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Narrow Lounge
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 1 am
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
49 reviews for Narrow Lounge
Review Highlights
"There you have it, a great place to hang out."
(in 5 reviews)
"Their Peanut Butter Pie."
(in 2 reviews)
"Good music, good drink list, good people, nice antlers."
(in 5 reviews)
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49 reviews in English
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Review from Robin M.
10/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's a NARROW lounge, people -- don't be surprised by the lack of room. It's narrow. Just like it said it would be: narrow.
But it's one of the best spaces in Vancouver.
To say I merely love it would be doing the place a disservice. The feelings I have for Narrow go beyond fleeting and simple adoration. Because you're forced to love it. You're forced to love the friends you're with, you're forced to love the stranger at the next table, you're forced to love the person at the bar, hell, you're even forced to love the people out back. You're forced to because it's tiny, and because it's tiny, you're forced to be in good relations with everyone in the space.
Good music, good drink list, good people, nice antlers. Good bet on most nights. Good friends, to be sure. -
Review from geoff a.
Vancouver, BC
1/16/2012
I love the character of this bar.
Nice dark lighting, cheesy framed pictures and obligatory ironic deer head mounted to the wall. It's subterranean (located downstairs), and of course very narrow. It gets quite busy and you might be lucky if you find a seat after 7ish. There are stairs, but I believe it is more accessible from around back. At least in the summer time, when they add a few outdoor tables and have the back door open.
They have a decent beer list, with some craft beers on tap and by the bottle.
The food is simple, but not as cheap as one might hope.
It's really just more of a watering hole. -
Review from Tamara L.
1/10/2012
Narrow is cool beans. Really awesome vibe with great drinks and yummy small-plates for nibbling (god, I love the word 'nibbling). Their popcorn with 'mexican' spice is a crowd pleasure. I don't know if I have ever been in a smaller bar-- but what this place lacks in size is more than makes up for in charm and charisma. The atmosphere cannot be beat. I feel like it's my own little secret bar and by just going here I am part of some elite club of lounge-goers.
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Review from Sarah P.
Vancouver, BC
12/29/2011
They're not kidding when they call this place Narrow. I almost didn't write a review b/c I don't want you to know how awesome this place is and go and take up my precious seat. Seriously though, it's funky, eclectic and the staff and clientele alike have a cool vibe and yes, I recognize I'm indirectly calling myself cool. Check it out if you can find it ;)
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Review from Joshua C.
7/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
We stopped by the Narrow Lounge for some drinks after watching the Canada Day fireworks at Crab Park. It's a cool little spot with great snacks on the menu. The chili-lime popcorn was like CRACK! It was the perfect drinking snack.
This place is pretty small, hence the name, and it can feel a little claustrophobic. Other than that, it's a cool bar and I could imagine myself hanging out here if I lived in Vancouver.Listed in: Vancouver, BC
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Review from Emma L.
1/12/2011 ROTD 4/27/2011
Perfect spot for last night's girls' night. A little bit out of the way but feels like someone's awesome basement rec room/speakeasy.
One of my friends was already there when the other two of us arrived, thankfully, as it was fairly busy for a Tuesday night and she had snagged the last table. She had already ordered, but the waitress popped by as soon as we sat down to bring a menu and take drink orders. This was what service was like all night -- perfectly timed and amiable. The waitress was friendly and charming like your best friend's hip older sister, and the kind who suggests another bottle of wine knowing that of course you'll say yes.
Only one of us ordered food and it was a recommendation from the waitress when my friend said she needed something hearty but healthy. She ended up with a sausage cassoulet for $9 that looked amazing.
The bathroom I used was large and clean with a huge mirror, in case you need to make sure your outfit still looks hot.
The ATM in the back corner is very convenient.
Cannot wait to come back to the Narrow!Listed in: I miss Main Street, Date night!
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Review from Melissa E.
Vancouver, BC
4/30/2011
I was THIS close to giving it 5 stars. My only peeve is the music is a touch loud for conversation but otherwise, this place rocks. Love it.
We ordered several rounds of G&T (mmmm G&T) and when the bill arrived realized they were 5$ each!!!! WHOA! Unheard of in Vancouver and we were very appreciative.
I didn't eat but the 3 others at my table did...pulled pork taco, mac and cheese and the beef stew. Each meal was yummy (although the mac and cheese was a bit tasteless but she opted out of the bacon bits...crickets chirping....ya i know, epic fail) and a great price...around 6-7$. The bartender was great but the waitress...not so much.
Overall a blast. Definitely keeping it on the list although may have to revisit in the fall, not really a 'summer' place.Listed in: Drinks anyone?
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Review from Anthony C.
Vancouver, BC
4/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
"Yay! I'm a fan." does not quite cut it, Yelp. I'm definitely a devotee of The Narrow.
While walking around Mount Pleasant with a friend, we decided it was high time we cut out the physical activity and got down to business i.e. drinks. I had never been nor heard of The Narrow and walking up to the door, I thought for a brief moment that I might never be heard from again.
Surrounded by concrete and graffiti, the main door is very underground clubbish with its red light bulb above signifying if it's open or not. Walking in I realized quickly why this place is called "The Narrow". I love me a speakeasy with character and The Narrow has plenty to spare.
Need a killer beer selection? They have it. A vinyl collection on display? Yeah, it's there. Tasty yet inexpensive food? I'm sure you can guess where I'm going with this call-and-respond line of questioning. I realize that I'm not nearly cool enough to discover places like this on my own but on that particular Wednesday, when there was only a handful of us inside, I felt like I was in on the secret. If you need somewhere to chill on a weekday or you want to impress a first date with your knowledge of awesome hole in the wall establishments - obviously you take them here.
Oh, and I can call it a speakeasy because when I checked in on Foursquare that was its designation. I may be a total dork but I'm not lame. -
Review from Nicole F.
2/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Dear Narrow Lounge:
You've got some explaining to do.
I've been to your establishment a few times now with friends, yet I'd never tried the food until last night.
Some girlfriends and I decided to do dinner and drinks, and I suggested we try The Narrow when nobody else came up with a suggestion.
Aside from my two buddies, it was completely empty when I arrived which was nice. We had the full attention of our delightful server and everything came out super fast.
I started with the Warm Pretzels and Cheese which was DIVINE. The pretzels were steaming hot, the sauce was deliciously cheesy with the perfect amount of mustard. I was tempted to order a second plate after I finished mine, but I held back because I was eager to try the Mac n Cheese I've heard such good things about.
So.. out came the Mac n Cheese. What the shit, Narrow Lounge? What... the shit.
This is probably one of the worst Mac n Cheese dishes I've ever paid for. You know when you re-heat old Kraft Dinner and the flavour mysteriously disappears, so you pile on the salt? Yeeaaaaaaah. This was pretty much exactly the same with thicker noodles. The sauce seemed old and had started to get a little lumpy and it was pretty much cold by the time I reached the bottom of the bowl. It was also devoid of any flavour whatsoever, aside from all the salt I piled on.
I felt pretty ripped off. It should have been about 50 cents, not $6. Cuz that's about how much it costs for half a box of Kraft dinner, and it felt like I was eating the leftovers.
I should have just ordered a second plate of pretzels. -
Review from Reena M.
12/1/2010 3 Check-ins Here
What a shady, unsuspecting place. The only thing pointing the way is this awkward red lightbulb. If you tell someone to meet you there, be prepared to give thorough directions and description, because even if they find it, they may not actually believe this is the place you expected them to come to.
But once you pass through the doors and see this awesome underground speakeasy-like bar, you know you walked into something awesome. I've only been there for drinks, but they have a decent beer selection. It's always been too loud and busy when I've gone for me to strike up the nerve to ask for a drink menu or order food.
But after re-reading Crystal H.'s review I think I may go for a mint julep next time! Their food menu looks good too.
This is one of my favourite bars in Vancouver.Listed in: Get y'er drank on!
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Review from Hilda L.
3/10/2011
Ambiance: 4*
I like you. I like you a lot. You're dark, grungy and cool - everything I'm not - and I feel hip and underground just knowing you. You were so crowded and so noisy that it actually had the opposite effect on me - it felt like my date and I were the only people in the room. Well that is until other people bumped into us from time to time because the place Is so darn narrow. Standing room only for most of the night but the crowd did thin out around 12, 1230.
Service: 3*
I think there were only 2 people working the long bar (ahem, 'cause the place is narrow) on Saturday. Could be a bit of a wait. -
Review from TOMICA D.
Vancouver, BC
5/7/2011
This is probably my favourite bar in Vancouver, and here's why:
- there's no sign outside which makes me feel like I'm going into a secret place and about to embark on a crazy adventure.
- the spray-painted walls on the stairwell leading you downstairs confirm the above mentioned feeling.
- although dive-bar-ish on the way down, the interior is actually quite nice
- it's small and narrow (hence the appropriate name) and there are no TVs inside! (sorry hockey fans but every once in a while I'd like to go out somewhere that ISN'T a sports bar)
- the tables are close enough together that you usually end up talking with people you didn't even come with, which is kinda rare for this city
- the music is great
- they serve food late
That pretty much sums it up! You're bound to find me there on a Friday night. -
Review from Cyndi H.
Vancouver, BC
10/6/2010
A secret spot within a secret spot, behind a secret spot. Whoaaaa-- mind exploding!
Oh Narrow, how you're so awesomely clever.
If discovering a bar tucked behind an art gallery wasn't enough, Narrow upped the anti with their retro-fabulous tiki bar outside. We tiki-cocktail'd & dined on wooden picnic tables, ate mac n' cheese (and pretty much everything on the menu), and felt like kids in Disneyland (the themed food court). Best of all, we learned about how (tragically/hilariously) vegetarians have been raving about the 'un-burger', which is clearly described on the menu as having a slice of meatloaf in place of a regular burger patty. Oops...
The service was fun and chill, the GIANT Tiki wall mask set the stage along with torches, thatched straw adornments, lil' bar, etc. and put me in the mood for summer fun!
But one must wonder, considering the theme, would no shirt (coconut bra) and no shoes equal no service? I say we/you test it out. If it's a no go, hula and blend in with the decor ; )Listed in: Fun Date Material, Unexpected Spaces, Fab Lounges
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Review from Evilyn T.
The secret is out! Our little hide-away beneath the red light off of Main Street has been invaded, and is no longer our special spot. Everyone must be on holidays, because this place was PACKED last night. We got there around 10:30 for a friendly gathering, and it was standing room only, and because the Narrow, is exactly that, we were squished between people seated at the bar, and people seated at tables, and then crushed every time someone tried to squeeze through us to get to the bathroom. Whatever the capacity was at the Narrow, I am pretty sure we exceeded it.
Luckily, we leered long enough at a table nearby, that the people sitting at it left. Then it was a question of, do we wait to be served, or do we hit the bar to get service? There only seemed to be two staff members working the bar, and they were doing an awesome job considering the amount of people that were crammed in there, and they did make it around to some of the tables when they had a chance, but there probably should have been more staff scheduled for the night. We had the nachos ($14), which were awesome, complete with layered cheese. For some reason many restaurants don't do this, so after you destroy the first layer of chips, you are left with naked ones. This is not the case at the Narrow. However, I have to admit, I am not really a fan of their salsa. I'm not sure what the spice is that they put in it, but it's not my favourite.
The rum and diets were about $5.50, which was a-ok, and I was able to use the bank machine at the back at the end of bar to pay my tab. Having a bank machine in a pub can be a blessing in disguise. This is why you should always ask for a receipt when using the bank machine, thus eliminating the surprise in the morning. I'll be back to the Narrow again because the staff, the drinks and the food are all great, but hopefully it won't be so squishy.Listed in: Best Pubs/Clubs, Nacho Libre
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/17/2010
Luckily I had been to the Narrow Lounge before, otherwise, I don't think I would have found it.… Read more »
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Review from Tabatha Anne Y.
Richmond, BC
2/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Apparently warm pretzels are the fastest way to my heart. That and rum, so I had a pretty good experience at the Narrow on Wednesday evening.
It's kind of hard to spot from the street unless you're looking for it, so keep an eye out for that little red light. Inside you'll find a dark ambient lounge that is in fact pretty narrow.
Our waiter was friendly and personable, the drink prices were fair and the food I had (nachos and pretzels) tasted great.
It seems like a pretty busy place at the peak hours of the night so get there early and set up camp.
I'll be coming back, it was pretty sweet. -
Review from Rheanna F.
Vancouver, BC
7/24/2010 ROTD 12/4/2010
Depending on the time you go, this place is either a great, romantic date spot or a totally crazy night out waiting to happen! I've been here in the early evening and had a nice sit down... And I've also been pounding back booze here until... well, i won't say how late since it's a bit scandalous.
Their nachos are EPIC, the mac n cheese is to die for, and if you're feeling conservative their salad is damn tasty too. They've got a great drink selection and their bartenders are always spot on with their mixes. Ive never been here and had a crappy time, and everyone i've dragged along loves it.
If you're showing up late on a weekend night you may have to stand for awhile. It's called the Narrow for a reason- it's TINY. Show up by 9 and you should be alright, and if not just be patient for a seat cause it's worth the wait. The crowd is always mixed, but always in good spirits. I've been here surrounded by Main St hipsters, middle aged gay guys in polo shirts, Yaletown d-bags (sorry guys, but you were being a bit obnoxious) and stinky metal heads. A few years back, K-Os was in town for a bit and was so impressed that he asked them if he could do a few unadvertised DJ sets. It was pretty rad to show up and see him spinning.
The decor is the best in the city - antlers and baroque wallpaper and still life paintings of roses- and the music is always awesome. Think the Cure, T.Rex, The Doors, The Cramps, Depeche Mode, Nirvana, Culture Club and Joy Division.
Oh yea,and once it's night time and the lights get dim and the music gets louder, it is totally accepted and sometimes encouraged for you to dance on the bar. Word. -
Review from Matthew T.
Vancouver, BC
3/5/2011
Tight!
Best on a Sunday. -
Review from Alicyn C.
11/12/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Hidden jewel in the city. I finally had the privledge of going to the Narrow Lounge this week and fell in love. Such a fantastic, tucked away establishment. The pefect casual experience where you can just sit, drink, eat and enjoy great company in a relaxed setting.
We enjoyed the delicious mac n' cheese, the oh so yummy hummus along with some good ole' cream ale.
Thank you for making the start of a great evening even better Narrow Lounge. Vancouver truly needs more hidden jems like this. I look forward to seeing you again soon.Listed in: Mac n' Cheese Quest
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Review from Garth C.
What can I say, am I finally at a loss for words? No matter how much thought I put in to this review I know that it will never do it justice.
From the start I could tell I was in for a treat when I walked around the corner under the red light, down the dimly lit entrance, to a little piece of heaven. Long have I looked for the small bar that excels in character and conversation, my search is over.
The Mac and Cheese with bacon and jalapenos were a great match to my many pints of beer and shots of jäger, listening to Johnny Cash was just icing on the cake.
I don't regret much in my life. Sure I had a mullet 5 years too late and I sported Mc Hammer pants when Vanilla Ice was in, but I do not regret any of that. My only regret not finding this place sooner.
So stop crab dancing at home, put on some jeans and head to the Narrow Lounge tonight, you won't be disappointed.Listed in: At least my mom thinks i'm…
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Review from Simon G.
Vancouver, BC
3/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
A funky little hideaway place, right around the corner from where I live. And I just find about it now...
Cozy atmosphere, friendly and casual service, and definitely a place to keep coming back to.
Music a bit too loud, and no main courses to eat for vegans like me. Still, a couple of appetizers were just fine (hummus, potato wedges, and cranberry tapenade were delicious). -
Review from Rick C.
12/10/2010
This place is beyond hidden. You'd only find it if someone told you about it. Basically, you have to find the door behind some building off Main Street.
It's a really small, quaint place that lives up to the name. It's narrow for sure. The taps are good with great beer, especially one of my faves, Raven Cream Ale.
It's a cool, secret place that's perfect for a drink. But it gets packed fast and not made for more than a few people at a time.Listed in: Casual Drinks
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Review from Robert T.
Vancouver, BC
1/20/2011
I love this place for hanging out for some chill drinks and some good eats but last night I encountered something new. Their Peanut Butter Pie.
Picture if you will a pie sized peanut butter cup but instead of straight peanut butter as the filling . . . IT'S PEANUT BUTTER CHEESCAKE!
'Nuff said! -
Review from Linzi M.
6/4/2011
"You can dance on the bar, if you like"..... SOLD!
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Review from Corstian P.
Vancouver, BC
8/2/2010 1 Check-in Here
My first response was to not review this place. Not because it had bad swill , uncultured bartenders or an atmosphere that made your head think up murder plots. Quite the opposite, I had a sudden urge to hide it away and keep it all to myself.
The Narrow; our predetermined spot for the night was non of those things. Having taken pictures of the low key entrance and the street art that followed I knew that the carpet had to match the drapes.
The bar totally had a bourgeois gone depression feel. We were greeted with a beer menu and told that she could make us anything else that we wanted.
After a number of drinks and a giant plate of nachos the short walk home left us decided that the "spot for the night" might just become our spot. -
Review from Colleen C.
Vancouver, BC
2/26/2009 ROTD 5/11/2009
Narrow Lounge is just that - narrow - but it's one of the best hidden gems of the city. They've got an amazingly well stocked bar complete with at six or so small batch bourbons, and they can make you absolutely anything you can think of.
At first, from outside, you might not even know you're at a bar. There's a red light above the black industrial door if they're open, and it's off if they're closed.
This is a one of my favourite night spots in town, especially if I'm looking for a cool and chill evening with friends. No room (at all) to dance, but you'll definitely find some space to go hang out. -
Review from Kelsey P.
Vancouver, BC
I have mad lust for this place. From the hidden little entrance, to the crazy deco (chandeliers, antlers, stuffed sneering animal head) to the eclectic mixture of people gathered. I lust it all.
Ask the bartender to make something they don't have all the ingredients for and they'll make you something similar only a thousand times better than what you originally requested. I think I now have a new favorite drink.
Narrow lounge, I am smitten. -
Review from Kassim D.
11/24/2010
Weeknights at this place are pretty happening...A friend of mine guided me to this hidden gem with the one light outside. As we walked down the stairs in the lounge / basement it felt slightly like the beginning of a horror movie.
This place was small (and narrow of course) but cozy. The music while random and fun, was too loud for this place. Bar / waiter service was quick, friendly, and reliable even at the tables by the wall.
I do plan to go back for some of their food which from the menu on the wall, looked great - I also seem to remember a peanut butter pie of sorts on the menu which sounds awesome.
Extra awesomeness point for the random disco ball hanging above the entrances to the bathroom. -
Review from Raffy E.
Vancouver, BC
I really wouldn't call this place a "lounge" so much as a "dive bar that doesn't reek of cat piss and beer", but I loved it anyway because it reminded me of all those bars in my old SF Mission haunt that did smell like piss and beer. Can't say anything about the food since I didn't try it (although I doubt I ever would, seeing as the place doesn't strike me as a dinner sort of place), but the booze selection was good and the bartender was way cool. Negatives? I have never been in a bar where the price for the drinks on the menu didn't match what they asked for at the bar. I don't think I got conned, so maybe I just don't get the system they have in place here in BC?
UPDATE: I likely got charged tax on top of my whiskey, although I've never had that happen to me before. Must be a BC thing. Silly newb. -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
4/4/2009 1 photo
Standing upstairs at the Grace Gallery, I am asked if I'd like to go downstairs for a drink. "Of course," I say. I mean, who wouldn't want to go through some back door, past a random bicycle, storage stuff and stark, white walls with pewter doors on almost every side?
And then, all of a sudden I see why they call it the Narrow. But what perfection in something narrow!
Great beer selection, cool drinks like mint juleps served in silver cups, and really attentive and friendly service! Relaxed and unpretentious, with music that had our table wishing we had an iPhone to answer, "Who sings this," a dozen times over. It was just loud enough to make you yell, but not loud enough to make your ears ring.
Definitely returning for more late night drinks and possibly check out their lunch menu! -
Review from Rose N.
Vancouver, BC
7/1/2010
Locals Secret Havana: No frills, just chilling & drinks lounge
Word of mouth, no advertising, no flashy big TV screen inside or fancy decor to lure the patrons. It's full bar service where you are will be served by a hospitable bar tender and staff.
I wouldn't suggest ordering any of the food. We ordered popcorn, fish tacos and Narrow parfait, all were very pricey (relevant to this scene) , and quality, well not much to talk about. But again, the focus is not on food, but a very well-kept secret drinking place for locals. Though that is likely to come to an end with reviews like these.
The patio- very unique, a must try...note that seating is limited.
Drinks to try are there Sangrias-made with white wine...
Resembles one of Seattle's downtown grunge-type pub. Let's just say, almost everyone there has a tattoo. -
Review from Dani B.
5/19/2009 ROTD 9/27/2009
It took me forever to realize I had wandered away from Grace Gallery and into the Narrow. It was totally a pleasent suprise though!
Sitting in the dark narrow bar adorned with "interesting" decor, you almost feel like your in the Twilight zone, however, the friendly staff reminds you that your not.
Their beer list is good and the music they blare is pretty unique as well. When you eventually stumble out of the bar, you will most likely have trouble figuring out how you got there in the first place. -
Review from Sarah O.
2/10/2011
Caution: This place is actually very narrow. So narrow that I was a victim of a beer spillage 3 or 4 times in a span of 2 hours. So narrow that I had to crab-walk all the way to the bathroom. Even more narrow that I had to re-evaluate: "Did I just instantly get fatter?" You get the idea. It's a small place.
Marked by a sultry red light that looks synonymous to "craigslist-casual-encounter", "back pages of the Georgia Straight" or "Patong, Phuket". Or was that just me over-dramatizing it in my head? It would be a perfect little hide-away bar to enjoy a beer without being seen if you were a criminal on the run, though I suspect this place is getting pretty popular. I appreciate the fact that there is a parking lot here. The bartender was down-to-earth and had a pleasant demeanor, the crowd ranges from e.van queer kids to mindless partiers to average joe-blows needing a cold beer after work to everything in between. There is a high probability I would come here more regularly if I lived in the area but sadly, this is not so. Also, the food menu looked tantilizing and the prices were sexy. But their drink prices are a bit steep for what this place is trying to be. If I'm going to get an unsolicited beer bath from my neighbors at the bar, I expect to pay a little less than $6 a draught. So I can't decide.. is this a 3 star or a 4? Does it really matter? I'll be back.Listed in: Oat Sodas And Good Company.
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Review from Emma L.
Vancouver, BC
2/2/2011
Love!
Sick atmosphere, I feel like i'm straight out of a sexy 30's jazz lounge. Next time i'll be sure to bring my feather boa and garter belt...
As the name would suggest the Narrow is more of a bar than a restaurant but from what I experience the food is dirt cheap and top quality. I had the best hummus of my life and satisfying macaroni and cheese for under 15$ (for both). I warn: the drinks are more expensive, however so this isn't the spot to go to get out of your mind drunk on a single bill. The music, how could i forget, is fantastic. Eating delicious food with imported beer in a sexy atmosphere while listening to The Cure? I though I needed to die before going to heaven...
If the other reviews haven't informed you, it has no storefront. It's the back door behind a gallery on 3rd and Main. But don't worry, you'll hear the music and it's really not too hard to find. This just lends to the rough, cool flair of the place.Listed in: Night Prowling
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Review from Angela L.
5/8/2009
Arriving at a quarter past nine last night (Thursday), my friend and I were lucky enough to snag the last intimate high top table. The room was mischieviously dim and filled with clusters of people huddled together, engaged in conversations. The very appropriate soundtrack was Clash-era-Brit-rock with a dollop of Beastie Boys played from records by the bar.
Despite the quickly filling room, our barman/server was very attentive. The menu was impressively large, but we were looking at beers, so he suggested the Rogue Dead Guy Ale, which apparently rarely comes on draft and was also on special for $5 (normally $6.50). My friend, who is in town from Sweden, noted that although this small bar impressively stocked quite a few beers on tap, only one of them was a lager - "All ales: how British!" he mused. Our beers arrived promptly though and luckily, the lager was found to be quite good. My ale even came in the corresponding glass with a piratey-skeleton sitting atop a barrel o' Rogue. Adorable!
The front door is unmarked, and with all this word of mouth and these rave reviews, they soon won't be needing to put that sandwich board out on Main anymore. If I lived here, this is the kind of place I would be a regular at. -
Review from Summer K.
6/15/2009
We were on a trip to Vancouver and we feel so fortunate to have come across the Narrow. We were eating dinner earlier and our server recommended checking this place out. The lounge appeared to be a local hang out and as a tourist, it is always enjoyable to stumble upon this type of experience.
This place definitely has its name for a reason, it is pretty narrow. It has an overall feel of intimate and chill. We were told to look for the red light, there isn't even a sign announcing the bar, but we saw the light and followed it and we are so glad we did.
This is definitely a fun place to check out! -
Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
8/11/2008
Just being able to find this place makes me feel all cool and in on something. You walk in the door, wondering if you're in the right place, and there's this, yes, narrow room with a great big bar running down it.
There's a definite sense of retro-kitsch with several sets of antlers hanging on the wall and a cubby hole stuffed with vinyl records. But unlike some other so-called cool hangouts, this place comes with super-friendly and competent staff. You need a refill on your drink, something to eat, to split the check, to pay with debit? No problems.
It gets pretty busy in the evenings, so the best thing to do is to sidle in for snacks or dinner after work in order to secure a table for you and your mates. The menu features lovely comfort food - gastropub-style - and it's pretty cheap, too. This is just a great little bar to hang out in, especially on a sunny day when you just want to get drunk and write bad poetry.Listed in: Ladytime, Pleasantville
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Review from Tim L.
1/3/2010
I didn't Yelp this place for ages thinking I could keep it a secret.
Then a friend's birthday here prompted me to maybe look into writing a review.
Low and behold someone's come along and reviewed it and a few more have joined and even 2 ROTDs! I guess the cat's out of the bag on this one and I should stop being so greedy with keeping gems like these a secret.
Vancouver definitely needs a healthy dose of more places like this. The Narrow does a great job of maintaining a cool vibe without any pretentiousness. Difficult in this day and age when businesses so easily sway their personalities based on gentrification and the newest hipster fads.
I'm glad to say that the Narrow holds it's ground and provides solid appeal based on it's no-nonsense approach to providing decent food, drinks and atmosphere that's cozy as heck to get friendly in.
Think of the early halcyon days of the Alibi Room & Lucy Mae Brown's and subtract away all the cruft, douchey people and some square footage.
There you have it, a great place to hang out. They still spin vinyl...the real stuff not the the animated vinyl on a decal-ed up Macbook. Not that I have anything against that, it's just it fits the atmosphere so nicely.
As the name states..it's Narrow. It's also hard to spot if you haven't been before. It's on Lorne @ Main with the door illuminated with one of those dark room red light bulbs behind the art gallery. -
Review from Carlos M.
Coquitlam, BC
Probably the most hipster place I've been to. I honestly don't think anyone would find this place without having to hear about it beforehand. That aside it's not too bad of a joint. If you can be an adult about it and try to forget about labels like I try to this place is worth a shot. It's got a dirt and gritty theme to it, at least I hope it's a theme, and the food and drink are pretty damn good and well priced. Definitely a nice quiet place to catch up with friends without loud pounding music or to cuddle up to a girl in the candlelight. Just don't be alarmed if you can't see anything at all for the first ten to fifteen minutes you're there, it's really damn dark.
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Review from Luisa D.
Updated - 11/9/2010
Love Denny who took care of us. Love that I could get Mac n Cheese for $6. Love that my fully loaded spinach salad was $7. Love that the hubby's beef donair was only $5. Love that highballs are $5. Love that they still have the Liberty School Cab on ($50) which is so perfect on a chilly night. Keep it up Narrow - you rock my pocketbook!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/17/2010
I've always had fun at this spot: Whether it's been a birthday party or a small get together. The… Read more »
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Review from Renee C.
8/30/2009
Narrow does not come close to describing my adoration for this little place. This place reminds me of a place that all the people that get 'it' go to. And to provide evidence for this, I even bump into friends from long-past days from other cities here, friends that get 'it'. The fact that you even have to figure out how to get in the door (and which door) must surely mean you've already passed some kind of test.
The atmosphere is understated but undeniably cool; down-to-earth but with personality. A great libation list, enough to keep me interested in trying something new, even as my cognitive wiliness slips away with each new drink.
And I have to end with a comment about the staff. This must also be the place that people with good energy, happy dispositions, cool personalities, and true friendliness come to work.
Amazing that you can pack that much coolness in one narrow space. Great chandeliers, by the way.
