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A nightclub in the impressive Wynn Las Vegas hotel, Tryst comes with its own 94-foot waterfall and private oasis. Oh, and head there on a Thursday night if it's "beautiful people" you're looking for.
The most beautiful old, low-lit bar, which actually makes its own ouzo and liqueurs on the premises. Even if you don't want to have a drink, pop your head in the door and have a look - stunning. And with an outdoor rooftop cinema, The Cine Paris, just over the (pedestrianised) street, perfect for having a few drinks and waiting for the sun to go down before going to see a film.
41 Kydatheneon St, The Plaka, Athens
Tel: 210 323 2110
A stand-out bar wedged in between the Grassmarket and the go-go bars of the West Port. The best cocktails in town cosy up to flock wallpaper, choice pieces of furniture, friendly and unpretentious service, uniquely decorated walls, and a carefully programmed iPod. The icing on the cake is the grand’s worth of collectable adidas trainers topping the best stocked bar in Edinburgh. She's a peach, but is also very small, and it can be tough to get a seat. Mine’s an Ape Expectations.
52 West Port, Edinburgh, EH1 2LD;
tel: 0131 228 4543;
www.dragonflycocktailbar.com/
This is a pedestrian street lined with lots of bars, along from the Old Mosque in Monasteraki. On a spring bank holiday afternoon all the cafes were packed with Greeks drinking and chatting away - the volume of people talking without any background music is amazing in itself. There were also loads of people selling cheap handbags and sunglasses so you can get the kit to pose like the locals.
Monastiraki
There are lots of places to get a decent beer in Copenhagen, from bars to cafes, bodegas to basements, but there aren't many places with something other than Carlsberg and Tuborg on tap.
The Lord Nelson is a relatively new bar in a cosy basement on Hyskenstræde, just off Strøget. They have many different beers from micro-breweries all over Denmark, including dark and fruit beer. Definitely the place to go to break away from the city wide lager monopoly.
In a basement on Hyskenstræde, just off Strøget
A well-established Shoreditch favourite that consistently manages to remain just the right side of cool to keep the style-conscious local crowd happy, yet relaxed enough to still be welcoming to out of town incomers to EC2. Inventively taking the name from its previous incarnation as a leather goods store, this bar has ever-changing murals inside which keep the decor evolving. It’s a fairly small place with an additional bar and seating area downstairs. Local DJs ensure things are busier and more lively on the weekends.
34 - 36 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch
(Nearest tubes: Old Street or Liverpool Street)
Rick's is a great bar/restaurant with rooms on Frederick Street just off Princes Street.
The food is lovely and the place very buzzy. The rooms are pretty stylish in a luxurious minimalism sort-of way. Rooms with breakfast cost £129/night - pretty good value.
Frederick St, Edinburgh
Visit the famous beer-brewery in Ottakring, the 16th district of Vienna. Drink the tasty Ottakringer helles or the even more famous Ottakringer dunkles until you have to vomit.
Although this might not be very good for your health or liver.
You can drink beer which tastes better and more original than any beer in the US - so, visit Vienna and taste an Ottakringer
blopp.
Ottakringer Brauerei AG
Ottakringerstr. 91
A-1160 Wien
U3 or S45 to Ottakring
Everybody knows the Prater and its Riesenrad, but fewer people know the extraordinary restaurant Schweitzerhaus. It is famous for its enormous assortment of draft beer and its delicious "Stelze". Moreover, its not only worth a visit because of the dishes, but also because of the unique atmosphere of the restaurant's garden, which surrounds the visitors.
Indeed, an oasis in the big metropole.
In the Prater, near to the oldest "Hochschaubahn".
I don't know if this is a Catalan speciality, but it is absolutely gorgeous (and I am not even a chocaholic, not by a long way). In some, but not all, cafes, the hot chocolate drink is thick, a bit like custard, so that you have to eat it with a spoon. You might think it would be too rich, but no - because it's not too sickly sweet, just chocolatey. Often served with 'melindros' - almondy cakes a bit like spongy macaroons. Or 'churros' - unsugared doughnut 'worms' that are delicious.
Found in all cafes, but some serve xocolata thicker than others.
A lively, exciting part of town, where the trendy Catalans hang out and without the Brits abroad found chugging back cans of San Miguel as you will find on the Ramblas.
El Born has amazing bars and restaurants. Calle Banys Vells houses a great Cuban called Vieja Havana, and a cosy, romantic wine bar called Va da Vie. During the daytime El Born is home to great boutique clothes and shoe shops, although be warned, they close on Mondays.
Nearest metro station: Jaume II; main roads: Calle Argenteria, Calle Banys Vells and Passeig del Born
Where possible I like to partake of the local tipple on my travels but rarely, if ever, have I tasted anything like Hungary's herb based spirit, Unicum. A single measure of this concoction should be more than enough for two to three people ... the first sip tastes a little of cough mixture, and the second enough to convince you that no, apologies to the good people at Benylin, this is something far nastier.
On the plus side, it does come in great globe shaped bottles - miniatures of which make ideal presents for friends back home, particularly those you don't like much.
Just about every bar in Budapest
Riverside restaurant on three (maybe four) levels on the Triana side of the river, at the end of the Puente Isabel II bridge. At bridge level it is a stand up tapas bar, oddly reminiscent of an English pub. Below this, a dining room and at street level a pavement terrace. A rooftop terrace offers superb views over the river towards the Maestranza bullring and the cathedral beyond.
Primarily fish and seafood, their pescaito frito (mixed fried fish) is as good as most restaurants on the coast and a half ración easily feeds two. A word of warning; seats on the roof terrace are freely available on summer afternoons but the locals tend to eat inside. You'll soon understand why - the sun in Seville can be merciless at lunchtime!
On the bridge facing Plaza Altozano at the northern end of Calle Betis
Very famous nightclub that wouldn't be out of place in New York or Ibiza.
This underground bunker of a club, with a mean sound system, is located on the industrial outskirts of the city.
Formerly the site of a refugee camp stormed by militia during the civil war. Local taxi drivers know where it is and are probably your best bet for getting there since it is a trek from downtown Beirut.
It is however, absolutely awesome. Get there early and it has a hip, lounge bar feel to it, with eerie iconic images of dead musicians and coffin-like folding banquette's that more-than-conveniently double as podiums later on when things really kick off!
Architecturally and design wise, this place is really remarkable. The big crowds start arriving post-midnight due to the hedonistic club's reputation as the after-hours venue of choice. When the sun comes up, the roof retracts, flooding daylight into the open arms and bleary eyes of the most hardened house and techno enthusiasts as the fierce beats keep their feet stomping.
Lot# 317, la Quarantine, Medawar, Beyrouth
Head out of the city and its just off the Dora highway near the Forum de Beyrouth...
Cuzco can be cold in the evenings. But fear not, locals have come up with a cure. A hot glass of creamy Ponche de Leche with Pisco warms the parts other drinks cannot reach.
Perhaps the best place to enjoy this speciality is in the eccentric little place on the Plaza de Armas, alongside the Cathedral. Pretty much all they serve are Ponches de Leche, pastries, and some left-wing politics in the shape of huge Soviet posters.
A great place to warm up, wind down, and actually experience a bit of authentic Cuzco.
Many places, but Plaza de Armas is best
This place is spread over three floors. If you want a relaxing drink, Nevi is your place.
Nevizade Street in Taksim
Where Istanbul’s beautiful people come to be seen. Pricey and pretentious but a sumptuous bankside setting beneath the Bosphorus bridge.
Any restaurant in Kumkapi is great: a network of pedestrian streets and nothing but tens of restaurants. On hot nights, it’s almost impossible to walk around, with pavements full of tables of happy diners and small groups of musicians travelling from one restaurant to another.
There is no global pop there, but lots of Turkish songs sang along by all encouraged by copious amounts of raki flowing around.
Restaurants offer great selections of mezzes and main courses. Last time I was there, a friend wanted to eat a dish the restaurant we were in didn’t serve, so the waiter ordered it from the restaurant opposite. How‘s that for hospitality?
Down from Sultan Ahmet towards the Sea of Marmara coast
No matter how little time you have for visiting Istanbul, you have to take a boat trip along the Bosphorus. All boats zigzag the Bosporus stopping alternately at a European and an Asian port. The best time to take the boat is on a warm summer’s evening so that you get to see the sunset and, if lucky, full moon over the city.
There is a public service ferry that does the full length or privately run boats that also offer shorter routes
Interesting authentic recipes from the Ottoman period - located next to St Chora (must see Byzantine mosaics and frescos).
Kariye Camii Sokak No 18
Edirnekapı Istanbul Türkiye;
tel: 212 635 7997;
fax: 212 521 6631;
www.asitanerestaurant.com
www.kariyeotel.com/
Email: info@kariyeotel.com
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