The World Cup is in full swing and the city has truly embraced it with soccer balls used as decor and every restaurant, bar, hotel, and park attempting to host their own watch party to get on board. So here are 5 of the many we have visited and can recommend, highlighting the pros and cons of each.
Fairmont Pacific Rim
1038 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B9
(604) 695-5557
lobbyloungerawbar.com
Fairmont Pacific Rim has turned their popular summer patio located at the hotel’s front plaza into a sports patio for summer 2026.
The space allows for optimal seating around a large projection screen, broadcasting key sporting events throughout the season. There are chairs, couches, picnic tables, and stumps to allow anyone to walk in to the gated area and take a seat.
It is free to sit and deemed an energetic outdoor gatherings space designed to bring together sports fans, food lovers, and the Vancouver community in the heart of Coal Harbour.
If you are looking for some food and drink 33 Acres Brewing Company is back for a second year. This collaboration features a curated menu of tacos paired with 33 Acres’ local crafted beers for game-day dining. However during our visit only juice was available, with talks of being able to make this space into a beer garden in the future.
We enjoyed a couple of mini bottles of pressed juices from the Juice Truck and two sets of tacos in groups of three. The juice is by colour and healing property, a healthy and thirst quenching option to combat the uncovered sun.
For tacos we had a choice between five, each on a 4.5″ gluten-friendly corn tortilla. There was chicken, fish, pork, beef, and cauliflower. We went for the latter two and enjoyed it with squeeze bottle salsas and hot sauce. The Beef Barbacoa was braised beef, pickled red onion, queso, and cilantro. I appreciated the amount beef in each taco, but found the Crispy Cauliflower with cabbage cilantro slaw, chipotle lime aioli, and queso a lot more flavourful. Between the two, I would order the cauliflower again. The crispy florets would have been delicious on their own as an appetizer.
New this summer, the patio also welcomes the Hype Chocolate Tu’i Hiapsek Treats Trailer. “This is an indigenous women-owned concept rooted in values of reciprocity, connection, and care. The Treats Trailer offers a selection of handcrafted chocolate, Dubai Chocolate Berries, sweet & savoury Bannock, expertly crafted coffee drinks, and exclusive Matcha Latte inspired by Fairmont Pacific Rim. The concept is designed to feed the soul while reinvesting into community initiatives that honour people as a vital part of a living ecosystem.” (As taken from the press release)
The setting and stage was electric, the seating comfortable, the food delicious, and the overall vibe befitting of the luxury hotel property. The only downside is that this is all weather permitting, limited seating, and there are no beers or alcoholic beverages for game day rituals. However you need only walk into the hotel’s lobby bar to grab one, because that is also where the washrooms are anyways.
Westin Bayshore
1601 Bayshore Dr., Vancouver, BC V6G 2V4
(604) 691-6966
h2restaurant.com
The Westin Bayshore has transformed their grand ballroom in to “Bay’Score”, a pop-up fan zone filled with soccer-inspired decor and activations. They have brought beer garden vibes indoors and are making it family friendly. On select days from June 14 to July 14, 2026 the space is open to hotel guests, visiting fans, and locals; offering big screen game watching, elevated stadium style eats and drinks, plus fun and games to keep the entire family entertained.
The matches are broadcasted on the hotel’s LED Infinity Wall and regular seating is available on high tops, group tables, and even bleachers for the stadium feel.
The only hitch, there is a minimum spend per person to enter. $30 for adults and $13 for children, but that is basically the price of a food and drink item. You purchase your tickets by the door and redeem them at the concession stand and/or bar.
Food options include Vancouver style teriyaki dogs, Argentinian choripan, and an Oktoberfest bratwurst hot dog. Steak and ale pie or a vegetable pie. Street style tacos in beef, pork, chicken, or vegetable and black bean. And Yakisoba style noodles in either chicken or tofu. Each in large portions to serve as a substantial meal. If you are only feeling peckish they have freshly popped butter popcorn, mini donuts, and cotton candy. For drinks they have beer, wine, and canned cocktails in non-alcoholic options as well.
You can even book the space for VIP group events. This is available for groups of 20–50 guests with reserved seating. Prices start from $100 per person with a 20-person minimum. It includes a dedicated VIP viewing area with prime sightlines to the Infinity Wall LED screen. Bay’Score’s Ultimate Game Day spread featuring hot dogs, sliders, yakisoba, pies, and more. Two drinks per guest, plus game vouchers. And 3 hours of live match atmosphere, networking, and fun.
The pros here is that the indoor space is open rain or shine, and it has air conditioning, indoor washrooms, a kid’s play area, and arcade and soccer games for the pause in between matches. The latter includes a kicking challenge that was designed specifically for Bayshore. By kicking a soccer ball on a tether it reads how fast your kick is. The con is the lighting, the room is kept dark like a club and the room feels echo-y given how much negative space it has. However, this also translates to plenty of room for your party and the need to not have to be shoulder to shoulder with one another.
Junction Public Market
200 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6C 1S4
junctionpublicmarket.com
The Junction Public Market has a 19+ only outdoor beer garden serving wine, beer, and canned cocktails out of a shipping container. You can enjoy them against the view of Vancouver Harbour or park yourself in front of their stage that includes a large flat screen television. Here they will be broadcasting the game for anyone of age to walk in and watch. And when it is not being used for such they have a live DJ spinning and providing vibes.
The pros is that it is free to enter and the drinks are on the less expensive side. You get to enjoy both it and the game in a unique location, taking in the water meets steel views of downtown Vancouver. With a rotation of food trucks to dine from, you can visit daily for lunch and try something new. They also have table games that guests can play with as they linger. The downside is that facilities are port-o-potties, and if you walk away to use them, you might lose your seat.
Pacific National Exhibition
2901 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V5K 5J1
(604) 253-2311
vancouverfwc26.ca/fifa-fan-festival
The PNE amphitheatre is the largest band zone site, it was also built in time to host such viewings. The wooden roof is said to maximize sound quality so the acoustics of the games travel well.
General floor admission is free, but you didn’t buy seated tickets or can’t get in due to capacity issues, there are at least four other spots to perch yourself in front of a screen and take in the game at.
On top of being able to watch all the matches for free the PNE Grounds at Hastings Park is also hosting football activations, elevated food and beverage offerings, live music and entertainment, and interactive experiences from commercial partners.
The pros are that there is something for everyone of all ages, with enough to entertain that you can make a day of it. There is a fan zone plaza with official sponsor stalls providing unique experiences and handing out freebies. Any food and/or drink that you crave is within the realm of possibility. And the fair grounds are also so large that it doesn’t seem crowded, there is space for everyone
The downside is that this is weather permitting, limited washrooms with lines, and that there is a greater likelihood that the amphitheatre viewing is full.
North Van Shipyards
125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver, BC V7L OB3
(604) 985-2191
lowerlonsdale.com
Fans need not travel out of North Vancouver to attend an open outdoor viewing of any of the matches. The Shipyards has a large screen broadcasting all the game under their covered area. However, there is only one screen, with little to no seating and the sound quality lacking the further you are from the screen. There are a couple of free standing tables to lean on and the possibility of sitting on the water park fixtures. However, if the floor is full and you are shorter, it might be hard to see, given the lack of a slope towards to screen.
The pros are there is plenty to choose from for food and beverages, including food trucks and restaurants. Several of the latter are within spitting distance if you want to dine in, sit down, and enjoy a more formal meal.
There are also several brands like Uber Eats, Nerds, VW, Saintly Wine, and Canadian Club with their own tents. Each giving out freebies like drink samples, Photo Booth pictures, and the ability to play soccer related games in exchange for brand prizes.
