Pony Room: Vancouver’s new queer lounge for cocktail and cabaret lovers
Pony Room opened its doors to the public last month.
Mark
Looking for a chic and welcoming place to hang out in Vancouver for dinner, cocktails or cabaret? The Canadian city’s newest queer hangout, Pony Room, opened its doors in early July in the Chinatown district.
The venue is the brainchild of Paige Frewer, Ryn Broz, Shanique Kelly, and Maureen Orman. They’re the same team that runs The Birdhouse, which launched successfully in 2023.
“Pony Room is a queer-run cocktail bar and cabaret space bringing together food, cocktails, live entertainment, DJs, and late-night energy under one roof,” Ryn tells GayCities. “A playful, welcoming space created for our community to gather, eat, drink, and come together to enjoy a night out.”
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The 150-capacity venue is split across three rooms: a lounge, a dining/show room with a stage, and a private back room called The Closet, which also features a stage.
It’s a flexible, chandelier-heavy space that can adopt a different vibe for different nights.
“Pony Room offers something queer nightlife doesn’t always make room for: a place to actually sit down,” says Ryn. “A queer lounge space with a focus on cocktails, food, and great hospitality, Pony Room is a restaurant and bar where you can settle in, have dinner, enjoy a drink, and take in a drag show.”
“Good food, great drinks”
Whether it’s an intimate date or a full-on night out with a group of friends, the Pony Room delivers. The Closet and larger room are also available for private bookings.
“Whether you’re joining us for dinner, catching a show, meeting friends for cocktails, or planning a private event, Pony Room offers a more comfortable, welcoming way to experience queer nightlife, with good food, great drinks, and plenty of room to settle in.”
The team’s other venue, the Birdhouse is more known for its warehouse vibe. For Pony Room, the team wanted something more intimate, cosy, and secure.
Co-owner Paige Frewer recently told Scout.
“Birdhouse gave us the opportunity to build an incredible community and prove that people were looking for these kinds of spaces. But a warehouse is a very specific kind of venue. We’ve always wanted to create something more intimate. Pony Room is our chance to put down roots, invest in the community that’s grown around us, and build something that can be here for the long haul.”
Pony Room, at 555 Gore Avenue, is currently open Thursday to Sunday evenings.
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