lonely planet

Jimmy Woo welcomes you to his club and lounge. Enter the Woo and experience his extraordinary taste for luxury, style and glamour. His knowledge and love for the orient and his refined feeling for the newest trends in music and design are portrayed in the style of the club. Jimmy Woo will take you to a breathtaking world combining authentic oriental art and modern western elements. Jimmy Woo likes extravagance but also appreciates privacy. Both aspects are reflected in the design and the bar layout. Gold leaf, black lacquer walls, Japanese lanterns and a genuine antique opium bed remind one of the closing moments of ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA. Jimmy Woo offers the state-of-the-art in twenty-first century entertainment, with the very best sound system imported from London and a fascinating illuminated ceiling, revealing more than twelve thousand tiny light bulbs.

Its psychedelic dance floor, charismatic staff and awesome DJ make this the best bar in our region. Every night goes off as you can dance your way to heaven whilst drinking awesome cocktails and the favourite generics like Bundaberg Rum and Coronas. In my opinion this is the best bar in South East Queensland.

The remarkable scene at the Water Bar in San Francisco, right on the Embarcadero, across the street from the storied Ferry Building, looking up at the lights of the Bay Bridge, the eclectic, highly stimulating and most “worldly” clientele… there is simply no place like it - truly “high-end” and worth every penny! Plan on spending a lot and never regretting it!

Young blond students pass the lifetime-drinkers on the way to the pool tables at the Queens, and everybody smiles at each other. Upstairs, downstairs, inside or out, it’s a year-round, everyone’s-welcome pub. When a hot Perth summer hits, they turn on the sprinklers and cool down the patrons, just in case the beer’s not doing the job already. Sit near Beaufort Street and watch the latte-sippers and boutique shoppers; bunker down inside to be close to the bar and the kitchen.

An experience of its own, this little Pub its euphemistically described by the title ‘King Kong’, its appearance and atmosphere living up to its name as an out of control bar with no limitations. Graffiti lining the walls and pool tables for dancing, this bar is indeed a unique experience.

Paddy Murphy’s is not your average pub; in fact there are those who would argue that it comes close to being an establishment! It is what thousands of Irish pubs across the globe aspire to be. The secret according to owner, Clonakilty man Dan O’Donovan, is atmosphere, as he knowingly says, “People can buy beer anywhere, but they can’t buy atmosphere”. So how do you guarantee something as intangible as atmosphere? There will be live music here seven nights a week. The line-up is varied, but the quality of the entertainment is always guaranteed.

My sanctuary! Reflecting the Central Coast’s wonderfully relaxed atmosphere is Fubah - best summed up by ‘wine, beer, music, food, beach’! Fubah is located directly across from the stunning Copacabana Beach. The moment you enter this bar you are greeted by a warm, friendly ambiance as the cool, calm and chilled-out music embraces you. The selection of beer, wine and food is extensive - there is something for everyone, yes, even Grandma! You can’t help but strike up a conversation with the personable staff, and as you’re leaving… you’re already planning your next visit!

This is the best bar in the Caribbean, with a great breeze, a great view and awesome Painkillers.

Talk about laid-back! We chilled out at this bar a few times during our Virgin Islands vacation… from boating excursions straight to the bar, still soaking wet, snorkel gear in tow. No need to go to your villa to freshen up first. With it’s very casual atmosphere, it’s a fun place to people watch. From tourists to “old salts,” it’s a great place to relax and replenish after a long day of sun and sea with cold beer, mango painkillers (my personal fave) and the best burgers in the Caribbean.

Quiet Mon Pub, an Irish pub, is located on the island of St. John, the smallest of the US Virgin’s and has been open for 12 years. The staff have been with the pub for most of its history and the beer is commonly understood to be the coldest on island. With the chaos that IS most of the bars in the Caribbean, Quiet Mon is a local hang-out and the crowd is generally across the line… old, young, hippies, boaties, yachties, tourists, the famous and, alas, the infamous. It gets MY vote for the best bar in the world, hands down.