As will become very obvious after viewing our blog, He&She very much enjoy going out, having some drinks, and being very social. We love the nightlife, we got to boogie!
So, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are my favorite bars from my many journeys... (as with any of my opinions, this list is subject to change... at a moment's notice)
1) The Ten Bells, London - some of you may recognize this name from the Johnny Depp thriller, From Hell, based on the Jack the Ripper killings. It is indeed a real pub, and was frequented by the prossies infamously sliced up in the late 1800s. Great for having a couple pints (or 6) while relaxing in a 200-year-old low-backed wooden chair and chatting about the eerie part of London you've found yourself in. Pay special attention to the newspaper clippings from the day depicting the killings in cartoonish detail.
2) The Trafford, Manchester - this is the official supporters bar for Manchester United fans and on game day you must present a match ticket for entry. I visited on the day that Manchester raised the trophy for the Premier League, and the atmosphere was the most amazing I've ever been a part of. Singing, funny hats, double-fisting pints, more singing, more pints, and the happiest clientele you can imagine. A must for MUFC fans!
3) The Rock Classic Bar, Brussels - this one makes the list because we simply had so much fun there one evening, but it's definitely a unique place. We spent the first portion of the evening in a small room adjacent to the main bar, and it is a bit more of a lounge with some darker, moody music playing; not quite goth, but plenty of velvet. After a drink, we grabbed a table in the main bar area. Not very large, and not typically our style, but the heavy rock played all night and had us head-banging and laughing the whole time. Special props to the fun bartenders who seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as the patrons.
4) The Wellington, Indianapolis - the only Indy bar on my list, this place has the look and feel of a quaint English pub. It's also the place where He met She for the first time, and that has to count for something. Friendly staff, excellent beers, and it's connected to a fantastic restaurant (Corner Wine Bar). I am especially fond of the brocade couch and small iron tables.
5) Sonotheque, Chicago - giving the appearance of a small, upscale club/lounge, this gem features a wall-length bar and chromed couches. Despite how that sounds, the feel is very casual, AND you can get a Heineken for $3.50. Where else in Chicago are you going to find that? Sonotheque specializes in ever-changing nights of eclectic music, mostly hip-hop and electronic-based. We saw Diplo with A-Trak tag-teaming on the decks, standing about 10 feet from them. If I lived in Chi, I'd be there weekly.
6) Satellite Sports Cafe, Amsterdam - Located in the very active nightlife area known as the Leidseplein, the SSC holds down one corner of "Pancake Square." This is Mokum's version of a sports bar, and do they ever get it right. With TVs visible from nearly every square inch (and every square inch gets filled!), games ranging from the FA Cup to the Fiesta Bowl, outdoor seating (with huge heaters in the winter), and pretty waitstaff who apparently got dressed to go clubbing before heading to work, this is THE place to catch a game or simply grab a quick bite before visiting everything else within walking distance. And since it's open 24 hours, it's also a great place to have one last drink (or just coffee, depending on the staff!) before calling it a night.
7) Vision, Chicago - My taste for electronic music is disproportionate to my enjoyment of spending late nights in loud, thumping clubs, but I do occasionally like to see some of my favorite acts live, and this is Chicago's answer. A massive club that is actually 3 in 1, this darkly lit and very loud hotspot completely immerses your senses. If you enjoy the clubbing experience, you'd have to hit Ibiza to find a place to rival Vision.
8) Rasta Baby, Amsterdam - there is simply nothing else like it around here. One of the rare coffeeshops that also sells liquor (a rarity in A'dam, and perhaps no longer legal if some rumors are to be believed), as the name implies this is a reggae joint. Upon entering through the solarium, you find yourself immersed in the iry riddims and foggy scents that cloud this small establishment. I also tried genever here for the first time; a local liquor that tastes like whiskey/tequila with a bite. Yum! They offer fine "products" and have a very friendly staff. But careful, this is one place where it's easy to spend several hours before you even realize it!
9) The Doors Coffeeshop, Amsterdam - half bar/half coffeeshop, this is my favorite hangout in the 'Dam. The bar itself is small, but the room is spacious and the staff is very friendly. A huge variety of products, cold Heineken, and an ever-changing selection of music fills this local establishment and gives it a cozy feel. Helpful tip: DO NOT sit in the seat at the far end of the bar by the wall!
10) Chumley's, NYC - if you don't know how to get to it, you're never going to find it! But we had a great tour guide when we visited NYC a few years back (Thanks, Gurnsey!), and she took us to this historical icon. It's a cozy former speakeasy, evoking a far different era. The walls are adorned with famous writers who once shared the small wooden tables, as well as with modern-day reminders of the local heroes of 9/11. Off the beaten path, but worth an afternoon's or evening's visit to sit back and pretend you're Kerouac.
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