10 Best Saskatoon Nightlife
What to Do After Dinner in Saskatoon?
The best nightlife in Saskatoon offers a whole host of exiting live performances, cosy bars and pubs and nighttime nostalgia. The biggest city in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan is an underrated riverside gem that captivates visitors with its warm hospitality, vast Indigenous history, flourishing gastronomic scene and a deep sense of community pride. Whatever time of year you visit, Saskatoon’s nightlife will keep you well entertained with its surprising cultural attractions and enticing drinking and dining.
Stop by a retro pinball parlour, take in a play in a big red barn or drop into a pub for a hearty home-cooked meal and some banter with the locals. Saskatoon is a place that welcomes its guests with open arms.
1. Buds on Broadway
A legendary rock ‘n’ roll relic
Good for: Couples, Food, Nightlife
Established nearly 40 years ago and famed for its Saturday jam sessions, Buds on Broadway is Saskatoons’ oldest live music venue. Conveniently situated in the leafy Nutana neighbourhood in the centre of the city, it’s just moments from Rotary Park and the serpentine South Saskatchewan River.
Innumerable artists have taken to the stage here including the iconic British musician Long John Baldry (who performed with Elton John, Rod Stewart, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles). While you’re enjoying a classic rock or blues show, treat yourself to a signature Buds Burger, a basket of fries and an ice-cold Kokanee beer.
Location: 817 Broadway Ave, Saskatoon, SK S7N 1B5, Canada
Open: Sunday–Monday from 4 pm to 1 am, Tuesday from 4 pm to midnight, Wednesday–Saturday from 4 pm to 2 am
Phone: +1 306-244-4155
Buds on Broadway
2. Persephone Theatre
Saskatchewan’s largest regional theatre company
Good for: Nightlife, Food
Located in the Remai Arts Centre on River Landing, Persephone Theatre has been entertaining Saskatonians for nearly half a century. It boasts 2 performance stages: the 400-seat Rawlco Radio Hall and the 100-seat Backstage Studio space. Here, you can catch topical plays like Keith Barker’s This is How We Got Here, puppetry spectacles like It’s OK to be Different and perennial Disney musicals including The Little Mermaid.
After a show, stroll a couple of blocks north to Taverna Italian Kitchen + Bar, a trendy joint on East 21st Street that serves all those mama-approved classics like antipasti, thin-crust pizzas and piping-hot bowls of pasta. Try the buffalo mozzarella with Roma tomatoes and the ravioli di aragosta with succulent lobster.
Location: 100 Spadina Crescent E, Saskatoon, SK S7K 0L3, Canada
Open: Visit the website or contact the box office for specific show times and schedules
Phone: +1 306-384-7727
Persephone Theatre
3. Capitol Music Club
An enclave for all kinds of artists
Good for: Couples, Food, Nightlife
Capitol Music Club has made a name for itself promoting both acclaimed touring acts and undiscovered local performers (including bands, singer-songwriters and stand-up comedians). Located in the heart of downtown, punters flock here to grab a bite, catch a show and enjoy happy hour highballs and glasses of sangria.
Take in an acoustic performance, test your knowledge on Trivia Night or boot-scoot your way across the dance floor at a honky-tonk brunch. If you’re feeling peckish, nothing beats Capitol’s double-decker Smash Daddy burger with ancho aioli or the loaded mac and cheese with herby focaccia.
Location: 244 1st Ave N, Saskatoon, SK S7K 1X2, Canada
Open: Tuesday from 7 am to 2 am, Wednesday–Thursday from 7 am to midnight, Friday from 7 am to 2 am, Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm and from 6 pm to 2 am, Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +1 306-244-0772
Capitol Music Club
4. Yard & Flagon
Traditional Irish pub
Good for: Couples, Families, Food
Yard & Flagon is an atmospheric watering hole that’s beloved for its vast whiskey collection, mouthwatering pub grub and heated rooftop patio. Set in Saskatoon’s buzzy Broadway District, visitors can mingle with the locals around the venue’s old-school bar or grab spot at one of its many rustic tables.
The food menu is eclectic and hearty with dishes like Lancashire hot pot, beer-battered fish and chips and the 5oz. juicy elk burger melding British and Irish flare with rich Canadian traditions. Don’t forget to try a beertail (a cocktail made with beer), the Rowdy Radler or the Lotus Lemonade.
Location: 718 Broadway Ave, Saskatoon, SK S7N 1B4, Canada
Open: Daily from 11 am to midnight
Phone: +1 306-653-8883
Yard & Flagon
5. Pokey’s Pinball Café
Nostalgic neighbourhood gem
Good for: Couples, Families, Unusual
For classic arcade games and a finger-licking meal head on over to Pokey’s Pinball Café, located in Saskatoon’s Caswell Hill district, north of the CBD. Revisit all your old favourites like Monster Mash, Cactus Canyon, Iron Maiden and Attack from Mars in its retro, lime-green interior.
If you’re feeling hungry you can wrap your jaws around a smoking hot Death Proof Burger (it’s layered with fresh jalapenos, habanero jack cheese and spiked with Pokey’s scorpion pepper mayonnaise). Alternatively, indulge in a foot-long Deadly Dog or a Loco Pollo chicken sandwich with a side of homemade gravy.
Location: 211B 33rd St W, Saskatoon, SK S7L 0V2, Canada
Open: Wednesday–Thursday from 4 pm to 10 pm, Friday from 4 pm to midnight, Saturday from 1 pm to 12 am, Sunday from 1 pm to 8.30 pm (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
Phone: +1 306-343-2196
Pokey's Pinball Café
6. Barn Playhouse
Friendly farm-run theatre
Good for: Couples, Families, Unusual
Rub shoulders with the locals at The Barn Playhouse, a rural community theatre that’s set in a fabulous red barn, a 25-minute drive north of Saskatoon city centre. Over the past 45 years, this off-the-beaten-path attraction has put on hundreds of riveting plays including I Remember Mama, The Wizard of Oz and Miracle on 34th Street.
But the fun doesn’t stop there. The Barn also hosts a whimsical quilting retreat that takes place over 3 days in both April and September (check the official website and book yourself a place). The artistic director and founder, Vickie Dyck, is warm and welcoming and will make you feel like family.
Location: R.R. 4, Saskatoon, SK S7K 3J7, Canada
Phone: +1 306-239-4600
Barn Playhouse
7. PiNK Bar and Lounge
A bona fide party paradise
Good for: Couples, Food, Nightlife
Located in a historic warehouse that dates to the 19th century, PiNK is an LGBTQIA+ haven. It’s kitted out with 3 large bars, a massive dance floor, VLT, pool tables and a cosy heated patio. Ascend to the second level and discover an old-school claw machine and a wealth of arcade games like Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero.
Hit PiNK on Friday and Saturday night for the hottest live DJs, swing by Tuesday to Thursday for glitzy drag karaoke or check the official website for the next OTT foam party. The lounge features a menu of appetizers, wine, champagne and cocktails that are served by a team of super-fun waiters.
Location: 69 24 St E, Saskatoon, SK S7K 0J9, Canada
Open: Tuesday–Sunday from 7 pm to 2 am (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +1 306-244-7465
PiNK Bar and Lounge
8. Prairie Sun Brewery
Prairie Sun Brewery
Good for: Couples, Food, Nightlife
Prairie Sun Brewery is the place to go when you’re hankering after local craft beer and delectable food. This stunning community hub boasts a rustic-chic interior that’s festooned with trailing plants and decked out with farmhouse-style tables, statement wooden beams and comfy leather diner booths.
The on-site brewhouse concocts a superb array of creatively named beers (which you can sample at the bar) including Pineapple Express, Urban Wheat, Bad Intentions and Prairie Lily. When you’ve worked up an appetite, feast on giant pretzels, pulled pork sandwiches, lobster rolls and mac and cheese.
Location: 650 Broadway Ave, Saskatoon, SK S7N 1A9, Canada
Open: Brewery Hours: Tuesday–Thursday from 11.30 am to 10 pm, Friday from 11.30 am to 11 pm, Saturday from 11 am to 11 pm, Sunday from 11 am to 9 pm (closed on Mondays). Brunch Hours: Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm, Sunday from 11 am to 2 pm
Phone: +1 306-343-7000
Prairie Sun Brewery
9. Hunter’s Eastview Bowl
Let the good times roll
Good for: Couples, Families, Food
Hunter’s Eastview Bowl is a favourite after-dark haunt of local Saskatonians. Founded in the 1950s, this classic bowling alley has been upgraded with a state-of-the-art automatic scoring system and eye-catching audio/visuals (including neon-lit lanes and pulsing up-tempo music).
The on-site Red’s Bar and Grill serves tasty fare to patrons in an interior that overlooks the bowling lanes. Satiate your hunger with a buttermilk fried chicken burger, a smokehouse beef brisket sandwich or a vermicelli noodle bowl with charbroiled pork and shrimp.
Location: 2929 Louise St E, Saskatoon, SK S7J 3L1, Canada
Open: Tuesday–Thursday from 9 am to 11 pm, Friday from 9 am to 1 am, Saturday from 10 am to 1 am, Sunday–Monday from 11 am to 11 pm
Phone: +1 306-373-4333
Hunter's Eastview Bowl
10. Dakota Dunes Casino
After-dark excitement
Good for: Couples, Food, Nightlife
30 minutes south of the Saskatoon city centre you’ll find Dakota Dunes: a First Nations casino that’s situated on Whitecap Dakota First Nation territory. Punters come here for the High Limit Room (which features Double Deck Blackjack and Squeeze Baccarat), vibrant restaurant and bar and 18-hole golf course.
After you’ve played the slots, hit the luxurious Seven Sports Bar for 11 mammoth TV screens that broadcast all the latest matches. While you’re taking in an ice hockey game, treat yourself to a maple whiskey BBQ burger, a hefty plate of boneless dry ribs or a classic Denver sandwich.
Location: 204 Dakota Dunes Wy, Whitecap, SK S7K 2L2, Canada
Open: Daily from 10 am to 4 am
Phone: +1 306-667-6400
Dakota Dunes Casino
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