lonely planet

Located in the heart of Rotterdam, along one of the few remaining ‘authentic’ streets in the inner-city, it’s the place where old and 21st century Rotterdam meet. It’s an excellent place to meet a wide variety of people, from hipsters and the art crowd to old frequenters and students. Draft beer of choice is Jupiler, an excellent Belgian beer and even though the smoking ban is in full effect, the areas outside are excellent and very comfortable in all weather conditions. In short, this is a laidback bar with an interesting mix of guests.

Gazebo Bangkok features spacious indoor nightclub & outdoor live band areas with a sophisticated Middle Eastern design. It’s a bar, restaurant & club you will want to take with you all over Thailand. In the Main Bar 3 bands perform nightly in the huge open air undercover space. There’s beautiful breezy fresh air and shelter if it rains - with spectacular views that never fail to impress. The nightclub is open late, featuring Bangkok’s best DJs. Relax back on cushioned benches and luxurious sofa-style seating in an outdoor setting that neither you, or anyone you bring with you will forget.

Ma Nolan’s has a large terrace, high vaulted ceilings, authentic bar counters and wooden floors. The atmosphere is always buzzing, generated by friendly staff, excellent beer and food, live music in the evenings and a genuinely warm, typically Irish welcome to all. Ma Nolan’s boasts an impressive back bar with an innovative interior. This pub is designed to be a warm, welcoming and atmospheric venue, the perfect place to eat, drink and party. An outdoor terrace situated to the front of the premises provides customers with front row seats to stunning views over the Port and across to the Chateau.

This explosion of colour and fantasy sits high in an ancient mango tree on the tropical island of Utila. It is the ‘Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory’ of bars, with vibrant patterns and unique artwork creating a deliciously different place to drink after a hard day’s dive. Its location off the main strip means that the atmosphere remains mellow, with incredible cocktails tailor-made to your tastes by the ever entertaining staff, making it the most perfect place to experience the warmth and magic of the island.

A spectacular subterranean club venue set in the ancient stone vaults beneath the South Bridge, the Caves stages a series of one-off club nights – check List (www.list.co.uk) for upcoming events.

Head back in time to this Swinging-60s-themed pad and imagine the Flintstones-meet-The-Devil with live music and go-go dancers ‘the Sataniques’ every night. Offering only high quality fresh ingredients in all their drinks, and not admitting any riff raff, ‘Devilles’ is a great place to relax and get into character. Dressing in theme is commonplace and dressing right up is a must.

Especially loved by the locals, this place is in Carrer de Reina Cristina (Barceloneta neighborhood). You can try every kind of excellent (and cheap) ‘tapas’ while you drink and talk loudly in a busy, but very cool environment! The place gets crowded at the end of the afternoon when people of every age get there and stay for hours, standing up and having lots of fun (even on the sidewalk). This place demonstrates the really funny and chilled out soul of Barcelona.

The warm Bangkok air and 360 degree views surround you as you sip slightly overpriced cocktails, served by the friendliest of hotel staff. From your perch, 59 stories above, you can watch lightning strike in the distance, a glowing sunset or just the bustling streets below. The atmosphere is romantic and cosmopolitan - quite a contrast from the chaotic drinking spots on Khao San Road. A must visit for all travellers seeking views with their booze.

In a town where few people spend the night, this bar/hostel has great drinks and incredible food (including oven-fired pizza), but it’s the service that sets it apart. Run by a pair of brothers in one of the most beautiful spots in the world, overlooking the Colca Canyon in Peru, this place has given me a memory I will take to the grave.

This bar is situated in the cultural youth town of Tartu, Estonia. The town is an historical University town. Püssirohukelder is an old gunpowder warehouse, and is listed in the Guinness book of records, as the highest bar in the world. It’s a place where people meet, drink beer and argue about the mysteries of life. There are tons of events going on weekly. There is karaoke night and bull-ride night; once a month the bar turns into a theater, showing good acts by the best actors in Estonia. Püssirohukelder - the place where cultures meet!