Bratislava's Old Town centre is completely pedestrianised and has wall-to-wall bars, restaurants, cafes and clubs.

It has a much more relaxed, easy-going and friendly ambience than many other European capitals and, because there are no cars, you can try all the superb Slovak beers, wines and fiery spirits, tottering from one bar to another without fear of being mown down by a Skoda in a hurry.

Highly recommended for gourmets and bon-viveurs everywhere.

Bratislava Old Town
Tram 13 from the main railway station
Bus 61 from Bratislava's M R Stefanik airport.
Only 64km from Vienna

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A superb Cuban restaurant on the banks of the Danube, found in the pistacchio ice cream-coloured Esterhazy Palace.

The Slovaks have done a fantastic job of recreating a steamy Havana atmosphere and the elegant domed ceilings and walls are covered with black and white photos of Cuban nightlife.

Great mojitos (175Sk) with Angostura bitters. Pricey but superb food and live music every night from nine pm. There's a friendly Cuban guy who welcomes visitors at the door.

Typical of the relaxed, welcoming and laid-back atmosphere in Bratislava's pedestrianised Old Town.

Don't listen to comments from boorish, drunken stag partyers from the UK: Bratislava is one of the safest, friendliest and cheapest city break destinations in Europe.

MALECON
Namestie L. Stura 4.
Tel: 02 5464 0167
www.malecon.sk
Trams 11, 13 & 14 to Namestie L. Stura.

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As an Aussie student, just want to say, make sure you know how much your drink costs before you order. Most places are good (Slovak pub, bar across from charlie's) but in other bars, the bar tenders will take what you give them and walk off, it may not be much but it adds up. In just over two drinks in BAROK CIRCUS i paid sk100 (euro3) too much. It's not much, but honesty goes a long way. I took another traveller's tip and asked for a bill, but got some random bill for sk 430. So, just pay with whatever it says on the menu in exact change if possible, it's a pain in the ass but will save you over the night.

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Everyone says: go to Charlie's Bar. Don't. For a start, the place is a dump. Secondly, and this is the main reason not to go, the door staff are crooked thugs.

We were in there, minding our own business and our friend went to the toilet. He was followed in by 3 doormen who closed the door behind them and demanded money and cocaine off him. Upon finding that he had no cocaine and was not eager to hand over cash, they beat him up, leaving him needing a trip to the hospital and several stitches in his top lip which had been completely split open.

We called the police who seemed to be in on it because they arrived, and the same doorman that had been involved in the beating told them that there was no problem. They left, despite us protesting otherwise, with a guy standing there bleeding profusely from the mouth.

Just don't go there. I can't say strongly enough that there are so many good bars and clubs in Bratislava - enough for that place to be avoided. Vote with your feet. Any place that employs thugs on the door who try to fleece tourists needs to be given a wide berth. Go to the Slovak Pub. It's ace.

Don't find it. Avoid it.

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Celebrity Lounge is the new side of Bratislava - a laid back bar with great cocktails and a very chilled DJ. Cokoladovna is old school. It is a family run chocolate shop on the way to St Martin's Tower that offers over 60 types of the drink including one variant with chilli and another with tomato.

Celebrity Lounge: Panská 14;
tel: 02 5441 9824;
email: info@celebritylounge.sk

Cokoladovna: Michalska 6;
tel: 02 5443 3945;
www.cokoladovna.com

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