lonely planet

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.

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.

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.

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.

Quiet apart from Tuesday nights when everyone visits. Comfy beds to sit on, plenty of drink specials, a cat that appears to have eyebrows painted on and a monkey wearing a nappy. One of the most interesting nights you’ll ever have out.

I love all the fuss around making the fancy drinks, feels a little bit like the film Cocktail. All the attention goes to the bar, since the walls are black. When it’s winter, it gets too cold and the heating just isn’t enough for the place and you WILL be cold.

It’s hard to say what type of people you will meet at the Cambie, because to be quite honest, literally every type of person can be found there. Just as popular now as it was in 1887 when it opened, The Cambie is the oldest and busiest bar in town. Having lived through the prohibition of the 1920s thanks to a labyrinth of underground tunnels used to bootleg spirits straight to the storeroom, the Cambie has always been THE place for locals and travellers alike who want to kick back and relax with a cheap jug of beer. Definitely not a place to miss if you’re in Vancouver.

A real old-fashioned pub that brews its own beer - you’re guaranteed an ‘Ale’ of a time!

Deftly sidestepping intellectual property issues as only a post-Soviet state can, ‘Briusly’ in Vilnius pays homage to iconic martial artist Bruce Lee. In the master’s own words, ‘[i]t’s not what you give, it’s the way you give it’, and Briusly sure packs a punch. A pan-Asian menu incorporates flavours from Tibet to Thailand but it’s the drinks list which delivers the knockout blow. A formidable cocktail menu is complemented by wines from 4 continents and Absinthe served hot or cold. Finish off with some krupnikas, the traditional Lithuanian sweet alcohol, and you’ll be throwing air punches all the way home.

“Where the emerald isle meets the Boot”. Pub Italia has over 200 beers and 36 draughts. Right in the heart of Little italy, they serve great italian food. Beer merchandise is for sale. The cool cavernous cathedral is called the “Abbey”. Quite a weird and super friendly place. We have great memories of drinking there with my 84 year old cousin Ed, who has spent 25 years in Belize and Mexico doing development work with his pension.