#314Global
Laowai
Vancouver, Canada · Chinatown cocktail bar featuring baijiu and history-inspired drinks · North America
Laowai is a Chinatown cocktail bar entered through the freezer door of the neighbouring BLND TGR dumpling shop. Its profile highlights baijiu and history-inspired cocktails.
Description source · Checked 2026-09-27
Plan Your Visit
251 E Georgia St, Chinatown, Vancouver, BCChinatown
- Style
- Chinatown cocktail bar featuring baijiu and history-inspired drinksChecked 2026-09-27 · Source
- Booking
- The owner says no small-group reservations are accepted; service is first come, first served.Checked 2026-09-27 · Source
- Menu
- History-inspired cocktails; the published Manchurian Candidate example combines vodka and sake.Checked 2026-10-05 · Source
Hours and menus can change. Check the venue’s latest details before visiting.
The score & its evidence
Seven signals. One score.
38.6 / 100
The composite combines the seven weighted signals and the published adjustments. The chart shows each signal before weighting.
Read the full calculation- Guest ratings
- 39.3
- World's 50 Best
- —None found · Checked; no qualifying signal found; contributes zero
- Top 500 Bars
- 26.4
- Spirited Awards
- —None found · Checked; no qualifying signal found; contributes zero
- Regional Recognition
- 95.6
- Serious press
- 6.4
- Social Vibes
- 60.2
Weights: Guest ratings 23% · World's 50 Best 12% · Top 500 Bars 10% · Spirited 12% · Regional Recognition 18% · Press 10% · Social Vibes 15%
Missing evidence, confirmed none and evidence outside a scoring window each contribute zero. We do not redistribute their fixed weight to other signals.
Social Vibes
Score read updated:
Sentiment score
86/ 100
The existing 86/100 remains the proprietary Social Vibes score. This source review clarifies the evidence without recalculating it.
Score context
Speakeasy behind a Chinatown dumpling shop in Vancouver evoking 1920s Shanghai; celebrated for Canada's largest baijiu selection, original story-driven cocktails, and the theatrical freezer-door entry plus strong food.
Guest sources checked:
This review checks the linked sources. The stored summary and themes remain a proprietary interpretation, rather than a fresh customer survey.
Guest score details
Highlights in the stored read
- theatrical speakeasy entry
- extensive baijiu program
- original creative cocktails
- excellent dumplings and snacks
Reservations in the stored read
- strong flavours may polarize
This read cites editorial or award context. Those links are distinct from guest accounts; only the reviewed links in Reviews & press count toward Press.
Editorial citations in this read
- vancouversun.comVancouver Sun — professional restaurant review · Mia Stainsby · Published/updated 2021-10-20
Mia Stainsby reviews Laowai on East Georgia Street and quotes its bartender. The cited line is editorial description; October 20, 2021 is the article date, not a verified guest visit date.
Award & ranking citations in this read
- canadas100best.comCanada’s 100 Best — 2026 ranking page · Stored citation date retained; publication date not verified here
This citation points to a Canada’s 100 Best ranking entry. Its exact body and quotation were not checked here; it is not customer testimony.
Crowd signal
Google 3.8★ across 405 reviews.
View on Google · Checked . Ratings and review counts can change.
Awards
Results from the three global systems scored separately in our formula.
Top 500 Bars
Regional Recognition
Regional and national lists, local awards and bartender peer picks considered for this room's Regional Recognition score. The strongest result from each program and year scores; assessed guides use the latest accepted dated status once.