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Botanist Bar
Inside Fairmont Pacific Rim, Botanist Bar serves inventive cocktails inspired by British Columbia's landscapes and is ranked among North America's 50 Best Bars.
Commodore Ballroom
Opened in 1929, the Art Deco Commodore Ballroom on Granville Street holds about 990 people and is known for its sprung dance floor and decades of famous concerts.
At a glance
- Type
- Live music venue
- Area
- Granville Street, Vancouver, Canada
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
Good to know
- Sprung dance floor
- Standing and table seating
- Art Deco interior
Why we recommend it
The Commodore Ballroom is Vancouver's most famous live music room. It opened in December 1929 as the Commodore Cabaret, in an Art Deco building designed by H. H. Gillingham and built by George Conrad Reifel, and it has been a stage for live performance ever since. It closed briefly in 1930 before reopening later that year. Sammy Davis Jr. played here in 1948, and over the decades the stage has seen The Tragically Hip, U2, Coldplay, Radiohead, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.
The venue's best-known feature is its sprung dance floor. A horsehair lining under the boards absorbs some of the impact of dancing feet, giving the floor a slight spring underfoot. The Commodore closed in 1996 and reopened on 12 November 1999 after a $3.5 million renovation, which included a new hardwood dance floor. That relaunch took place under the House of Blues name, and the venue is now owned by Live Nation. In age it sits between two of the city's grand hotels: it is two years younger than the Hotel Georgia, which opened on West Georgia Street in 1927, and a decade older than the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, completed in 1939.
With a capacity of about 990, including standing room and table seating, the Commodore is big enough to attract touring acts but small enough to feel close to the stage. Table seating gives you somewhere to sit between sets, while the sprung floor is for dancing.
Check the listings when you plan your trip and buy tickets in advance for popular shows. As the venue is owned by Live Nation, its concerts are listed through Live Nation's ticketing.
The Commodore suits music fans of all kinds, from couples on a night out to groups of friends, and it is one of the best ways to experience the city's nightlife. Even if you do not know the band, the room itself is worth seeing for its Art Deco details and history.
The venue is at 868 Granville Street downtown. The Burrard hotel at 1100 Burrard Street and the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver at 900 West Georgia Street are both within walking distance, and Japadog's Robson Street shop is close by for a late snack after the show.
Commodore Ballroom FAQs
When did the Commodore Ballroom open?
In December 1929, as the Commodore Cabaret.
How many people does it hold?
About 990, including standing room and table seating.
What is special about the dance floor?
It is a sprung floor with a horsehair lining that absorbs some of the impact of dancing.
Who has played there?
Acts including The Tragically Hip, U2, Coldplay, Radiohead, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Lady Gaga.
Who owns the Commodore?
Live Nation.
Was it renovated?
Yes. It reopened in November 1999 after a $3.5 million renovation with a new hardwood dance floor.
Where is it?
At 868 Granville Street downtown.
Who designed the building?
H. H. Gillingham designed the Art Deco building, which was built by George Conrad Reifel.