4 Best Bars in Old Strathcona, Ritchie, and Garneau, Edmonton

Ale Architect serves more than a dozen unique, well-balanced ales and lagers in a bright and modern space. Locals claim they make some of the best pizza in town. Bliss can be achieved by pairing the local mushroom, goat cheese, and leek pizza with a glass of Utopia New Wave pilsner.

What do you get when you pair craft beer with an arcade? Beercade! Rub elbows with the university crowd, quaff craft beer, and work your way through arcade games old and new. There’s also billiards, air hockey, and foosball. If you’re looking for a quiet place for good conversation, this is not it, but if you want to blow off some steam and have some fun for a couple of hours, this is a good option.

The Monolith is an imposing concrete building adorned with stunning murals, and inside is a state-of-the-art brewery that barrel-ages their beer for up to three years, creating complex flavors that will delight beer aficionados.

When you enter Shiddy’s Rumpus Room, the wood decor, neon signs, and a big picture of Elvis will make it feel like you’re in a ‘70s bar. While they have local craft beer on tap, the real treat is a variety of home-brewed cocktails, some shaken, some stirred, and some slushy. They serve sumptuous smash burgers stacked as high as three patties. Don’t forget the Flat Boy sauce for your fries.