Vancouver’s Biggest & Best Social Clubs
The Secret Soirée, by Common Ground (formerly Mix & Mingle) – one of the city’s most famous social club experiences.
“You ain’t never had a friend like me.”
- The Genie from Aladdin, 1992
(and also, like, every member of a social club)
Vancouver, BC – the city where 47% of the population are immigrants, 36% of the population work from home, and 100% of the population find it hard to meet new people. Luckily, all that is starting to change thanks to the steady proliferation of the city’s social clubs. Curious about this emerging scene, or want to join one yourself? Here’s everything you need to know.
Vancouver Social Clubs – what even are they?
They’re exactly what you’d expect – clubs, but like, social. And they’re everywhere, you just need to know how to find them (luckily for you you’re in the right place). The word “club” might make you imagine a super exclusive, overpriced, members lounge filled with old men in dinner jackets smoking cigars. Those probably exist too, but the clubs we’re talking about are open, inclusive, and oftentimes free. The only entry requirement is a willingness to meet new people.
Common Ground: Vancouver’s Experiential Social Club
Common Ground (formerly Mix & Mingle) has quickly earned a name for itself as Vancouver’s most experiential social club. Run by 2 friends – Zuki & Kousha – who are on a ceaseless mission to foster new friendships not just for themselves, but for everyone in the city, Common Ground is a social club that’s become home to even more social clubs. The team host regular Experiences that anyone can attend, and are specifically designed to make meeting new people easier than ever. But their platform, joincommonground.com, is also home to multiple other social clubs & one-time experiences. But why experiences and not just events? Common Ground’s whole ethos is that the easiest way to help people connect & break the ice is to offer them a shared experience that creates natural talking points. And it seems to be working – since launching in February 2023, nearly every single Common Ground experience has sold out.
“Mistletoe & Movies”, Common Ground’s signature festive fiesta, brought a group of strangers together for a holiday screening of ‘Love Actually’ complete with popcorn, mulled wine, and a game of Common Ground'’s very own “Sh*tty Secret Santa.”
Social Run Clubs: Vancouver’s Fitness Social Clubs
If you haven’t heard about the rise of Run Clubs recently, then you’ve probably been living under a rock. Run Clubs are groups of people who get together for social group runs – usually 5km, and usually once a week. Some also host drinks/food afterwards.
Don’t worry – you don’t have to be training for your 5th marathon to get involved. Most run clubs go at a conversational pace (that’s the point!) and there are so many in Vancouver that there’s a pace & a place for you. Check out our guide to Vancouver’s best run clubs to find one that works for you.
We Should Be Friends: Vancouver’s Big Events Social Club
We Should Be Friends is Vancouver’s original new-age social club, and by far the most famous. Started by Katrina Martin in the wake of a viral TikTok that culminated in 300 strangers gathering at Kits Beach with the sole intention of fostering new friendships, Katrina & her crew have steadily created Vancouver’s biggest social club and started a city-wide movement in the process.
With a big social club comes big events, and We Should Be Friends are among the biggest. From their concerts supporting local artists in the winter, to their free park picnics in the summer, you’re sure to find your people at any We Should Be Friends event.
Behind the scenes with the We Should Be Friends team (photo credit).
Let’s Adventure Van: Vancouver’s Adventure Meetup Group
Let’s Adventure Van was created by Seb in 2022 after moving to the city and struggling to meet new people (are you noticing a trend yet?). Just 2 people showed up to his first event, but since then it’s quickly evolved evolved into a flourishing social club.
This social club is all about, well, adventure. But that doesn’t just mean escaping to the mountains. Their events have included ice skating, Canuck’s games, Christmas markets, cold plunges, and concerts just to name a few. If you have an adventurous side and want to meet people who enjoy the spicy side of life too, then Let’s Adventure Van is a great place to start.
A recent outing with Let’s Adventure Van into Vancouver’s local wilderness.
Hello Yello: Vancouver’s Volunteer-Focused Social Club
Hello Yello is a social club with a soul. Started by veteran community-builders Kelly Lamb & Josh Harris, Hello Yello is unique on this list as they’re a social club that’s less about events & experiences and more about creating intentional semi-permanent spaces for people to connect. They rose to prominence in the summer of 2023 when they took over a corner of Kitsilano and turned into a semi-permanent friendship festival, where you can spark up a conversation with anyone while enjoying sunshine, live music and local eats. They recruited over 120 social volunteers to make this happen, many of whom continue to work with them today.
If you’re looking for a social club that’s also something of a social movement, then Hello Yello might be for you. Get in touch and see how you can help them bring their next campaign to life, and make some new Type A friends while you’re at it!
There you have it – Vancouver’s social clubs in a nutshell
This list of the city’s social clubs is far from exhaustive. There are countless niche communities for anyone and everyone. We’ll update this list intermittently to keep to relevant – but for now, if you’re looking for a social club to integrate into these are a great place to start.
See you soon,
Zuki
Chief Extrovert
Common Ground (formerly Mix & Mingle)