I can't believe I haven't reviewed the Roxy yet.
I'm not sure why but the Roxy appears to be everyone's secret shame. Everyone rants and wails about how they hate the Roxy and swear locusts will have to swarm the city before they ever go there but once you get a beer in them everyone breaks down and admits they love it there.
Well, if they are closeted I'm out living in the sunshine and I'm loving it! I have three words for the Roxy: A. MAY .ZING.
The reason everyone loves it here, and why I love it here, is I'm not sure anyone has EVER had a bad time at the Roxy. But I digress, lets get the worst of it out of the way right now...the line.
The dreaded line. It may as well go all the way across the Granville bridge some nights and I can see the tear rolling down your cheek when it comes into your view. I'd have more sympathy for you but you showed up at 10 and didn't put yourself on the guest lists did you? Sympathy revoked!
The Roxy is the Roxy because there is an amazing mix of everyone from Vancouver in one place, which means that everyone is going there. Which means, unlike the rest of the Vancouver nightlife scene which doesn't get going till at least 11, this is hoping by 9pm. Please pay close attention to that little word there "BY" 9pm. If you're not in line by 9pm or are on the guest list or know someone personally you're done for. Like anywhere else that is a Vancouver institution, its busy and you have to plan ahead.
OK, so you worked it out, you emailed in advance for the guest list (give yourself 3 weeks in advance for Saturdays), you got through the line in an easy 30 minutes or less, you paid your cover, they swiped your ID and you're in!
Success!
There is a coat check in the back but not open until 10pm so don't worry about it. Now drinks are priced the same as any other place in Vancouver so don't act surprised when a beer is $6. But the bartenders are ridiculously friendly and helpful. Don't forget not to get jammed up on the bar at the door either, there are 6 more places to get drinks: To the left of the door is a beer stand, take a heavy right handed U-turn to end up at the other front bar, go straight back to the rear bar, get your beer at coat check, yet another beer stand by the woman's washroom, or find your way into the little extra room in the back to yet another bar. 7 easy ways to get drinks!
Depending on the night and the rotation you'll get one or the other of the house bands. Both of them do cover songs that everybody loves from current tunes to oldies. Between sets the DJ does a great job in keeping everyone lively. The dance floor is small and intimate and always packed so you never feel out of place.
Don't feel like dancing? There are two pool tables, one in the front and one in the back room. There are also some tables and booths along the wall as well as a little lounge area in the back if you want to get out of the middle of things for a little while and chat someone up.
And then above and beyond, the reason this place is amazing, it attracts everyone from celebrities to college kids and everyone in between. No one is too old and no one with a legit ID is too young. No such thing as rich or poor, everyone mingles and plays nice. You're almost guaranteed to meet awesome people, a Canuck or two and maybe some visiting stars.
Every day of the week has a live band, with local up and coming bands usually playing early on Tuesday and Wednesdays, with the house band and DJ coming on after, so for those of you who don't have weekends off, this is a great place for midweek partying.
Watch out for annual events like the graffiti party, where everyone gets a white tshirt and a sharpie, their anniversary party, or just Halloween and new years. Always a destination. Always mind blowing.
I honestly hope to see you there. read more