The pub scene has undergone an extensive makeover, replacing wood panelling with chic décor and your standard pint with upscale cocktails that promise a joyful happy hour indeed. Catering to professionals looking for an upscale night out in classy environments, these trendy bars promise to deliver fashionable flavour and fun.

Vancouver’s Opus Bar, situated in the world-renowned Opus Hotel Vancouver, is a hot spot for the style-savvy. The décor is chicly modern; designer furniture meets glass, and the live video feed running throughout the bar ensures that you don’t miss out the action as you mingle with other sophisticates and dance to the live DJ.

Their innovative cocktail menu consists of a “Lifestyle menu” — we love the name! — featuring five Opus personas and their associated cocktails. Here you can sample “Susan’s” favourite, the fashion exec’s blend of Skyy vodka, Campari, grapefruit and pineapple with a basil garnish; or perhaps “Pierre,” the food critic from Paris, can tempt you with his blend of Chartreuse, Hendricks Gin, passion fruit and lime juice.

Located on Calgary’s bustling 17^th Avenue is The Bungalow, where professionals and visiting celebrities alike gather for an after-hours drink. With an impressive cocktail menu boasting wines, champagnes and 16 varieties of martinis (clearly the darling drink here), there’s enough variety to tempt Carrie Bradshaw away from her iconic cosmopolitan — although they offer one of those, too.

The martini lounge is done up in understated dark tones and comes complete with both a covered and uncovered patio for patrons who enjoy a glass of wine beneath the stars. As one of Calgary’s trendiest spots for a relaxed evening out, The Bungalow is sure to deliver on ambiance and flavour.

Toronto’s King West/Queen West offers a variety of unique lounging experiences. Here you’ll find the hideouts of Toronto’s young professionals — and their bosses. Nestled in the heart of trendy King West is Cheval Bar, a trendy new lounge that got its name from a past life as an RCMP horse stable. Don’t let the barn background fool you, however — cowboys need not apply. While subtle references to its stable past can be found in the chic décor, with saddles framed in glass and luxurious cowhide stools, the ambience here is sleek and sophisticated.

Cheval boasts an extensive mixed-drink menu, with their Raspberry Martini (garnished with lychee fruit) being a popular favourite. Patrons can enjoy their martinis in an intimate booth setting before heading down to the romantic, sunken lounge area for a dance or conversation.

Voted as the maker of Halifax’s best martini and Bloody Caesar is The Bitter End, an upscale lounge featuring soft music and stiletto-clad patrons. They have been voted best martini in town six years in a row, and that’s no surprise; a sip of one of their creations impresses at first touch — glasses here are kept face down on ice to ensure a pleasantly cold rim. Guests can expect this subtle finesse from the attentive bartenders and trendy décor.

Known as the premiere cocktail and martini bar, you can expect an “out-to-be-seen crowd,” elegant meals and expertly mixed beverages. The Bitter End is anything but — in fact, one trip promises many sweet returns. •

Photo courtesy Opus Hotels