands. that's fine... however, even when everyone was standing - you had to creep up on your tippy toes to see the act. As you scan the room, everyone is trying to schuffle to get a better vantage point to see what is happening on stage.
Too loud, where you can not audibly hear the lyrics or the music, ok decor, but I am not there for the decor I am there to SEE and HEAR the band or act.
Not going ever again, not wasting my money on an environment that sucks for the audience. the only thing redemable is the cte bartender. -
Review from Kassim D.
5/29/2010
Ever been to a burlesque show? if not - this is the place to learn about the burlesque sub-culture.
basically a strip club type deal without the full nudity package. It is artistic deal as well, but it's fun too of course.
The stage show was a lot of fun, but it started almost an hour late and on a Sunday evening, it made it tough to stay late and enjoy the whole deal (there is an intermission). The drinks were good - strong a reasonably priced.
Not an every weekend deal, but worth a trip to check it out. -
Review from May B.
Vancouver, BC
7/15/2011
One of my favourite concert venues in the city. It's intimate enough but still enough space to move around and dance. The red velvet booths are cush as, and the drinks are cheap. I think everything that's needed has already been said, but I just wanted to write this short blurb as an expression of my Yelp-love for the Biltmore.
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Review from Peter B.
7/16/2010
Red velvet everywhere, shoes and records on the walls. Hipsters inside and out. Moodily lit. A not-too-small, not-too-big dance floor abutting the stage, surrounded by a surprisingly spacious selection (yeah that's right, I'll alliterate until I'm dead) of sit-down mingling areas. One-and-a-half bars, with many solid brews on tap. The bathrooms are a psychedelic visual explosion. Usually a hot dog stand by the entrance when there's a show on.
Oh, also, there's good music. And sometimes they do "Ice Cream Socials" with 50s/60s music and everybody gets retro. Check it out. -
Review from kath r.
4/6/2009 ROTD 4/30/2009
MEEEEOOOOW! Sunday nights at the Biltmore are Kitty Nights, and last night's fun and entertainment left us purring for more!
At first I was little reluctant; I mean, the HOward JOhnson Hotel? Really? It's all a-happenin' here? It seems so...road trip Americana?
But yes, ye of little faith... when night falls and the lights on the awning backlight the scratched out 'Biltmore Hotel' signage you know there's promise.... And when you enter the hotel lobby, and before you Even Say a Thing, some dude points at you and says, "entry to the Biltmore is around back", you just KNOW you're getting closer.... And when you open those big double doors and find yourself looking down into a dimly lit room of deep red velvet with a nice big bar to your right you POSITIVELY KNOW you're in the right place.
$5 on Sundays gets you 3hours of New York style burlesque and comedy with the smashingly sexy Burgundy Brixx and friends, The Professor and DJ Teddy Smooth. A fun, fab, fantastic feline evening with friends.
FYI - $3 coat check and $5 drafts -
Review from Evilyn T.
Finally something on our side of the bridge! I was worried that this place would be really rad, but nobody would venture to it, since its not in the West End. Luckily for me, every time I have been to the Biltmore it has been pretty packed, because let's face it, nobody wants to hang out in an empty club. We may complain about lines to get in, pushy people and waiting forever to get a drink, but we will still go back. The Biltmore has been the perfect amount of busy, I have never had to wait to get in, I have never had to deal with rude pushy people, but I have had to wait in a long drink line - so maybe having a few waitresses on would be an improvement?
I have been to the Biltmore to see live bands play, and also for Sunday Nights - Kitty Nights Burlesque, which I like to call Titty Nights, cuz that's what we're all there to see right? BOOBS! But seriously, this is no regular amateur burlesque show, this features ladies who have refined their dance techniques and costumes to be fucking sexy as hell yet sprinkled with a bit of crass humour as well. The night is hosted by the Purrfessor, who is as charming as he is hilarious, and the beautiful Burgandy Brixx who has brought us this show all the way from New York City! (New York City?!)
I do wish that the stage was a little higher, so when it gets crowded and you show up late (whooops!) that you could see what is going on a bit better. I am glad to have a venue close enough for me to do the Jager stagger home on warm Summer days.Listed in: Best Pubs/Clubs
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Review from Mike M.
11/17/2010
I liked the Biltmore. We stayed at the HOJO attached , so I was happily drunkdified without having to pay for a cab...points for that. Points awarded for the fact that the musical selection is so dope too. The live shows are superb. Its a bit hard to get a good spot to watch , but shit...isnt that what going to a live show at a bar is about.
Little Dragon Killed the stage, and the hipsters in the crowd were surprisingly friendly except for the little blond bimbo that kept stepping on me screaming that it was her birthday. . . Sorry but fiddy doesnt even care. So I pee'd in her beer bottle and found a better spot.
No I didnt youre disgusting.get your mind out of the gutter -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
Trust a dive-look outside paired with red wallpaper (circa 1975) and possibly a broken AC to have an awesome assortment of beer on tap and in the bottle!
Straining my eyes I tried to read the bottle labels, but alas - I didn't recognize any of them--a sign of good things! Choosing draft I was pleasantly surprised that the beer tasted like beer: not chlorine or line sludge.
The low hanging chandeliers added some shabby class that reminded me of my grandparents rec room in the 1980s. Just watch out, I was almost ducking under them!
But, probably the most fantastic part of the Biltmore, is their lineup of musical performances. With so many incredible acts crooning on stage, it's hard to go to performances elsewhere without making the comparison. Gotta give kudos for whoever is responsible for booking the likes of Sondre Lerche and the old school Degrassi Junior High characters--now DJs out of Toronto and spinning up 80s prom parties here. -
Review from Simon R.
BC
1/16/2009
Right on Kingsway just past Broadway lives The Biltmore Hotel. Underneath the hotel is The Biltmore Bar, once a nasty little biker venue, it has since has cleaned up its act and renovated itself into a beautiful large musical venue.
With a wide open dance floor and a huge full frontal stage, its becoming very popular for bigger name acts who can fill up the space and bring in the crowds. There is plenty of seating on either side of the floor, big classy booths with plush red cushioning illuminated by mini chandeliers. It's nice to get cozy in them but they don't really give a good view of the stage.
Off the beaten path, expect good things to come for this place, as CBC has recently made it the venue where it does most its recorded shows for radio. Cover is usually pretty cheap, but all that could change. -
Review from Derek W.
7/3/2010
If you see a band at the Biltmore, they've got a good shot at playing a larger (and more expensive) venue in the future. That is, if they aren't cult legends who have played big venues in the past. Whoever books shows for this place has probably found his/her calling.
The Biltmore gets just about everything right. Enjoy your favorite about-to-be-signed act with whatever beer suit their music best - there are dozens to choose from. And for us gluten-free or gluten-reduced folks, they serve Big Rock Cider on tap.
The bouncers/doormen are firm, but not jerks. They do their job without attitude, which is refreshing. I wouldn't suggest that this is a "classy" club, but it isn't grimy either.
If your favorite band or artist is playing here, don't hesitate to go. -
Review from Jen C.
8/14/2009 1 photo
Although hard to find (we were worried we'd be attending the show in an empty HoJo lounge) the cabaret is fantastic! Just go around the back of the hotel to find the right place.
The room is super sexy. Dimly lit booths line the walls, perfect for making out in between bands... if you were into that kind of thing.
The bartenders were awesome... even though they couldn't make me a lemon drop, the improvised replacement was great.
The sound was fantastic, too. -
Review from Dani B.
6/12/2009
Hipster alert! This place used to be a dive and then they renovated it to make it look like a hipster died and left their spirit on the walls; and i'm not saying that's a bad thing.
I've only been here for concerts and I was not disappointed. The stage is close to the ground and there is enough dance room (altthough not tons of room). All the bands I saw here were great and they even have vintage arcade games for those moments of nostalga.
I've heard this place isn't as good when there are just dj's but its a great place to see an act play! -
Review from Steve L.
Victoria, BC
6/9/2010 4 photos
I'm a big fan of live music and a bigger fan of small intimate, possibly even danky, places to watch live music; and the Biltmore offers both.
Since the demise of Richard's on Richards, thanks to yet another horrible condo development downtown, the Biltmore has stepped up to the plate to be one of the best live music venues in town.
That being said, the only reason I didn't give them 5 stars was because the room is small and the stage is only a foot off the floor, which means if you're there for a sold out show the sight lines aren't the greatest if you're under 6 feet and not in the front two rows. But I guess that also adds to the intimacy and there is nothing the Biltmore can really do to solve that problem, so I probably shouldn't complain too much.
The decor is great, the beer is cheap and the staff is without attitude, what more could you ask for?
And yes, as others have mentioned the Biltmore is a hipster "hive" but it's located off of Main street, so what else would you expect? That's like going to Yaletown and being surprised by somebody carrying their tiny dog in a purse, or heading up to Commercial Drive and being shocked to see someone wearing a sarong.
If there's a band you want to see live and you find out they're playing the Biltmore don't pass up the opportunity to go. Who knows, the next time you might get to see that same band again might only be at GM Place and then you're going to regret the night you missed them at the Biltmore. -
Review from Alex B.
East York, ON
10/1/2010
I used to hang out at the Railway Club until they changed management, now I hit up Biltmore more often.
The layout is small but interesting, this place forces Vancouverites to hit the dance floor or go hide in one of the little plush coves.
The best part is the location, easy staggering distance for me. -
Review from Melissa F.
Toronto, ON
1/13/2010
holy sh*t- when did the biltmore become THE place to be?
I rmember when this place used to be the ugly hojos. And i remember even BEFORE it was the ugly hojos.
-The front doormen and bar are friendly
-the place has an awesome layout
-the security will kick you off the stage if you try to do the crabwalk too many times
-they may or MAY not care if you go behind the bar and pretend you're a bartender.
-aaaaaannnnnd. it's just a chill place.
it's a-ok. but beware of the hipsters. they love this place. -
Review from Mathieu Y.
Vancouver, BC
10/6/2009
Hidden away off Kingsway and 12th, the Biltmore Cabaret is the dream venue that almost never happened. With cheap beer and two bars to service any given night, loungey dining area style booths set up around the venue, a generously spaced dance floor and strategically placed (and very clean ) bathrooms, a night at the biltmore seems very classy, yet not pretentious.
The place operates as a venue nearly every night, and distritbutes tickets to their shows almost exclusively through the local record stores Scratch, Zulu, and RedCat. However, they are also courteous enough to keep some tickets at the door, so if you really want to go to that sold-out show, come early and they may have something for you.
When at capacity, the biltmore can be a lame place to be in. There are a lot of places without any stage sightlines (even for me at six feet tall) and the place gets very very loud on weekends. The bar is almost always accessible though (due in part to the layout and dual bar situation) and the last call is relatively late in to the night. There is a smoking section tapered off at the front, or sometimes facing kingsway at their back entrance.
There is an overwhelming security presence during some of the gigs here. They're mostly friendly though and are just there to stop fights etc. Be prepared to be searched when you enter though.Listed in: Dance to this music
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Review from Andrea B.
Burnaby, BC
7/26/2010
Went on a Saturday night and loved it! Unpretentious crowd, no-line up, super cool music and tons of sitting space equals a great night! This is thee place to catch some live music! What I loved most is that this place wasn't super crowded - it didn't take 30 minutes to walk from one side of the room to the other and the girl's washroom line-up was reasonable. OH and there was a jug of water at the side of the bar for people to serve themselves!!! SMARTEST IDEA EVER!!!
That being said, this is not the place to "get to know" someone. I think I was screaming the entire night and had to pretend to hear what people were saying. There was a lot of nodding and smiling. Oh, and it's kind of hard to see people's faces from all the smoke in the air. No, not cigarette smoke but stage smoke! It was a tad excessive - felt like we were cloud hopping. And if you plan on hanging out with your buds outside...don't. This is a residential area so people complain. Trust me - learned this from experience :)
