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Before the film 'Amelie', it was just another cafe in Montmartre. It serves perfectly good food and drink, as it always did, and lies on the tourist trail between the Moulin Rouge and Sacre Coeur.
Now it's a stop for a coffee, or lunch, because everyone wants to see the film location. Apart from the tobacco counter, everything is just as it was in the film, including the miniscule 'toilette' where the earth-shaking sex scene took place.
When I made my visit it was full of art students rather than tourists, perhaps you need to go there in the evenings to find out if the locals still actually use it. As a rare example of a real life film set though, it's priceless.
15 Rue Lepic
Metro: Abbesses
It's one of Bristol's oldest pubs with a great history linking it with the abolition of slavery. A small ale house on a cobbled street with old wooden floor and lots of character.
Just off Bristol Bridge in Thomas Lane.
www.7stars.co.uk
About a mile down the road from Glencoe is a small, very old pub called the Clachaig Inn - its Boots Bar has a huge range (at least 100 different) of single malt whiskies.
Tel: 01855 811252
Best part is the Valley of Beautiful Women, the famous wine district that must be visited. There are rows of wine cellars producing local wine. Combined with song and dance of locals and tourists alike, it's the best way to end the evening. Many will allow you to sample their wines for free or for very little cost. There are campfires with pots where you can also cook a meal amongst the trees.
Slate-top tabled, concrete-walled, shabby-chic gem of a bar, always filled with Londoners after a day's slog at work. Hard to find (probably why there's never any tourists), it's underground below a sailing shop on Shaftesbury avenue just past Neil St. Great for a post-shopping bevvie, or just to people-watch and soak up the chilled but funky atmosphere. A London must.
Nearest tube - Covent Garden, walk to the top of Neil St then turn right onto Shaftsbury Ave. It's downstairs about five doors down.
Gorgeous old-fashioned quayside pub with a charity book stall, a vegetable stall with an honesty box and the best sunset views in Pembrokeshire.
Creswell Quay, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Tel: 01646 651210
A bar for the beer lover. Don't let the dive atmosphere or lack of sunlight put you off. Choose from the extensive beer menu, both local and from overseas. There are 15 beers on draft and up 99 served in bottles. Can't decide? Let the bar tender spin the "Wheel of Indecision" and see where you end up.
This is a cash only venue "In God we trust, everyone else pays cash" as the sign above the door notes and they only serve beer. Don't ask for a JD and coke!
50 Dalton Street, Boston.
MA 02115-3155
Tel: (617) 437-9999
A truly excellent high quality restaurant in one of the best and most interesting large villages/small towns in the southern Lakes.
Three pubs in the village itself, one (the Manor) has the best selection of beer in the county, another (Old King's Head) has the best pub food in the area, and the third (the Black Cock) has its own unique character.
Broughton-in-Furness on the A595, at the head of the estuary of Wordsworth's river, the Duddon.
A Lakeland institution and a top spot to drink in the stunning views as well as the local ale. You might need to book to eat in the restaurant, but the pub grub is top notch – I’d recommend the ploughman’s, stuffed full of local produce.
Barngates, Ambleside LA22 0NG
Tel: 01539 436 347
www.drunkenduckinn.co.uk/
Roberto Menedez is a bit of a local celebrity. He was the driving force behind the Mallorca Jazz Festival and last year he opened the Jazz Voyeur Club on Carrer del Apuntadors in Palma. It has live music - jazz and soul most nights - and is the antithesis of the Puro beach bar. Where the latter is a dazzling white, outdoors Miami-style bar with local hipsters nodding to ambient tunes, the jazz club is small, dark and smoky. Nice.
Hidden behind heavy wooden doors lies an exotic courtyard garden that looks like the set for a Peter Greenaway film, filled as it is with birdcages, fairylights, bowls of fruit and countless flowering plants. It looks like it was made for misbehaviour - although the price of the cocktails may put you off going too wild.
Abaco, c/San Juan 1
Tel: 00 34 971 715974
Something like the Dutch answer to Wetherspoons, this Eetcafe on the Spui enjoys a fair variety of Belgian beers and bar snacks. In the summer, sit out on the covered terrace and observe the daily battle between the trams and the cyclists - like watching a pack of sharks taking on a school of darting fish.
Spui 30
(0031) 20 6225110
www.beiaardgroep.nl/
Here are some tips for you while you are in Vietnam:
Things to remember:
- It's in your best interests not to drink the tap water, especially after flooding!
-Avoid cycle rides after dark.
-Dress modestly and appropriately when visiting local dwellings and religious sites, etc.
- Leave your valuables behind before a night out on the town, or going to the beach.
- When crossing the road – especially in HCMC – always keep looking to the left and right and walk slowly!
- Don't offer money directly to beggars – instead donate to a local charity or offer a small gift, such as pens.
-However frustrated, don't loose your temper (“losing face”), as it won't get you very far!
I wish you a nice trip to Vietnam.
For travel guide websites for Vietnam, you can visit Dmoz.org at:
dmoz.org/Regional/Asia/Vietnam/Travel_and_Tourism/Travel_Guides/
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
A small island just off the coast of Barrow-in-Furness, the small island of Piel still has the remains of medieval fortifications that once protected the harbour. Admittedly, Piel is small, but it does offer a few items of interest - the remains of a red stone castle, which is fun to climb on and walk through; a nice stroll along the shore among the sea grasses and the shore birds; and a visit to the King of Piel, who runs the pub.We had a great time, in a low-key, understated kind of way.
A few boat rides from Barrow-in-Furness:
website.lineone.net/~carolscarr/
Dalfiume Nobilvini produces insuperable wines and they are wines that are necessary to know.
The cellar is located in Castel San Pietro Terme, not far from Bologna, on the way to the Adriatic riviera.
DALFIUME NOBILVINI S.R.L.
Via Madonnina, 3041 40024 Castel San Pietro Terme (BO)
Tel.: 051941618 – Fax: 051944749 e-mail: info@dalfiumenobilvini.it
www.dalfiumenobilvini.it
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.
Raffles Hotel is the home of the 'singapore sling' or 'gin sling'. If you are visiting Singapore then going to Raffles and sipping one of these in the Bar & Billiard or the Long Bar is simply a 'must do'.
Even though I don't usually like Gin they were so delicious I had to have two.
1 Beach Road, Singapore
singapore-raffles@raffles.com
An offshoot from Le PUB Hanoi, this bar located in the backpacker area of HCMC is a refreshing change to the regular places in the area. Fantastic music, free wifi, well-priced excellent food and a huge selection of drinks, coffee and smoothies makes it a great spot for people watching.
175/22 Pham Ngu Lao. Dist 1, HCMC
08 837 7679
le.pub.saigon@gmail.com
As someone who drinks real ale and likes homely food in real pubs I would say you just have to visit the Speculation Inn on the road to Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire. Locals range from surfers and oil refinery workers to local farmers and international consultants....all chasing that rabbit pie and Reverent James! Since Gerry and Teresa (Owners) put a wood burning stove in the front bar the heat has caused beer sales to go up by 36%.
The Badger Bolt (run or walk across lanes and paths from another pub) takes place 24th Feb and that night the Speculation hosts the Badger Bash! (live music, no animals will be harmed in the pursuit of pleasure).
Take the road to Freshwater West beach from Pembroke and The Spec is on a sharp bend ....can't miss it.
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