Best bars in Europe?
What cities / towns in Europe have the best bars. Not nightclubs, but places to sit at a bar after a day of sightseeing and chat with strangers / bartenders? Or late afternoon pitstop for munchies and a beer.
Just returned from Bologna and found some fun bars there. LOVE German beer halls and always meet interesting strangers. In Venice - we found one corner bar next to Rialto fish market run by some funny dude cranking music. Found fun places in Ghent ... but while I search out our next trip I am thinking about what cities are best for this. My husband and I dropped our son at the hotel in Milan at 9:30 and wandered out to find a place and found nothing - ended up at a cafe in front of the Duomo which was nice but I was surprised that on a Friday night there was no life around (though we may not have known where to look!).
So - anyone have ideas? We are throwing around the idea of visiting Southern Italy, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia for our next trip and would love some feedback.
bronwen
maplewood, new jersey usa 1/2/13
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I'd vote for any small town pub in the UK or Ireland, although they aren't what I'd call a late-night venue.
Anywhere in the former East Berlin-the busy Oranienburgstrasse and more tucked away Linienstrasse have plenty of hopping places full of people from all over the world. Prenzlauer Berg has lots of smaller, quieter taverns, while Friedrichshain has the larger clubs with a younger crowd. The nightlife in Berlin is pretty hard to beat.
I also second the UK/Ireland style pubs. I am a beer-o-phile and like to just sit and enjoy a hoppy IPA served near-room temperature in a quieter room.
Thanks all. Maybe I can warm up to the UK / Ireland idea. Also, I love Germany so maybe a trip to Berlin IS in our future!
Are you familiar with the TV travel/drinking show "Three Sheets"? It is available on Hulu and would probably give you some good ideas.
My favorite bar-hopping city in Europe has to be Berlin. There's a staggering amount of neighborhoods where you can bar-hop (or crawl), and there's really something for everyone. Plus the prices are good - high end places are high, of course, but generally costs are lower than similar establishments in say, San Francisco.
Vienna's nightlife is underrated in my book, but like most places, the best bars are outside the most touristy areas.
Had fun at some bars in Croatia - we went to bars in Cavtat, Split, and Zadar. Zadar was the most fun for us, but we were in Split on a night where everything was closed (Split is supposed to have the best nightlife usually). It should go without saying, but Dubrovnik, at least the old city, is dead for nightlife. What does exist on the outside of the walls seems geared entirely for locals/tourist industry workers and I'm guessing they probably don't care to party with the people they have to serve every day.
If you really want to party, consider Serbia. Belgrade is famous in Europe for being a party city. I was only there one night so I missed out on this, but I want to go back, especially to explore the floating clubs and pubs on the river which were closed down when I visited in October.
Am dying to do more bar hopping in Barcelona and Budapest, both places I've been to but with older relatives so I didn't get to immerse myself in the nightlife.
You don't go by towns, you go by surrounds:
Any bar with trademens vans outside.
Any bar with a picnic table out front.
Any bar with near where fishing boats are.
Any bar with a wall that people are sitting on.
Any rural bar in the UK.
Any bar you're afraid to go in if you're a wimp.
My parents had a group of 22 people that traveled all over the world in "the continental style."
But the top night they ever had was in a pub below their hotel in Wales. Every Wednesday night for 150 years, a famous men's glee club met in the pub to practice their singing. They'd sing together, sing solos, sing duets, etc. And they took my parents group in like they were relatives.
This glee club tours all over the world (and U.S.) in summers.
Sorry I cannot remember the name of the pub, but I do have their travel notes of every trip at our other house. And eventually, I too will experience the warmth of this fantastic pub.
I'd be happy to share a glass of beer with Ed.
Too late for you this time, but if you go to Milan again the canal area (Navigli?), might be what you were looking for. Elsewhere, Amsterdam, Berlin, Oslo (but take lots of money), and most of suburban and rural Britain may all suit you. However since you are not planning on those places next visit, I'll suggest the Greek islands, especially away from the main tourist centres. Despite its reputation, Crete has what you want if you avoid most of the north coast hotel strip.
Thanks! We discussed Navilgi with dude at hotel but he said at that time it would be dead. Husband and I are thinking about Amsterdam while kiddo is at camp this summer. Live Amsterdam and going with no mosey 24 year old may be the ticket!
U Zlateho Tygra in Prague
Phonixhof in Vienna
Wodka Cafe in Krakow