lonely planet

Walking into this bar can make you feel like you have accidentally eaten a jazzy mushroom in ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and have been transported to a hobgoblin’s cave within a majestic oak tree. This distinctly unpretentious bar is situated next to the Wax Museum in an alleyway within the Barrio Gotico (Gothic Quarter). You will find yourself surrounded by miniature waterfalls, caves, fairy lights, a tree (?!) and other foliage. The bar has an excellent range of drinks, great music and is frequented by the beautiful locals. Go there.

A golf-themed bar might seem risqué in terms of general appeal, but The Tap Inn, in Adelaide’s leafy suburb of Kent Town, gets the balance of appeal and theme just right. As you walk in past the row of large tap-shaped fountains, you might think you’re entering a Museum of Modern Art, but the relaxed feel of the bar - all modern wood and English elegance - makes this the ideal place for an unwinding round of drinks. The indoor driving range and cascading-levelled bistro caps it off perfectly for those who want more than simply a brew.

This is the best bar in London. Why? Good music, great food, great setting and, most of all, great ambiance. No bar is better for completely relaxing in after a hard week and everyone is sure to let their hair down.

This is a little piece of Spain in the Australian bush. Situated 2 hours north of Perth, the New Norcia Hotel is a historic building in Australia’s only monastic town. This magnificent old hotel with its huge columns was originally built by Benedictine Monks for a proposed Spanish Royalty visit. Today it is still owned by monks and offers Aussie beers and a good meal. Basic accommodation is relatively cheap also.

This is the best Pub in town! Very cool and nice, a lot of funny people and a popular meeting point each Sunday evening.

In Kafka, you can chill out throughout the whole weekend, whatever the season. In winter, sink in a sofa, play chess and drink hot chocolate. Once it gets warm, go outside and relax on a deckchair or play badminton. It seems like countryside but is close to the city, and definitely feels like home.

Chilkoot Charlie’s has been named Best Bar in 8 Magazine’s “Best of 8 Awards” for several years running, and Best Bar in the “Press Pick Awards” in the Anchorage Press. In 2000, Chilkoot Charlie’s was declared the Number 1 Bar in America by Playboy magazine (May 2000)! Live bands come from all over the USA to perform at the world famous Chilkoot Charlie’s. Chilkoot’s has been host or co-host to such acts as: Metallica, Bryan Adams, Joe Satriani, The Steve Miller Band, Crosby Stills & Nash, Bon Jovi, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ratt, Journey, Ozzy Osbourne, The Beach Boys, Blue Oyster Cult, The Doobie Brothers, Eddie Money, Megadeth, Aerosmith, Styx, Van Halen, Cinderella, Greenday, and the Scorpions just to name a few. Chilkoot Charlie’s has also received national TV coverage on ESPN, Good Morning America, David Letterman, The Johnny Carson Show and MTV Street Party. Chilkoot Charlie’s features a rustic Alaska atmosphere with sawdust-covered floors, 3 stages, 3 dance floors and 10 bars (11 in the summertime!) with padded tree stumps and beer kegs for seating. Filled to the rafters with such things as famous band photos & autographs, huge beer-can collections and tons of Alaska memorabilia, a person could wander around Chilkoot Charlie’s for days and still not see everything. In its 30-year history, Chilkoot Charlie’s is considered a definite “must see” for visitors to Alaska.

Between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, in the arid hinterlands of Oman’s Al-Dhahira region, you’ll find the sleepy desert oasis of Ibri. Come sundown (no one really comes out until then anyways) slide into the semi-seedy Al-Hajeer Coffeeshop for a taste of Cairo. Along with Cheshire smiles, the Egyptian-staff serve a mean sheesha (a giant water-pipe of improbable flavors). Swimming in a mint, grape or jasmine cloud of tobacco, a Lebanese pop-song blasts from one TV, the latest football-match from another; a discussion heats-up over backgammon and you swear you’re back in Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo.

Mr Kom’s is unique as it offers everything and doesn’t have to try. Facing the sea, on wooden loungers or basic plastic chairs, it’s relaxation time. Ice cold beer, cocktails or noodles. You want snappy service go somewhere else. You want every request replied by “Sure. 100%” this is my ideal destination. After all, I’ve been going there for more than 20 years.

Café en Seine has just about everything: A super fun Irish and international crowd to start with, plus fabulous drinks and tasty food too. It’s huge but you feel at home with the inside full of nice furniture and huge beautiful plants. Once there you’ll never wanna leave!