My first experience at the Astoria was this weekend, and to say it was eventful is an understatement. I came here to meet some friends and was unaware that it was Rent Cheque night. What is Rent Cheque night, you may ask? Oh, let me tell you. It's amateur strip night. Now don't get me wrong, I love a good strip club. But we were expecting to come into the Astoria for a drink and maybe shoot some pool, and damn, we ended up getting a whole show! The Astoria itself is fairly large - bigger than most bars I've been to in East Van. For it being a Friday and Rent Cheque night, the bar wasn't that full. Then again we came in well past midnight, so maybe the party was teetering off by then. This is probably one of the most dive-y bars in Vancouver that I've been to thus far. It's got the grunge, it's got the cheap drinks, it's got the no BS attitude servers (which is exactly what you want for a dive bar). If you want a dive bar, hit up the Astoria. Cash only, friends. But they have an ATM for your convenience. read more

Known locally as simply "The Ass", this is a dingy bar in the Downtown Eastside clearly dominated by what are now internationally known as scenesters. The place is old and dirty, but it compensates by charging very little for draft beer and highballs. It's a classic, with two pool tables, a large area with big round tables, and a cleared out area next to a small stage for dirty dancing. The music isn't really bad, its just rehashed mash-ups of stuff you thought you were sick of. It's really loud though, and conversations will have to be yelled out. There's no cover, which is one of the attractions for the people who like to get tacky decked-out but can only afford to buy second hand clothes. The staff is really great, but the crowd can get pretty pretentious, with every other outfit screaming "look at me", and every other person from either Ontario or rural BC. It was even the featured venue for a series of photographs that went along with a terrible Adbusters article about scenesters. read more

Astoria - a view of a store and parking lot - Pubs Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Oh man... Last night my bf and i were supposed to go to Astoria to catch a friend's show, but I had to bail at the last minute since i was up my ears in work... Probably a good thing after what happened. My boyfriend still went out despite not having any company except our friend who would be playing that night, so he spent the fifteen minutes he was there sipping on a beer, seated at a table. So why am i writing this review if i wasn't there? Because i still got to experience some of the terror he felt during his trip to the Astoria when i received this text from him: 'What do bedbugs look like?' Apparently an itty bitty bug that looked almost like a baby cockroach but not quite crawled across the table he was seated at. Needless to say, he rushed home, had to take off his clothing in the driveway, dump everything in garbage bags then straight into insanely hot water in the washing machine and spend 30 minutes in the shower. I spent the whole time itching my skin (isn't it weird how people mention bugs and you get all itchy?) and vowing never to go to Astoria again. After my bf got out of the shower he looked up bed bug pics online and said he is 99% sure that the tiny brown bug he saw crawling across the table was a bed bug. It looked identical to what he saw and definitely wasn't one of the other bugs reported as commonly mistaken for bed bugs. Astoria isn't reported on the bed bug registry, but at the rate they are overtaking Vancouver it could have just been a new thing or perhaps a hitchhiker from another patron... Either way, if you are like me (INSANELY PARANOID ABOUT BED BUGS) then you might want to avoid the Astoria or at least take precautions like leaving your clothing outside and jumping in the shower as soon as you get home if you go there. read more

This place doesn't even deserve one star. I'd honestly rather hang out in an outhouse for the night than go to this place. Sure it's cheap, but its dirty, nasty, too loud, and the people there have a "I'm way too cool" attitude. I was reminded of this place after reading a news article- apparently its the place Robert Pickton liked to hang out at! Bonus! "Sharon Baptiste told Allan that her last memory of cousin Georgina Papin is the woman leaving in a truck with Pickton outside the Astoria Hotel. A street nurse, Bonnie Fournier, told Allan "that asshole, he's had his truck parked outside the Astoria for the last 25 years."" read more

*Sigh* I heart dive bars! My awesome-o roomie played a show here last night. Naturally I was stoked to come because a) my roomie is awesome b) his band rocks da casbah and c) the Astoria has been on my must-see list for quite some time. Triple score! Though the Astoria is hella-old and located in the lonely part of the DTES it's actually decent inside. With a charming older gentleman (has seen some tough days in the DTES) collecting glasses all night, every table was kept clean; the whole place was remarkably tidy. There are two pool tables, decent seating and a small stage. The stage is raised abnormally high for the small space (I think 4 feet high) but that just made it easier to see the band from many parts of the room. The acoustics were great for my roomies band, Black House Blue Sky (check those dudes out) and I was uber proud like a mother hen. . . or someone who is proud... ummm. I love you, Astoria! read more

I'm glad there is a place in vancouver where you can get $6.75 doubles and the door guys will offer to hold your coats behind the bar. And where there is the possibility of deep fried pickles. Combine this with KC & JoJo - well, you always have an interesting night. read more

Okay, I maybe find all of the other reviews slightly offensive because I am a hipster, but you know what, we are not that bad. The Astoria has some decent hipsters for a hipster-frequented bar, and frankly, they are what turned this place from a crackhole into a decent place to drink with clean bathrooms, okay? So stop hating. I visit the Astoria maybe once a month or less and I generally have an awesome time. The drinks are cheap enough that I bother to have one rather than predrinking so I don't spend money, and often there are good bands. Even if the place isn't full, it's a fun time because it's a kind of cozy setup, and I find it unpretentious enough that I can dance with one other friend alone on the dance floor and pull out some sweet moves without being too self-conscious. EVEN ON HIPSTER NIGHT. The Power Shandy is a drink that I make all first-time Astoria-ers get. You order them two at a time and each one is half a beer, half a Smirnoff Ice, and a shot of vodka. Two of these and I'm having "deep meaningful conversations" outside by the community garden. Local residents have complained many times about the loud jerks outside the bar so try to keep it down, mmkay? read more

Every city needs a Brooklyn-style dirty hipster bar: the kind of place that, were this America, would have PBR on tap and lots of ironic facial hair inside. Unlike most of the Brooklyn hipster bars I've been to, however, the crowd at the Astoria does not suffer from too-cool-for-school-itis, and most everyone is friendly. It's also one of the few places in town that books entry-level live music acts, which can be hard to find in my beloved Vancouver. Pros: -Cheap drinks. -Nice enough crowd. -Pool tables. -The bathrooms aren't as wretched as you'd expect. -Live music lots of the time. Cons: -Tons of hipsters = epically long lineups. -Ironic facial hair. -The food might kill you. read more

Astoria is a breath of fresh air. Gone are the days of waiting in line for hours (yes, HOURS!) and paying obscene $$$ to get in and play skin-to-skin contact with the sweaty stranger next to you while watching outdated music videos on the big screen. Astoria is the exact opposite: no line, cheap cover (if any), huge space, live bands. Can you say AWESOME?! The ceilings are super high so the space feels even huger! The dance floor is a bit on the tiny side but it seems like 1/2 the people dance while the other 1/2 stand around the edges watching (not in a creepy way...i think...) leaving tons of room to get your groove on. Be warned: after 1AMish, people start to get sloppy and "accidentally" start pushing. When I went a mosh pit started. Drinks are cheap and people non-creepy. There are pool tables for the non-dancers and lots of chairs to sit and contemplate life...or drink yourself silly. The only downside is the location. It's hard to get to by public transit and it seems like taxis rarely drive by for a hail down. If you plan on coming here, be sure to plan a way home or it's going to be a looooonnnnngggggggg night. read more

This place is like Cheers. The bouncers hug me (and don't ID anyone I'm with, so if you're 18, sexy, and want to go to a bar... call me), the bartenders know I like about 4 limes in my drinks, the management is good, the DJs are friendly, and despite being in the buttcrack of Vancouver, this place is fairly clean. If you are looking for a place to dance with your friends without getting hit on (okay, you will get hit on, but by drunken metalheads, hipsters, and confused barely-legal boys, and they are all harmless and will back off easily), this is the place to do it. It's only super packed when popular local bands are playing here, the drinks are cheap, the pool tables are free (I think? I've never paid) and there are plenty of tables if you're into sitting. I would be willing to bet $20 that every Friday and Saturday night, one of the toilets will be overflowing by midnight. That said, the bathrooms are cleaned on the regular so the next time you're there, you've got a fresh start to plug it right back up again with... whatever you use to plug a toilet. How do you plug up and overflow a toilet? I've never managed this, not even in a dive-bar. I digress. The bathrooms get cleaned. The Astoria! Where everybody knows your signature drink and bad dance moves. read more

With the Waldorf pub transformed into Nuba and all clean and pretty, I had to find my next closest dive bar, and so Astoria it was. It was a Thursday night and the game was on but there were only a few longshoremen there, (guess they had to move their hangout as well). The minute I walked it I got slapped with a stench brewed from the 70s and reminded me of the Jolly Taxpayer pub. Local pitchers are $12.00 including tax, can't really beat that. The waitress is super sweet, although all the "sweethearts" and "darlings" made me think I was in the set of Sons of Anarchy, lol DO NOT and I warn you...DO NOT eat there. Trust me, just don't. read more

PINBALL REVIEW List of games: Creature From the Black Lagoon Circus Voltaire Dr. Dude Pirates of the Carribean Some pretty good games here and cheap drinks make it a decent spot for some games. The food is always kind of inconsistent so I can't really say what it's like now. There's usually some music event happening, but recently the quality of bands and DJ nights has taken a dive recently. Go in the early evening when all the lights are still on, or take in the games when you're there to catch a band. read more

I totally forgot to write a review about here. Went with a friend to drop something off for a friend. This bar has no redeeming qualities beyond a door guy who was actually cool offering us our money back. You might get shanked on the way here, it's a terrible location. Inside there was a guy "playing" (I use the term very loosely) a sound that could only be described as noise. It was as if a speaker was redlining. I know it couldn't have been an accident, as it lasted for at least 5 minutes and there were 5-6 hipsters standing around him staring at the floor not giving a single fuck. read more

You will learn to love the Astoria. You will learn to hate the Astoria. and meanwhile it doesn't matter, because you will at some point find yourself there and you will deal. If you don't, you may have done something right with your life- but that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with your life if you do happen to "deal." I can't tell whether the end of this establishment would cause a celebration through destruction/everyone going nuts with sledge hammers, or if it would just be replaced by a shitty, commemorative, Vancouverly public art sculpture. I give my main high five to how supportive it has been to the local music scene throughout the years. read more

Review of the Beer Store only Years ago, the Provincial Government of the time got it into their heads that the East End residents were such a danger to themselves that the old Liquor Distribution branch that used to be in Chinatown should be closed down. The result at the time was an epidemic of rice wine drinking, Lysol quaffing and the Cold Beer and Wine Store at the Astoria. Today, The Astoria CBW is still pretty much the only option in the hood to score some take home hooch (other than beer off-sales in actual bars). The selection is pretty mediocre - mostly watery big brewery stuff: Molson, Labatt, Bud, Coors. Pilsner and Blue Ribbon for the ironically inclined hipster type, High Test and Colt for the hardcore. Apparently a lot of people miss that there are some further coolers down the hall towards the boxing gym - with bottled beer, Sleeman's and OK Springs type stuff.. They also stock a limited selection of European import tall boys. A smattering of ciders, coolers and girly-drinks. Wine ranges from litre and a half jugs of horrible to the ok - there's also a modest selection of overpriced hard liquor. Like all private CBW's, prices are jacked by 10-20% You'll find a better selection about 6 or 7 blocks east at The Waldorf .. But until we get something better the Astoria's the only game in town read more

Texx Burger is a great addition to the bar, as well as the long running Monday night karaoke (with $10 pitchers and free pool!). The rest of the weekday programming can be fun if you want something to do and they're always up for your next idea! I started a strip night there! The weekend shows are hit and miss, but definitely my favourite weekday haunt. read more

Vancouver needs a good gad-awful dive bar, but this isn't it. Yes, it's in a seedy-ish neighbourhood, yes it's got cheap drinks, yes it smells like the underbelly of a beached whale doused in stale beer, and yes it sometimes looks like a vice magazine shoot -- but no, it is not a good dive bar. BUT: every once in awhile a good band will play here, AND my friends like it just fine, SO I will continue to go. read more

What's there to say about this place. It's a Dive Bar - Smells like moldy beer in there, Neighbourhood is kind of Scary, and food - i'm too scared to try. BUT DRINKS ARE CHEAP - it doesn't take much to satify me. Did I mention the Drinks are CHEAP? read more

I've only been here once, and it was a Sunday, but I have every intention of going back. Free cover, pool, beer for less than $5, double hi-balls for some crazy low price that I can't recall right now. My friend has a night here on Sundays called Careful! that is a good time, that draws a friendly crowd. There is also a juke box for when there isn't a dj or live music. The bar isn't in the nicest part of town, but certainly not the worst either. Once inside, the bar is clean, set up well and has a nice sized dance floor. Lots of tables, seats and room to mingle. The bathrooms are clean, as is the rest of the place. All in all, no complaints about this place at all. read more

Affectionally known as the Assbalt by many in the community, this is the perfect dive bar, unless you're a fascist. I don't think I've ever had a bad time here whether I'm just dropping in to grab a bite to eat, catching a show with friends or playing whack-a-mole. read more

Ignore any prior reviews that say that someone was assaulted here. An American got beat up by one of the regulars because he wore a white supremacist shirt to a punk venue. How surprising... Neo-nazis not welcome here. The drinks are cheap, the music is always local, the bartenders are nice when you get to know them but they're also not going to put up with your sh*t when you're acting like a jerk. Love this dive bar. read more

Every time I visit the Astoria, I ask myself why I don't come around more often. I always have a good time here, no matter what is happening. The drinks are cheap, the staff are pretty friendly and the washrooms are always surprisingly clean! There are pool tables for those of you who play, plenty of tables and chairs if you want to enjoy yourself sitting down, and a jukebox..? Although the only time I've ever seen the jukebox in use, it was during a club night and I watched the DJ walk over, pull it away from the wall and turn the volume off himself while the guy who had chosen the song just stared at him. Who starts up a jukebox when there is a DJ? Rude weirdos, that's who. I like the layout of the Astoria a lot. It's gigantic, and although it is one giant room, there is a large random wall in the middle to give it more of a separated feel (without feeling TOO disconnected!). Most recently, I visited for a "secret show". Alexisonfire and 3 Inches of Blood had just played a show at the PNE Forum, and had scheduled a show at the Astoria for afterward under fake names for (I think..) $12.. I guess it sold out pretty quickly because anyone who showed up without a ticket was turned away immediately and not given the option to pay cover. My friend had gotten her name on the VERY TINY guest list (they were only allowed one person :\), thanks to our friend in 3 Inches of Blood and I figured I would pay when I got there. I was told "no" immediately and was standing outside with my sympathetic friend trying to figure out what the hell to do with myself, when the bouncer remembered a guy walking past who had a ticket for sale, called him over and I was given the ticket for free! I was so grateful! Especially considering everyone else was being turned away without a second glance. Thank you Mr. Bouncer man, and thank you to the wonderful gentleman who gave me the free ticket! I had an awesome night! :) PS: I also have a friend who runs the night "Careful!" on random Sundays. You should ALL GO. PPS: 3 INCHES OF BLOOD. YEAAAAAAAAAAAH \m/ read more

The bar itself is a good hole. That said, the cheap beer, and typical Vancouver semi-douche vibe aside, the burger window in the back IS AWESOME! That guy who works it knows what he's doing. The organic beef os purchased fresh, never frozen, every morning! I wont go into my half drunken talk I had with the chef, but the recipe is a good one. Not your typical jaded Canadian pub burger that's not sure what it wants to be... meatloaf on a kaiser anyone? Not for me thanks. Long story short, I'm a burger fanatic, and this is one of my favourite burgers, anywhere. read more

This place is dark, dirty, and plays a nice variety of music 7 days a week. There are hipsters oozing out of every corner, but the drinks are cheap and ambiance is relaxed and friendly. They have pool as well, if you can find the freaking 8-ball! Come here with a bunch of friends to have a good time and not worry too much about the bill. Listen to good music (if you come on the right night) and worry about whether your plaid shirt is hipster-chique or scenster-nouveau. read more

The off sales is the only place that I know of in Vancouver that sells 40 oz bottles of Olde English, colloquially known as Ol' E. Now if they sold Country Club or King Cobra, everything would be A-OK. read more

The definition of a DTES dive bar. The Astoria is a blend of hipsters and beardos - both down-and-out style beardos, and dudes who compete with each other over whose ancient road bike is cooler. You will jockey with both in the line for cheap beer from overly-hassled bartenders. Don't take my four stars to mean this place is anything but a dump. All the same I have a strange affection for it because it has many decent live bands. read more

It's a dive bar all right, which obviously appeals to its target market. The DJ spinning reggae wore dreadlocks, the staff wore dreadlocks, the customers wore dreadlocks. I see where this is going... I should get some dreadlocks and go Rastafarian! No, not really. Anyone's welcome here. It's perfectly okay to be different even when different was normal. Some people go the music, others to chill and play pool. I was there for a mate's birthday. It's all cool. 4 bucks cover? I don't get it but i don't mind it. One for the downtown east side. read more

One of the best secret nights in the city is Thursday Ting at the Astoria. The night features excellent dancehall and reggae with the fabulous Miss Ting spinning the night away with guests from all over North America. The night is packed and features a great dance floor with lots of bumping and grinding. The Astoria boasts high ceilings, which gives it a roomy atmosphere and lots of seating for the non-dance floor ready folks. There are also pool tables and a cafeteria style restaurant booth. The food is pretty good. The Astoria also hosts lots of live music through out the week, but we highly recommend Thursday Ting to really experience the great Astoria. read more

Ugh!!...then there's the Astoria. If you need to find a large group of losers who believe they are sooo ultra coool... try a night at the Astoria. The Pickton File isn't the only miasma emanating off that dance floor. Talk about a sh*thole. Avoid wearing open toed footwear. The dance floor will have a mixture of spilt booze and broken glass on it. The reason you get booze splashed on you while you are dancing is not because these people are assholes, but more likely, they've been there before and had the misfortune of setting their drink down for ten seconds only to have it ripped off. Then you get to line up for twenty minutes for a new drink only to watch the 'regulars' skip the line and get their order in. The staff still expects you to tip them despite this indiscretion. You'll need to be drunk to stomach the piles of grease they call food here. Then there's the gauntlet of headcases blocking the woman's can, smoking dope, and just being a pain in the ass to anyone who needs the washroom... too cool for words! You would think the staff would want to break up that party, but that's not the case. Check out the DJs. The music isn't bad but some of them just get off on making noises instead of ,keeping a good tempo. The only redeeming feature... the place closes at 130, which is still early enough to go somewhere else, like any after hours bar in the nearby warehouses district, where you'll find cleaner cans and better music. read more

Fun? Pshaw. I seriously had the most boring night of my life here. Dive bar? They do it a little better in Toronto. Cheaper too... and better atmosphere. What is with the bathroom? 3 stalls? Uber small? eeps. NEVER AGAIN. read more