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Forget the Tropicana - if you want the most authentic Cuban music experience in Havana go to the Casa de la Musica. This is where the Cubans come to go out. Arrive early, get a table, get a bottle of rum and then watch the place erupt as the tables are thrown aside and the salsa begins.
Casa de la Música “Miramar”.
Avenida 35 esq. a 20, Miramar
For something a little more “wholesome” - on 2nd road spend an hour or so at the Malibu Bar - it’s a girl and lady-man show....a low budget affair, they make their own elaborate costumes and mime to well-known western songs. Every night they tread the boards from 8 till about 12.00 midnight - sometimes poor and amateurish but always entertaining. DO NOT miss Tina Turner! This guy is actually quite professional and very good indeed. He does a couple of performances every night and the place fills just to watch his act. Unfortunately sometimes he has to take time off (twice a night, 7 days a week, year in year out - who wouldn’t?!?) and the act is performed by a less talented stand-in. All -in- all a great friendly atmosphere, lots of couples and even kids - and no smut!!!! No admission charge, and they do food.
The nightlife in Pattaya is legendary. Although the bars now officially close at 1.00pm, this does not stop some places from turning music down and carrying on till the early hours of daylight.
There are discos, clubs bars of sorts including the girlie places....
The sex trade ripples through the town like veins through a stilton, and in a similar way gives the place its distinctive character. Unlike the red light areas of Europe and America, they aren’t really sleazy; mainly it consists of small open bars where (middle-aged) men sit drinking beer and talking to the “bar-girls”. If a tryst is arranged it will take place in one of the hundreds of hotels. There is very little open display of lewdness as this is not approved of in Thailand. The “Go-go Bars” are behind closed doors and have naked or semi naked girls pole dancing or rather holding a pole and swaying to music. You and your family would not be admitted to a Go-go bar. If you went to an open beer bar you would be treated as a perfectly ordinary customer and the girls would dote on your children. (They are mostly mothers themselves). And as for the “seediness” how many men do you know go to Hamburg or Amsterdam and find a wife?
The Fisherman's bar is attached to Waterville's central hotel, the Butler's Arms. Charlie Chaplin once stayed there, so there's a statue of the little tramp on the sea front promenade.
The Fisherman's is where most of the 'decent' locals drink. The stoners and the drunks and the GAA-heads all have their own bars in this wee town, and this is one of the best.
There are open fires, clean loos, comfortable seating and come the evening, it's packed. You can have a good night in nearly any bar in Waterville, but this place is one of the best.
There's only one street, you can't miss it.
The European flagship of the Four Seasons chain. Recently renovated to its glorious, Art Nouveau best.
Stunning all the way I'm sure, but I've only been in for tea, as I'm a poor student and not a millionaire, like you. I ate in the bar area, which is beautiful, and the food was good and the service impeccable.
Wish I could afford to stay there. Donations on a post card to...
Roosevelt Tér 5-6. 1051
Budapest
Hungary
Tel: 36 (1) 268-6000
Fax: 36 (1) 268-5000
I know, I know, it's a bit hypocritical after telling you to avoid the place in a previous tip, but I actually quite enjoy it there.
It's like going out in a market town in England on a Friday; raucous; loud; packed with fools and too much drink. But it also has some of Dublin's best pubs, live music, galleries and restaurants.
It's rare that the sense of violence, which always seems a wrong look away in London, is felt here.
I wouldn't recommend Temple Bar at night for someone in search of a quiet drink, or a civilized time. The puddles of vomit and p!ss ensure that, but it is great fun if you're in town for a laugh with a group of friends.
the centre of town
This is a really stylish and comfortable cafe/bar in the middle of the town. It is a great place to drink a (good) coffee and read the papers while you wait for your wife to look at the shops and then buy her a simple lunch and decent glass of wine! I have never been there in the evening but I believe they sometimes have (gentle) live music.
Market Street, Aberystwyth 01970 - 617606
Route 66 is an American style bar and restaurant, which has a real welcoming atmosphere. It also has large TVs for sports fans, showing the best of the days live sport. Route 66 also is the longest bar in Slovakia, and at weekends there are bands playing there.
Just on the outskirts of the town centre.
A brilliant mussels tapas bar tiled beautifully. Stand at the bar and drop the shells down into the waiting buckets.
Barman tetchy if you just order beer though, he started muttering to us about the stag group that came in just for a drink. The bar is also on the square which joins the main tapas/hanging around strip.
13 Moro Zeit 13
Valencia
46001
Phone: +34 96 391 0497
Tapas Bar, small atmospheric bar, wonderful house tapas, friendly service, great cava in wide champagne glasses, don't forget to leave room for the sweet biscuits and a glass of sweet sherry to dip them in.
C.Montcada near to the Picasso Museum
Essentially this is a bread stick sandwich with the typical Spanish potato omelette. The aspect that makes it different in Valencia is that the bread is liberally spread/loaded with alioli - a garlic mayonnaise which is just perfect for the aforementioned sandwich.
Anywhere in the city of Valencia. My favourite was a bar down one of the side streets near the train station. It was called Bar Turia. Well worthwhile - a good beer with the sandwich dripping garlic at a decent price.
We sat in the sun eating open crab sandwiches and watching a seal fishing in the inlet off Galway Bay. The perfect end to a day spent walking the Cliffs of Mohr and the moonscape of Burren.
The best Irish pub in Hamburg by a mile! Better service, an open fire, a great quiz night, fantastic food and plenty of live music. If you like chess or whisky tastings, there's something for you too!
The Irish Rover, Großneumarkt, Hamburg
www.irishrover.de
This legendary hangout frequented by expats, students, and local residents since 1996 recently moved to a new location (now right across from the US consulate).
The casual cellar atmosphere is cosy and welcoming. The staff pretty much all speak English. The moderately-priced menu (in English and Russian) features tasty American-style food including nachos with homemade chili, and monster burgers like nowhere else in the city.
Free WiFi and internet phone are really conveninent and helpful, and the English-language book and video library can help keep you sane if you're stuck here in winter.
The bar attracts a younger crowd late nights on weekends, especially when there's a DJ or band. It can get a little wild (in a fun way), and it's a great time to meet and party with locals.
Furshtatskaya Ulitsa 20
Metro Chernyshevskaya
www.citybar.ru
This cosy wine house five minutes from the Rialto serves dozens of wonderful wines by the glass, starting at about 1.5 euros for a glass of prosecco.
Also serves delicious bar food - when it's gone, it's gone. The atmosphere is that of a private party - you can spill out on to the street or eat at little drop-down ledges, built into the walls of the shop.
A great alternative to an expensive and indifferent meal in a tourist restaurant.
Cannaregio 5984 / Salizada San Canciano
Ardara is a small unpretentious town in Donegal, which hosts this year's annual festival of traditional music on May 4, 5, and 6.
Its people and pubs are great. Local scenic points include the Glengesh Pass, the Maghera Falls and the views out over the Atlantic from Loughros Point.
Good beaches around the area too.
Amazing! A totally authentic Irish pub with a difference....built into the back of the pub is a train carriage and engine! Plenty of characters in the pub, not least the owner himself Sean Browne. Plenty of memorabilia on the walls with stories surrounding many of the items.
This was the pub in which a famous political interview took place in 1992 which ultimately caused the (in)famous Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Charles Haughey to resign! The chair in which the interview took place is in the pub signed by the interviewee himself.
I am Irish myself & have travelled all over Ireland and be rest assured you will find it difficult to find somewhere as unique as this! While not in a central location in Ireland it is well worth taking a detour to this place.
Main Street, Castlerea, Co. Roscommmon
www.hellskitchenmuseum.com/index.htm
homepage.eircom.net/~hellskitchen/
You can e-mail him on seanbrowne@eircom.net
Castlerea is about 1.5hrs drive from Galway & the town Castlerea is also on the main Dublin - Westport line.
One of the best things about Cork (and there are many!) is that you have a choice of two stouts that aren't Guinness.
Murphy's is brewed at the Lady's Well Brewery in Blackpool and Beamish and Crawford is brewed on the South Main Street, just across the road from An Spailpin Fanach, one of Cork's better pubs and a great place for folk music.
Both brews are delicious - but don't take my word for it, I'm a native! Do try them if you're in the city.
The current 'in' place in Dublin city. Cool, without being trendy, energetic, without being raucous.
Some of the best live music venues are situated here, along with a great choice of bars.
Curiously the bars with Irish language names are the coolest. Solas (Light) has a recently opened beer garden upstairs and serves decent food during the day and a great selection of beers - try Murphy's stout instead of Guinness for a change.
Anseo (Here) also has a good selection of imported beers. Both bars have regular DJs playing alternative dance and funk vinyls from when before most of the customers were born. For the best kebabs in Dublin, Zaytoon is beside Anseo.
Other bars and venues worth a visit in the same spot are Whelans, The Village, Carnival and The Bleeding Horse. Not far from the latter is the recently refurbished Tripod venue and the impressive Odeon.
Tram: Harcourt station
Camden St./Wexford St.
The western half of the Dingle Peninsula, from Dingle town out to the Blasket islands is some of the most spectacular, friendly and fun places in the world. From the cosy bustle of Dingle and its 52 pubs, to Funghi the dolphin in its bay, to scaling Mount Brandon and taking in the views at the Connor Pass. And that's all just around Dingle town!
Head further west and you have the amazing beauty of Ceann Tra (or Ventry) strand. Two miles of pristine beach in a beautiful bay. On a sunny afternoon you have to sit out the front of Quinns pub in Ventry village and take in the glorious view.
Then head around The Slea Head Drive for the most pant-wetting views around. Narrow roads (although wider these days) and spectacular cliff faces make for an exhilarating drive. Stop of on Coomeenaul beach and get pounded by huge waves.
There's so much more to do on this wonderful peninsula, such as taking a day trip to the now abandoned village on the Great Blasket island. Watch incredible sunsets at the peninsula's western most point. Play golf on the most exposed lynx course ever. Or just get lost down the narrow fushia hedged lanes. Some of the best surfing in Europe is here too.
What more do you want?
Is this your business?