Oysters and wine. Is there anything better?

We know the secrets to the good life. As does Todd’s on Sixth, an unassuming off-Granville Street café that turns into an oyster joint every Thursday and Friday night after 4pm. The chalkboard menu displays fresh catches of the day, from Royal Miyagis, Lighthouse Points and Summer Breeze oysters ($2 each). Aside from raw, Todd does phenomenal cornmeal panfried oysters ($3 each) for those craving a little crunch. Served with homemade bread and wine, it’s simple fare to remember. —Anya Georgijevic

Todd’s On Sixth, 1529 W. Sixth Ave., Vancouver, 604-568-0640, www.toddsonsixth.com

You know what live music venues in this city have been lacking? Dumplings.

Until now. The Electric Owl has just opened in the space that once housed Main Street’s American Hotel. And it is virtually unrecognizable. The 8,000-square-foot venue is home to an izakaya-style restaurant, sake bar, and cold beer and wine shop. But that’s not all. The space centres around a stage that showcases international acts and some of Vancouver’s finest new music.

Finally! We can catch a show, scarf down a midnight snack, and pick up a bottle of sake all in one place. —KD

The Electric Owl, 928 Main St., Vancouver, http://electricowl.ca

Like your bourbon sours as stylish and your barmen?

For your next big bash, hire the boys of Amy Elliott Cocktails. Friends since grade school, Larry, Josh and Adam have 15 years combined experience working behind bars, including George. They come with their own sleek, all-inclusive mobile set-up made of mod hexagons from Belgium and dark wood serving pedestals they sketched themselves. At a recent event, we sampled some of their libations and can testify to their good 'tending.

But who’s “Amy?” Real last name unknown, she was Larry’s childhood neighbour who moved away after they shared a first kiss. Aw, we’ll drink to that. 

More information and bookings at www.amyelliottcocktails.com

The devil on one shoulder is coaxing us to stay out late again while the angel on the other begs us to stay in and play Scrabble.

At new Gastown joint Guilt & Company, we can satisfy our angels and demons. Situated in the brick underbelly of Chill Winston, the bar and live venue serves up boozy drinks and classic board games into the wee hours.

Check out their free comedy nights on Wednesdays (while you play chess) and order yourself a “Lying Eyes” cocktail ($12), which comes with a Polaroid picture of you and your crew.

And if Trouble is what you’re looking for, they’ve got that game too.

Guilt & Company, 1 Alexander St. (downstairs), Vancouver, 604-288-1704, www.guiltandcompany.com

Wonder what the Burton snowboarders are up to this week? Why they’re practicing their swan dives in the rooftop pool at The Keefer, a high-end residence hotel just opened in Chinatown.

Each of the four floors comprises its own super-suite, with views over the classical Chinese gardens to the south and mountains to the north.

Rounding out the fun is the glass bottomed pool in the penthouse, specially commissioned art by Douglas Coupland, plus a sexy “Apothecary Bar” at street level serving up drinks made with Chinese medicinal herbs and tinctures.

We’ll take a dose of that.

The Keefer, 133 Keefer St., Vancouver, 604-688-1983, www.thekeefer.com

Marilyn would say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and we’d agree, only our Diamond looks good and serves up drinks too.

The bar, in the classic, cool sense of the word, is a Gastown gem right out of the gate. As soon as you ascend its dark staircase, nab the far corner table that gives a prime view of the Gassy Jack landmark, as well as the interior bedecked in brick, custom diamond wallpaper and a bit of tropical verdure.

Make the cocktail menu your personality test. Broken into boozy, refreshing, delicate, proper, notorious and not so boozy sections, with icons of the glass they come in, we turned out “refreshingly tall and short on notorious” thanks to signature drink Colin’s Lawn ($7) combining sake, vodka, Kaffir lime, mint and soda. To ensure we didn’t turn scandalous, we filled up on above par bar snacks like handmade pork and shitake gyoza ($5) and citrusy rock cod ceviche ($12).

Looks like we've found the perfect place to mine for a flawless sparkler. Huge rock, anyone?

The Diamond, 6 Powell St., Vancouver, www.di6mond.com