‘t Brugs Beertje in Bruges: It’s impossible to walk past a bar this inviting and not go inside (Image: Traveling Otter/CC BY-SA 2.0)
Enjoying a pint in a top-notch pub or bar is one of life’s greatest joys. The best have their own unique personality – and the drink you’re sipping is just part of that.
In these venues, the history, distinctive features, staff and the mix of patrons all contribute to the unique atmosphere and sense of place.
Perhaps it’s the meticulous attention the proprietors pay to their beer, wine or cocktail selections; the passion the bartenders bring to their craft; the friendships formed over a couple of drinks; the importance of the venue to its local community; or the lingering spirits of past customers that you can almost feel around you.
Any or all of them can make a place stick in the memory long after you’ve left.
I’m no globetrotter but, wherever I find myself, I make a point of seeking out the finest pubs and bars, be they historic or modern, upscale or down-to-earth. I’ve been thinking about the best ones I’ve frequented over the years (and there are likely a lot more I’ve forgotten, possibly due to spending a bit too much time in them).
So if you ever find yourself near one of these gems, don’t hesitate to step inside. You can thank me later.
1. ‘t Brugs Beertje, Bruges
Bruges, the Belgian city that seems to have sprung from a fairytale, is home to this charming bar. The warm light spilling from the small red-brick building onto the cobbled street outside is incredibly inviting.
Inside, the cosy bar is divided into two rooms, both filled with closely packed tables that encourage conversation between groups of strangers (hello, Max from Ukraine, if you’re reading this). The walls are adorned with beer bottles, beer mats and classic beer signs and ads. The selection of beers is vast – I recommend trying the 11.2% Rochefort 10.
2. The Holy Tavern, London
Stepping into parts of the Holy Tavern feels like stepping back in time by 300 years. The wood panelling dates back centuries, the flooring is Victorian, and the walls and stairways all give off an aura of having been constructed long before spirit levels and health and safety regulations were introduced.
Tables are decorated with candles, and if you’re lucky, you might find a snug. Classic pub grub is available, along with a rotating menu of beers and guest ales. There’s something truly unique about London’s old pubs – and they don’t get much older than this one.
The Holy Tavern in London (Image: Matt Brown/CC BY 2.0)
3. The Temple, Manchester
This diminutive bar, located underground in what was once a public toilet in central Manchester, offers a good range of drinks and a very cool atmosphere. Descend from street level to discover a place frequented by those in the know, and graffiti in the toilets that must be seen to be believed.
The street level entrance to The Temple in Manchester (Image: CC BY-SA 4.0)
4. The Salty Dawg Saloon, Homer, Alaska
The Salty Dawg Saloon is truly unique. This log cabin bar is located at the end of a narrow spit of land that juts out into the Cook Inlet on Alaska’s southern coast, four hours south of Anchorage, one of the state’s few urban areas. If you’re fortunate, you might even spot a bald eagle perched on the roof as you approach.
Inside, thousands of dollar bills and notes in other currencies dangle from the ceiling above patrons who likely earn their living fishing in the abundant Alaskan waters surrounding them. The cabin was one of the first built in Homer in 1897, shortly after it became a town site. It has served as a post office, railway station, grocery store, coal mining office, and schoolhouse. A truly remarkable place.
The exterior of the Salty Dawg Saloon (Image: CC BY 2.0)
5. Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Nottingham
Ye Olde Trip to Jersualem purports to be England’s oldest inn. It’s said that King Richard the Lionheart may have gathered here before embarking on his journey to Jerusalem as part of the Crusades in 1189, when it was a popular stop for crusading medieval knights.
The inn is tucked beneath the cliff on which Nottingham’s castle stands. Inside, the passage of centuries is palpable, with stone-vaulted ceilings, cosy nooks and snugs hidden around every corner and up each crooked staircase. There’s an old cock-fighting pit in the cellar, as well as part of the castle gaol, so it’s not surprising that it claims to be home to resident ghosts.
Patrons can participate in the unique “ringing the bull” game, where a ring attached to a string from the ceiling must be swung and hooked onto a goat horn above the fireplace – a truly one-of-a-kind experience.
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Nottingham (Image: CC BY-SA 2.0)
6. Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant, Ghent
This place has earned the title of “the best beer bar in Ghent”, a notable distinction considering the city’s abundance of excellent beer-drinking spots. The Waterhuis stands out due to its picturesque location above the Leie river, which runs through Ghent.
During the summer, it’s an ideal spot to enjoy a refreshing Belgian lager on the terrace. In the winter, grab a window seat, order a stronger, darker brew (such as a classic Dubbel), and gaze out at the rain falling on the river outside.
You can also order cheese and meats to accompany your drinks. One of the meats offered was described as “pressed head”, which sounded intriguing.
Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant, seen on the right overlooking the river in Ghent (Image: Russ Bowling/CC BY 2.0)
7. The Carousel Bar, New Orleans
Since its opening in 1949, the Carousel Bar has been slowly rotating like a carousel. If you spot an available seat at the bar, seize the opportunity to chat with the bartender or your neighbour.
Located within the iconic Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans’ renowned French Quarter, this bar is one of many in the area that celebrates the city’s rich musical heritage.
Visitors drinking in famous carousel bar lounge in Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter, New Orleans (Image: Getty Images)
8. Llanthony Priory Hotel cellar bar, Llanthony, Wales
Each of the pubs on this list boasts intriguing and unique features, but only one can claim to be nestled beneath the ruins of a 12th-century priory.
The remnants of Llanthony Priory are tucked away deep in the countryside, near the Welsh border with England, making it a bit of a trek from most locations. However, once you arrive, you’ll discover real ales served in the vaulted undercroft bar, believed to have once been the prior’s cellar, while homemade meals are dished up in the dining room, complete with its vaulted ceiling and roaring open fire.
Llanthony Priory Hotel (Image: Roger Davies/CC BY-SA 2.0)
9. Mulligans, Dublin
Mulligans began life as a shebeen, an unlicensed drinking den. Since 1782, it has operated legally, making it one of Dublin’s oldest venues.
It’s best described as a “no-nonsense 18th-century pub with a cast of regulars and absence of modern pretentiousness”. Despite being busy, it maintains a cracking atmosphere, with friendly crowds jostling past each other to reach the bar or huddled around tables. Many argue that it serves the finest pint of Guinness in all of Ireland.
The outside of Mulligans in Dublin (Image: O’Dea at Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
10. Royal Oak, Pencelli, Wales
The Royal Oak in Pencelli, nestled in the Brecon Beacons, is a personal favourite. While there are undoubtedly numerous other pubs across the UK that could compete in the idyllic country pub stakes, this one holds a special place due to its unique charm and the personal memories it holds.
It boasts all the features you’d want from a country village pub: ever-changing guest beers, affordable and tasty pub food, flagstone floors, log fires and a cosy atmosphere. The beer garden backs onto the Brecon and Monmouthshire Canal, offering views of narrowboats gliding by, surrounded by the tranquil beauty of the Brecon Beacons.
The Royal Oak in Pencelli in the Brecon Beacons (Image: Steffan Rhys)
11. La Bodequita del Medio, Havana
La Bodequita del Medio in Havana, Cuba, claims to be the birthplace of the mojito and is renowned as one of Ernest Hemingway’s regular haunts. Despite being one of the most frequented bars in Cuba, it remains a worthwhile visit.
La Bodeguita del Medio (Image: young shanahan/CC BY 2.0)
12. The Haunch of Venison, Salisbury, England
An incredibly old pub with a unique feature: there is barely a level surface to be found anywhere inside. Even the floors are so uneven that your glass sits tilted on the table.
It stands on about 700 years of history, though the beams seen throughout the pub are even older, believed to have originated from early sailing ships. Traditional bar food and local ales are served here.
The Haunch of Venison pub in Salisbury (Image: Jim Linwood/CC BY 2.0)
13. Under the Hill Saloon, Natchez, Mississippi
With a history spanning over 200 years, which is remarkably old by American standards, this establishment has hosted a colourful array of patrons, including “cut-throats, prostitutes and thieves” who frequented the area when it was a bustling port for cotton trade on the Mississippi river. Sipping a beer on the outside bench, taking in the majestic view of the iconic river, with the Mississippi-Louisiana border running through its centre, is an experience like no other.
Under the Hill Saloon, Natchez, Mississippi (Image: Public domain)