Easy on the eyes, hard on the wallet

The 5 is a Vancouver institution, it's been mentioned in song by Bon Jovi and others, and it's been around forever, one of the few left in Downtown Vancouver to survive the purge of the 2000s and 2010s. It's located in a terrible neighborhood, right across from the main police station, which you might think would offer some semblance of security, but you would be wrong. You are far better off to find a street parking spot and walk to the club, so the homeless and drug addicts who congregate around there don't know which car is yours. Parking in the club lot is expensive to begin with and then the homeless guy will shake you down for 5 bucks to "watch your car". Don't give it to him and he'll key it or worse himself.

As you get in, the shakedown starts. 10 or 15 cover, depending on the event and time of day. Pushy beer girl right there as well. Frisk/pat downs are common. If it's busy, the bouncer will try to get 50-150 from you for a table. If you pay, he'll kick someone out and give you their table, not exactly great business strategy. I have been booted from a table that we had been sitting at for 2 hours, buying drinks and dances, just because some new arrival paid the extortion at the door.

The place is seedy, but that's part of the charm. Two types of dancers, stage and floor. Floor girls simply hustle lap dances. Stage girls work in a rotation and some will also work the floor in between their sets. Beers run 8-13 each and getting drunk here isn't cheap. The lap dances are 50 each, and usually allow touching above the waist, which is sort of legal since the dances take place upstairs beyond the limit of the liquor licence. Depending on the lady, they can be great, or a complete rip off, many girls will have the guts to ask for a tip on top of the sky high going rate. Some guys will try to tell you there are extras to be had, but there are cameras and the bouncer up there is pretty vigilant. You are better off asking for takeout from a lady you hit it off with, most are either staying in a hotel nearby or have an airbnb and will offer incall/outcall if they like you and the money is right.