lonely planet

Possibly the worst kept secret in London, it’s always heaving and always worth the wait for a table at Gordon’s. Tucked down Villiers Street, off the main tourist drag of The Strand, you have to make it past the junk-filled decoy shop window and down the cellar steps to reach this Aladdin’s cave. The ceilings are barely high enough to stand under and the walls are damp, but this just adds to its charm as the most atmospheric bolt-hole for thirsty West-Enders.

This German Restaurant and Bar features hundreds of collectible beer steins on shelves all around the bar and restaurant. In addition to the steins, this amazing bar serves a variety of German beer, wine and food. It is one of the few good German restaurants’ left in this part of the country and well worth the trip.

This is the ultimate traditional English pub, dating back to 1530. With an original rustic look, authentic beams, exposed brickwork and real fires, the only other thing that makes this pub a must visit place is the great beer and great value tasty food. The staff are always friendly, as are the regulars who prop up the bar during the day. Though be warned that Fridays after work it gets pretty busy. The Gardeners Arms is it’s official name, but better known locally as the Murderers; check out the walls to get some idea of why!

While only about the size of a 70s Hi-Fi the Stereo Bar has been a Frankfurt favourite for almost a decade. It is an eclectic little joint: depending on the night you can find yourself getting down to funk, soul or garage classics or busting out your best hip-hop moves. It’s pleasantly Offbeat and the drink prices are a tad lower than the usual Frankfurt Nachtklub.

Have you ever had the feeling that the entire town’s people are in one place. And it seems that everyone knows one another. Musicians and artists and lawyers and architects, brothers and sisters and all your friends… The music that accompanies all the buzz seems to suit all. And the beer is the cheapest too! Great craic!

Delirium has more than 2000 beers available from around the world and also 900 of Belgium’s finest brews, all to be found in the phone-book sized menu. The atmosphere is great with its dim lighting, loud music and always full bar. Old beer advertisements and colorful posters adorn the walls. So as you are sitting at the old wooden beer kegs that double as tables and drinking exotic beers from around the world you realize why this bar is THE happening place in Brussels. It’ll just make you delirious with pleasure.

Kuala Lumpur’s quirkiest bar is colourful and responsible for beer’s new girlfriend, Curry Popcorn, and the Kick in the Nuts (that’s a drink). Encouraging free art, garbage fashion, pets on Sundays, and garage sales - it’s a place to pick up boys and girls. It’s a place to pick up anyone. A washroom that takes twenty different latches to escape, a broken carousel horse on the bar top, a deer halfway out the wall, a wall made out of grass – the only dull thing about this bar is the dark alley outside, and the drinking itself.

Soggy Dollar is the most relaxing laid back bar you will ever go to. Located on the beach in Jost Van Dyke in the BVI, the bar gets its name from the fact that the only way to get there is by boat… and there’s no dock to the shore! Patrons must jump out of their boats and swim to shore… hence Soggy Dollar! They are the home of the original ‘Painkiller’! They grate fresh nutmeg on top, and it is heaven. The bar comes complete with couches, lounge chairs, hammocks, and the ever-popular ring hook game!

Always full, always changing. This is the freshest, friendliest and best-regarded among the newer venues – with different nights including pulse, roots, drum’n’bass, Latin, Afro-beat, Old School jazz or hip-hop grooves, there’s always something to induce you to shake your booty.

Small and quaint, great mix of people of all ages, great local live music ranging from Hawaiian to old classics (but always good!), well-made reasonably-priced drinks AND excellent pupus (Hawaiian snacks)! You needn’t look any further. Get into the Hawaiian state of mind (which is Aloha) and unwind in this mellow, easy-going, fun place. I was taken there by a friend in December and wouldn’t go anywhere else on the island.