Five Years Running: Why The Backyard Keeps Being Voted the Best Pub in Squamish

If you are searching for the best pub in Squamish, there is a good chance you are not just looking for the biggest beer list or the best burger. You are looking for somewhere that feels good to walk into. Somewhere you can bring friends, catch a game, listen to live music, have a proper meal and settle in for a while.

That is what we have always wanted The Backyard to be.

The Backyard has been voted Best Neighbourhood Pub in the Squamish Chief Readers’ Choice Awards for five years running. We are incredibly proud of that, but the part that means the most is who voted for it. This was not decided by a panel or handed out by an industry group. It came from the people of Squamish.

For us, that makes it less of a trophy and more of a reminder to keep looking after the pub our community has made its own.

What does “best pub in Squamish” mean to us?

The honest answer is that there is no single thing that makes a good neighbourhood pub.

It is the table that ends up staying for another round because nobody is ready to leave. It is the trivia team that comes back every Wednesday. It is a local musician playing to a room that is actually listening. It is a packed pub watching a big game together, and a quieter afternoon when someone just wants lunch and a bit of company.

The food and drinks matter, of course. So do the service, the atmosphere and the events. But the real test of a pub is whether people feel like it belongs to them too.

That is the standard we keep trying to live up to.

A neighbourhood pub in Valleycliffe

The Backyard is located at 1907 Maple Drive in Valleycliffe, a few minutes from downtown Squamish and close to some of the trails, climbing areas and outdoor spaces that make this end of town so well loved.

We are proud to be part of Valleycliffe. Locals use the pub for birthdays, team dinners, fundraisers, first dates, family meals, post-hike food and the occasional Tuesday that simply called for getting out of the house.

That neighbourhood connection also shapes how we run the place. We work with local sports clubs, give local musicians a stage, host community events and try to make room for the things people want to see happening in Squamish.

Tourism Squamish describes The Backyard as a neighbourhood pub “putting community first,” with local taps, inclusive food choices, live music, sports viewings and community gatherings. That is a pretty fair summary of what we are trying to do.

One of the best places to eat in Squamish, without making a fuss about it

We take pub food seriously, but not too seriously.

The menu has the classics people come to a pub for, including burgers, wings, poutine and pizza, alongside bowls, salads, sandwiches and plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices. There is weekday lunch, weekend brunch, a kids’ menu and rotating features that give our kitchen team room to try something new.

Some people come in specifically for dinner. Others arrive for trivia, football or live music and remember halfway through that they should probably eat. Both approaches are welcome.

If you are looking through lists of the best places to eat in Squamish and want somewhere relaxed, locally rooted and easy to enjoy with a mixed group, that is where The Backyard fits. You can bring the kids, meet a friend for lunch, get a full dinner or share a few plates over the game.

View The Backyard’s current food and drink menus.

A Squamish pub for live music, trivia and community events

A good pub should give people reasons to come together, even when they did not have plans.

Our weekly trivia night with Shane Fry has become a proper Valleycliffe tradition. Sundays regularly bring live music from artists around Squamish and the Sea to Sky. Across the year, the calendar also makes room for comedy, music bingo, pop-up dinners, fundraisers, community celebrations and the odd event that is difficult to explain but very easy to enjoy once you are here.

Most of our regular events are free to attend. We want the pub to be somewhere locals can take part in what is happening without every night out needing to become a major expense.

For current live music, trivia and special-event details, check The Backyard’s Instagram before you visit.

One of the best places to watch sports in Squamish

The Backyard is also a sports pub, especially when the game is big enough to bring a room together.

With six screens, dedicated sound and sightlines throughout the pub, it is one of the best places in Squamish to watch football, rugby, hockey and other major sporting events. For the biggest games, the atmosphere can get loud. Properly loud. That is part of the fun.

We are sports friendly rather than sports only. On a regular day, there is still space for lunch, a family meal or a conversation at the bar. When a major event is on, we share the details in advance so people know what kind of afternoon or evening to expect.

A patio with a very Squamish backdrop

In warmer weather, The Backyard patio looks out toward the mountains above Valleycliffe, including views of the Chief and Slhanay. It is a good place to land after a hike, ride, climb or day on the river, especially when nobody in the group feels like cooking.

In winter, the pub becomes the kind of warm, busy room that makes the rain easier to forgive. The setting changes through the year, but the idea stays the same: come as you are and stay as long as it feels right.

Five years of votes, and a lot of people to thank

Being voted Best Neighbourhood Pub in Squamish once would have meant a great deal. Five years running is something we do not take lightly.

Thank you to the regulars who have made The Backyard part of their week. Thank you to the people who choose us for birthdays, team nights and family dinners. Thank you to the musicians, trivia players, sports fans, community groups and neighbours who keep bringing life into the room.

And thank you to our staff, who remember names, carry full sections, work through packed game days and help the pub feel like a local rather than simply another place to eat and drink.

The award says “Best Neighbourhood Pub,” but the neighbourhood is the reason it exists.

Visit The Backyard in Squamish

The Backyard is at 1907 Maple Drive, Squamish, BC, in the Valleycliffe neighbourhood.

Come by for lunch, brunch or dinner, catch some live music, join us for trivia or settle in for the next big game. You do not need a special reason. That is part of what neighbourhood pubs are for.

Check our current hours, menus and weekly events before visiting. For group gatherings of ten or more, see our group-booking information.

Frequently asked questions about The Backyard

What is the best pub in Squamish?

The Backyard has been voted Best Neighbourhood Pub in the Squamish Chief Readers’ Choice Awards for five consecutive years. It is a community-focused pub in Valleycliffe offering lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, live music, trivia, sports viewing and a mountain-view patio.

Where is The Backyard in Squamish?

The Backyard is located at 1907 Maple Drive in the Valleycliffe neighbourhood of Squamish, British Columbia.

Does The Backyard show live sports?

Yes. The Backyard has six screens and dedicated sound for football, rugby, hockey and other major sporting events. Details for featured games are posted on its website and social channels.

Does The Backyard have live music?

Yes. The Backyard regularly hosts live music, usually on Sundays, along with trivia and other community events. Many regular events are free to attend.

Is The Backyard family friendly?

Yes. Families are welcome, and the pub offers a kids’ menu. Some major sports events and special nights can be busier or louder, so checking the event schedule before visiting is helpful.

Does The Backyard serve vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free food?

Yes. The menu includes vegetarian and vegan dishes, and gluten-free options are available. Guests with allergies should speak with the team because cross-contamination is always possible in a shared kitchen.

Does The Backyard take group bookings?

Yes. The Backyard accepts group-booking enquiries for parties of ten or more, subject to availability and its group-booking policy.