1Granville Island Public Market
Food market·Granville Island·$·All ages
An indoor market on False Creek with food stalls, produce, bakeries and local artisans, open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Shared counters and the waterfront benches outside make it easy to strike up a chat over a coffee or a snack.
Granville Island, 1661 Duranleau St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3S3 (market administration) · Walk-in
2The Improv Centre
Improv theatre and classes·Granville Island·$$·All ages
Home of Vancouver TheatreSports, with shows most nights and improv classes and workshops for all levels, plus a free monthly Saturday Community Jam for ages 19 and up. Doing silly scenes with strangers is the fastest icebreaker there is.
1502 Duranleau St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3S4 · Takes bookings
3Back and Forth Bar
Ping-pong bar·Gastown·$·20s
A bar with six ping-pong tables for rent by the hour, from $10 on Tuesdays, plus air hockey, Pop-A-Shot and board games behind the bar. Open until 3 a.m. on weekends; book a table and challenge the group next to you.
303 Columbia St, Vancouver, BC V6A 2R7 · Takes bookings
4Strange Fellows Brewing
Brewery taproom·Commercial Drive area·$$·30s
A friendly East Van taproom just off Commercial Drive with free trivia on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Joining a team or forming one at the bar is a natural way to meet locals.
1345 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC V5L 3K9 · Walk-in
5Brassneck Brewery
Brewery taproom·Mount Pleasant (Main Street)·$$·30s
One of Main Street's busiest tasting rooms, with a rotating line-up of house beers and food from Magnet, open until 11 p.m. most nights. Long tables and a neighbourhood crowd make it easy to end up talking to the next group.
2148 Main St, Vancouver, BC · Walk-in
633 Acres Brewing
Brewery and café·Mount Pleasant·$$·30s
A bright, minimalist brewery that opens from 11 a.m., so it works for a daytime hang as much as an evening pint. Popular with a creative crowd and with people on their own with a book.
15 W 8th Ave, Vancouver, BC · Walk-in
7Hive Climbing Vancouver Boulder
Bouldering gym·False Creek Flats·$$·20s
A big bouldering gym open late most days, where people rest between climbs and swap tips on the same problems. It is one of the most social ways to meet active people; book ahead at peak times.
520 Industrial Ave, Vancouver, BC V6A 2P3 · Takes bookings
8Dance Vancouver
Dance studio·Kitsilano (West Broadway)·$$·All ages
A Latin dance studio with salsa and bachata classes, a two-week unlimited deal for new students and the Pa' Gozar social on Fridays. Partners rotate in class, so you meet everyone in the room.
1627 West Broadway, 2nd floor, Vancouver, BC V6J 1W9 · Takes bookings
9The Dirty Apron Cooking School
Cooking class·Crosstown·$$$·30s
Hands-on cooking classes for adults with a packed calendar of cuisines, ending with everyone eating what they made. Many people come alone or in pairs, and the shared kitchen keeps conversation going.
540 Beatty St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2L3 · Takes bookings
10Rolla Skate Club
Roller skating·Hastings-Sunrise (PNE grounds)·$$·All ages
Roller skating in the redesigned Rollerland building, with DJs at the Saturday skate parties from 4 to 10 p.m. ($25 plus rentals) and an adult intro class for total beginners. Wobbling around together is a guaranteed icebreaker.
Rollerland Building, 2901 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC · Takes bookings