Vancouver has long been celebrated for its mountains, its ocean views, and its sushi. But in 2025, a new spotlight will shine on the city and this time, it’s behind the bar. For the first time ever, the prestigious North America’s 50 Best Bars awards will be hosted in Canada, with Vancouver stepping onto the global stage.
The annual event often called the Oscars of the cocktail world doesn’t just recognize the best bars on the continent. It shapes reputations, drives tourism, and puts entire cities on the map. Landing it is no small feat. And much of the credit for Vancouver’s moment comes down to the quiet, determined work of one man: Lewis Hart.
Over the past several years, Hart has worked behind the scenes to champion Vancouver’s hospitality scene, pushing for policy change, building community, and creating opportunities for local talent to get the recognition it deserves. His efforts culminated in a bold vision to bring one of the most influential events in hospitality to a city that, until now, has often been overlooked on the world’s cocktail map.
“This isn’t just about cocktails,” says Hart. “It’s about connection. It’s about culture. And it’s about showing the world what makes Vancouver truly unforgettable.”
From San Miguel to City Council
The idea first took root in 2023, when Hart attended the 50 Best Bars ceremony in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. There, amid the celebration and spectacle, he saw firsthand what hosting the event could mean for a city not just in prestige, but in tangible benefits like tourism dollars, global visibility, and a boost for the local hospitality economy.
It was there that Charlene Rooke, a liquor educator, mentor, and the Academy Chair for Canada’s 50 Best Bars, introduced Hart to the 50 Best team. The two of them, along with Grant Sceney, began to envision what it would look like for Vancouver to host the event.
In a conversation with the CEO of 50 Best, the group learned that if Canada wanted to host, it would require a formal bid, typically initiated through a city’s tourism board and municipal leadership. Hart returned to Vancouver with a clear goal: make it happen.
He quickly pitched the idea to Mayor Ken Sim and councillors Lisa Dominato and Rebecca Bligh. To his relief, they immediately saw the value. It wasn’t just about throwing a party. It was about positioning Vancouver, a city often burdened by the “No Fun City” label as a dynamic, worldclass destination.
“This event breaks through the social media blockades that often limit how Canadian talent is seen globally,” Hart explains. “It felt like a no-brainer.”
With political support in hand, Hart, Sceney, and Rooke approached Destination Vancouver. In meetings with Rohaan Sethna and Louise Priceman, Rooke helped clearly articulate how beneficial this event would be for the city’s international image, hospitality economy, and tourism sector. From there, the wheels were in motion.
Rooke’s influence throughout the process cannot be overstated. Beyond her role as Academy Chair, she’s widely respected as a leading liquor educator and advocate for the West Coast bar scene, constantly pushing to bring attention and opportunity to the region.
Building the Scene: From Chinatown to Global Stage
Hart’s work to elevate Vancouver’s bar culture didn’t begin or end with chasing major events. For years, he’s been pushing for changes that allow the industry to thrive at home first.
One of the most significant battles took place in Chinatown, where outdated liquor policies had inadvertently stifled the neighbourhood’s evening economy.
Under a longstanding moratorium, bars faced strict restrictions on late night service, leaving the streets eerily quiet after 5 p.m. Businesses like Laowai, Bagheera, Meo, and the legendary Keefer Bar were operating but limited by a system that hadn’t evolved alongside the community’s needs.
Hart and a group of advocates saw an opportunity to flip the script. By pushing for dual licensing and longer service hours, they argued that a vibrant nightlife could actually improve safety and connection, not undermine it.
“Nightlife doesn’t just coexist with daylife, it protects it,” Hart says. “A thriving evening scene helps ensure safer, more connected communities.”
City leadership listened. In time, the moratorium was lifted, opening the door for more vibrant, welcoming nighttime spaces across Chinatown and beyond. It was a win not just for hospitality, but for communitybuilding itself.
The Power of Community
If there’s a thread running through all of Hart’s work, it’s the belief that success in hospitality is bigger than any one venue; it’s about building ecosystems.
He’s quick to share credit with others who have been instrumental in shaping the city’s rising bar culture.
“Grant Sceney has been tireless not just pushing for W50B, but mentoring the next generation,” Hart says.
“Cam Bogue is creating community focused events that don’t just chase numbers, they build real connection.”
“And Tanis Ling is in a league of her own. Her venues aren’t just places to drink they’re storytelling spaces rooted in authenticity and hospitality.”
Bogue, who has worked extensively across North America’s bar scene, believes Vancouver’s cocktail culture is defined by its creativity born not from abundance, but from limitation:
“Vancouver is a rad city, and as you mentioned has a lot of challenges that in turn presents a lot of opportunities,” Bogue says. “The cocktail scene here has seen a few generations of great bartenders, innovative bartenders, largely due to the lack of spirit selection. This has grown tremendously over the last two decades with the privatization of liquor stores which has increased the availability of cool spirits. Because of this limited supply, BC’s bar scene has always had great ingenuity to create housemade products to replace unavailable ones. We are creative by nature.”
Together, this group along with countless bartenders, owners, and advocates has been quietly transforming Vancouver from an afterthought into one of North America’s most dynamic hospitality cities.
And now, with the world’s attention turning here, that work is about to be seen on a much bigger scale.
What It Means for Vancouver
Hosting the North America’s 50 Best Bars awards is a watershed moment for Vancouver.
It’s an opportunity to challenge old narratives, showcase homegrown talent, and position the city as a must-visit destination for cocktail lovers, culinary tourists, and experienceseekers from around the world.
It’s also a signal to local hospitality workers, bartenders, servers, owners, entrepreneurs that their work matters, and that Vancouver’s story is still being written.
“This isn’t just a win for bars,” Hart says. “It’s a win for the city. It’s a recognition that what we’re building here—community, culture, craftsmanship—deserves a global platform.”
While other voices from tourism leaders like Rohaan Sethna to city councillors like Rebecca Bligh played critical roles in making it happen, Hart’s vision and persistence helped set the stage. And when the awards unfold in Vancouver later this year, it will be a celebration not just of cocktails but of everything this city is capable of creating when the right people believe in it.
As the world raises a glass to North America’s best, Vancouver will be raising one too to the people who made it possible.
