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Pubs & Patios

PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: How many bottles of beer on the wall?

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Athens might be better known for tavernas and pretty patios, but the Greek capital is not without its worthy pubs and bars, which make excellent spots to sample the country’s burgeoning micro-brewery scene. And one of the best is Barley Cargo, which boasts a selection of beers “as far as the eye can see.”

Among them are over 140 local varieties – many from Athens proper – that in part comprise an official roster of over 350 brews, though some say it’s closer to 500. (That leaves at the least over 200 international brands for those with more established tastes). And more than a few patrons have observed a lengthy list of IPAs in a country where lagers are more common.

Also noteworthy is a unique industrial-style draft beer tap believed to be the longest in the city (if not country).

Located near the National History Museum in the city centre, the pub is ideally suited to lunch or for a respite from sightseeing and, in Greek fashion, provides out-front seating astride the beating street and in a city best experienced under its typically sunny, blue skies.

Interior

Inside, the rustically minimalist interior design features benches and bars rather than booths.

A favourite of Greeks and tourists alike, the establishment is noted for its friendly staff, good food (from beef to chicken and sausages), reasonable prices, and fun atmosphere, which includes live music, ranging from jazz to rock and world music.

But it’s the beers – draft and craft – which are available in tasting flights as well, that rate most highly amongst visitors.

As one Tripadvisor poster exclaimed, “If you are a beer nerd, like myself, you must come here!”

Barley Cargo is located at Kolokotroni 6, Athens, in a neighbourhood notably quieter than the Plaka, and is open every day from 11 a.m. till 3 a.m.

Exterior

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PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: The Lit Lounge: How life should be!

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With the temperature in the minus 20s as I write this, the beautiful island of Anguilla is sounding pretty good right about now. And if I were there (sigh), there’s a reasonable chance I might be getting lit, if you’ll excuse the pun, at one of the Caribbean island’s hot new establishments, The Lit Lounge.

Opened in 2019, Lit Lounge is located in the bustling (by Anguillian standards) hub of Sandy Ground – a go-to spot on island for both breathtaking beaches and memorable nights.

Positioned right on the beach, beneath a banner that proclaims: “How life should be,” the two-story establishment is framed by palm trees and features a large bottom deck with seating, high tables, and a long bar, while the upper deck serves as a large lounge area overlooking the spectacular bay, usually crammed with boats at rest.

Sensational for dinner or drinks at sunset, the bar/restaurant really comes to life in the evening as locals and visitors alike “get lit,” dancing the night away to local bands and DJs playing pop, soca, reggae, and latin tunes. Thursday is karaoke night.

Patrons sip local Caribbean beers (like Red Stripe) or the branded “Lit Lager,” but the bar really steps up with a comprehensive list of cocktails, both standard (daquiris, margaritas, rum punch, etc.) and custom (Lit Knockout Punch, Blue Moon, Ginger Splash…) all curated by noted local mixologist Taffy Hodge.

In addition to a variety of pizzas, authentic Caribbean is a staple on the menu, from fried chicken to creole fish and Jamaican rice, and the Johnny Cake sliders come highly recommended. Lit has also recently partnered with Asian fusion restaurant Ethnik Cuisine to add a twist (including sushi rolls) to the offerings.

Tiny Anguilla is most easily reached from St. Martin via a half-hour fast ferry ride. The Lit Lounge is open daily from 6 p.m. “til late.” How life should be…

Sandy Ground, Anguilla

With glass purposefully in hand, we at Travel Industry Today continue our series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues. For more articles in the series, click here:

PREVIOUS ARTICLES: https://travelindustrytoday.com/pub-patio/

First published at Travel Industry Today

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PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: Suds and sunshine in Fort Lauderdale

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There are worse ways of waiting for your hotel room to be ready than to hole up in an Irish pub. And, indeed, if that pub is Waxy’s in fabulous Fort Lauderdale, I can attest that you may not to choose to leave, even when the call comes.

Located on the 17th Street, just up from the Hilton and across from the Embassy Suites (and not too far from Port Everglades for those waiting to board a cruise ship), Waxy’s Irish Bar makes the most of its exterior setting in a strip mall, but inside more than lives up to its billing as a wee slice of Ireland.

Importantly (since one is in Florida), there is an outside patio, enabling guests to enjoy the Irish craic and the sunshine simultaneously.

Also known as Waxy O’Connor’s, the establishment has for the past two decades earned a reputation as a rugby pub, though nowadays there seems to be too many Manchester United football games for the liking of some regulars. Being the US, it’s also a place you’ll be sure to catch American football games on one of the 16 TVs.

The pub says it pours “the best Guinness this side of the Emerald Isle” – a serious claim for a drink that actually requires training to pour properly – but, embellished or not, the boast points to beer bona fides that also includes Harp and Smithwick’s and a dozen more drafts from across Europe, plus a similar number of American and local craft options.

Of course, there’s also wine, plus a dozen or so craft cocktails – notably the subtly named “Blind Lemon,” made with Jefferson bourbon, after the Blues great.

And food: what you’d expect from an Irish pub – fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, burgers, steak, lamb, and a chicken pot pie that earns raves; for dessert, there’s Jameson’s (i.e. Irish whiskey) bread pudding.

I can’t in good conscience advise anyone visiting Fort Lauderdale to skip the beach or to overlook the city’s many wonderous water activities or vibrant downtown for the sake of an Irish pub; but then again, who says I have a good conscience?

With glass purposefully in hand, we at Travel Industry Today continue our series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues. For more articles in the series, click here:

PREVIOUS ARTICLES: https://travelindustrytoday.com/pub-patio/

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PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: World’s best bar 2021

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The results are in and the world’s best bar for 2021 is, well, you’ll have read on to find out – but know that the esteemed establishment bagged best in class on the 13th annual list (sponsored by Perrier) which this year spans 17 countries and features 18 new entries spread across Australia, India, Mexico, Russia, Argentina, Sweden, Spain, China, and the UAE.

Drum roll: For the second consecutive year, the Connaught Bar in London was crowned No.1 in The World’s 50 Best Bars list, announced earlier this month at a live awards ceremony in the UK capital. Being The World’s Best Bar, it follows that the Connaught was also named Best Bar in Europe.

Located in the prestigious Connaught Hotel in Mayfair, the swank venue has catered to a glamorous crowd, including Royals, since opening in 2008.

Judged by 500 industry experts, the the Cubist-inspired bar is celebrated for its “artful, modern drinks with graceful service in an elegant setting,” and is known for its unique Martini trolley, where bartenders give a highly personalised drinks experience to guests.

Says W50BB: “A triumph from the start, Connaught Bar still manages to edge closer to perfection every time its doors open. It is the quintessential London hotel bar, but in its poise, elegance and the leadership of Agostino Perrone, Giorgio Bargiani, and Maura Milia, it has a distinct Italian accent. From the welcome on entrance and the backdrop of gleaming David Collins-designed cubist decor, to the intuitive service and cocktails that run a delicate line between classicism and modernism, this is a bar for which excellence has become a bare minimum standard.
“To its apostles, the headline act is the Dry Martini, which arrives via a trolley that becomes a temporary stage for your own personal performance. Thrown between shaker and mixing glass is your choice of gin – try the bar’s own, distilled at the hotel – and bitters from an aroma-daubed flavour card inspired by perfumeries. But from January 2022, do also have a leaf through the new menu, Impressions, which takes inspiration from the encounters that shape our experiences. The Eclipse cocktail stands out – from the white page and the black tables. Inspired by contrast in photography, this gin cocktail is housed in a striking white glass, painted black on the inside so the liquid fades to nothing. Just as the Connaught Bar, it leaves a lasting impression.”

The rest of the top five bars includes fellow London destination Tayēr + Elementary (No. 2), rising star Paradiso in Barcelona (No. 3), Athens favourite The Clumsies (No. 4) and the acclaimed Florería Atlántico in Buenos Aires (No. 5).

Other highlights from the list, include:

• French-born cocktail innovator Remy Savage is honoured as Roku Industry Icon
• Thunderbolt, Los Angeles, is named Campari One To Watch
• Re, Sydney, earns Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award
• Lab 22, Cardiff, takes the inaugural Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu title
• Hanky Panky, Mexico City, wins the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award, debuting at No. 12
• Presidente, Buenos Aires, secures Nikka Highest Climber Award, moving up 29 places
• Insider Bar, Moscow, wins London Essence Best New Opening
• Attaboy, New York, clinches Rémy Martin Legend of The List title

The full list – spoiler alert: there are no Canadian entries – can be viewed HERE.

With glass purposefully in hand, we at Travel Industry Today continue our series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues. For more articles in the series, click here:

PREVIOUS ARTICLES: https://travelindustrytoday.com/pub-patio/

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: The highs and lows of Yorkshire’s Tan Hill Inn

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Being stuck in a pub for three days sounds like a dream, but recent patrons at the Tan Hill Inn recently learned the low point about Britain’s highest pub – it’s susceptible to the weather. And when the north of England was recently buffeted by a late autumn blizzard, 61 people were stranded as snow and felled power cables blocked roads.

Located in the Yorkshire Dales, 435 km. north of London, the pub sits 528 m. above sea level and is used to being cut off by bad weather.

Manager Nicola Townsend said staff had organized movies, a quiz night and karaoke for the stranded guests, who were also entertained by an Oasis cover band, Noasis, also stuck at the pub after their Friday night gig.

Townsend said the guests were “in really good spirits. They’ve formed quite a friendship… like a big family is the best way I can describe it. One lady actually said, ‘I don’t want to leave.’”

And some didn’t – choosing to stay for a further night after guests were dug out after three days.

In better weather, the Inn – dubbed “top pub” – is a mecca for hikers, walkers, and cyclists due to proximity to the Pennine Way, and the occasional celebrity visit, according to management. Dating to the 17th-century and featuring exposed beams, stone-flagged floor and a welcoming fire, the venue also notably boasts spectacular views across the countryside.

Serving the “best ales from the dales,” patrons can sample featured names like Tan Hill Ewe Juice, Black Sheep (there’s a theme here), and Theakston Old Peculiar, along with occasional guest brews like The Who-themed My Generation Session Pale Ale. There is also a large range of bottled ciders, spirits, and wines.

Dining dome

Food is served from noon to 8:30 p.m. and menus vary according to season. Reservations can be made to eat outdoors in a private geometric “dining dome.”

After a bite and beer, guests can also choose to stay for a night (or three) with four different room categories (including bunk beds) available, and there’s plenty of space outside to pitch a tent for £10. The entire Inn is also pet friendly and dogs are provided with their own bed, snacks, treats and water bowl (also £10).

Other accommodation can be found nearby, some of the venues listed on the Inn’s website.

Live music takes place Thursdays through Saturdays, the former open to all as “buskers’ night,” and various seasonal events liven things up for locals, despite the remote location.

The Tan Hill Inn’s address is listed as Reeth, Richmond, Swaledale, North Yorkshire Dales, and from this side of the pond would be considered approximately between Leeds and Newcastle, leaning a little towards the Lake District. In Yorkshire, its simply the pub at the top of the hill.

With glass purposefully in hand, we at Travel Industry Today continue our series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues. For more articles in the series, click here:

PREVIOUS ARTICLES: https://travelindustrytoday.com/pub-patio/

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: Greetings from The Bowery, Myrtle Beach

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“Greetings, Andy, from the Myrtle Beach Police Department!” – words I’ll always remember (they’re on video) from a bemused cop who was willing to send a message to an absent friend as my travelling buddy and I exited the South Carolina city’s legendary Bowery bar at some indistinct time during the early 1980s.

Myrtle Beach has changed by leaps and bounds since those days, and I’m not sure whether the police are as accommodating to slightly tipsy tourists, but it is a reassuring constant that The Bowery remains in all its glory.

Located steps from the Atlantic Ocean in the centre of town, the establishment has been welcoming locals and tourists alike since 1944 – a 77-year history highlighted by the presence of country music super group Alabama as house band from 1973 to ‘80, where they merely played for tips.

The Bowery keeps the association close at hand, not least through occasional visits from the band – as recently as 2019 – who still consider it home.

I don’t recall if Alabama was on stage during my visit (they may well have been), but I do recall walking out thinking that I might even like country music, such was the amazing live atmosphere of the place.

And that’s exactly the vibe that continues today where live music amps up every night at about 8:30 (no cover charge), with today’s version of Alabama – The Bounty Hunters – on stage, supported by servers who often deliver multiple mugs of draft by hand (no trays). According to the bar, one of its own, Scuba Obsorne, holds the Guinness Book Records mark for carrying 34 mugs at one time.

All of which is to say, that entertainment is the raison d’etre at the bar, or in local parlance, “Ya can’t beat the fun.”

And did we mention that a mug of Bowery brew only costs a buck-fifty – at least at during happy hour, Monday-Friday 4-7 p.m.

For food, go next door to the affiliated and connected Duffy Tavern (only 50 years young), noted for, as its sign says: “Hot Beer, Lousy Food, Bad Service.” But seriously, try the burgers, and snag a seat outside in the South Carolina sun if you can.

The Bowery/Duffy’s is located at 110 9th Avenue North (just off the boardwalk a couple of blocks from the SkyWheel) and is open from daily from 11 a.m. to “until.” If you can’t find it, just ask a cop – they know!

The band at play

With glass purposefully in hand, we at Travel Industry Today continue our series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues. For more articles in the series, click here:

PREVIOUS ARTICLES: https://travelindustrytoday.com/pub-patio/

First published at Travel Industry Today

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PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: Liberty for all at Toronto’s Brazen Head

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Finding a great pub while travelling is great; finding one in your hometown is even better; but finding one in your hometown that reminds you of travelling is surely the ultimate – after all, it’s the best of both worlds: ease of access, faraway dreams.

That’s how I felt this week when I discovered the Brazen Head in Toronto, or, I should say, was introduced to it, thanks to Tourism Ireland, which hosted an event there.

I dare say I know a few pubs in T.O., but this one was unknown to me, largely because it exists in the newish Liberty Village neighbourhood which many locals aren’t familiar with (myself included). It’s an area bordered by Strachan in the east, Dufferin in the west, King Street (and Lamport Stadium) on the north, and the CNE in the south.

I must say the bustling Village surprised me – a neat mixed-use enclave of new-build condos and offices wrapped around neighbourhood retail and dining options and set amongst and encompassing historical manufacturing and industrial buildings that date in some cases to the late 1800s.

Which is to say, it reminded a lot of London or Dublin, not least the Brazen Head, which, being an Irish pub, would particularly be at home in Temple Bar.

The bar

The interior of the pub is spacious with both bar and dining area, the latter centred by a fireplace. Where the multi-level establishment perhaps differs (in a good way) from the traditional British/Irish city pub is its extensive patio space, with not one, but three spaces, including at ground level and on the rooftop. A cocktail bar dubbed The Black Sheep can also be found upstairs.

An extensive daily tap menu offers close to two dozen craft offerings from the GTA and southern Ontario – I had a tasty Barking Squirrel – plus Ireland and further afield, along with wines, seltzers, ciders, and cocktails. Food is elevated pub fare ranging from poutine to fish and chips, meatloaf, and salads. My bacon-cheeseburger was gone quite quickly.

I was there at lunch on a Tuesday, so out of time for the live music sessions Thursday to Saturday nights, nor was the fire yet roaring. But believe that I will be back there again.

The Brazen Head is located 165 E. Liberty, nearer the Strachan end of the village. There’s limited (paid) parking in front, but a big lot a short stroll away (plus street parking). It’s open daily 12-12 Mon.-Wed., noon-2 a.m. Thurs.-Fri., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., and 11 a.m.-midnight Sundays.

Patio

With glass purposefully in hand, we at Travel Industry Today continue our series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues. For more articles in the series, click here:

PREVIOUS ARTICLES: https://travelindustrytoday.com/pub-patio/

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

VIENNA’S NEW ROOFTOP BARS

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High above street level, perched atop hotels and museums, zoos, and furniture stores, and even coming soon to the top of the Austrian parliament building, Vienna has lots of rooftop bars and restaurants that offer top-drawer views, as well as stunning design and mouth-watering hospitality concepts. Indeed, when visitors go up to the top of the venerable city, they may not want to come down.

Here’s an overview of some notable Vienna venues, stretching from the old town to the Prater park:

MQ Libelle: Located slap bang in the middle of one of the world’s largest cultural complexes, MQ Libelle only opened in summer 2020 but is already the most popular rooftop bar in town. And with good reason: the MQ Libelle (“dragonfly”) is perched on top of the roof of the Leopold Museum – home to the city’s leading museum of Viennese Modernism, which has the world’s largest Egon Schiele collection. Architecturally speaking, the MQ Libelle is a work of art in its own right with two of Austria’s most prominent artists were responsible for the central elements of the terrace and construction. Eva Schlegel designed the MQ Libelle glass wall, while the iconic lighting elements on the terrace were created by Brigitte Kowanz. This new addition is not just an epicurean hotspot, but also open as a new space for art and cultural projects, too. (MQ Libelle, Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Vienna)

Ikea: 70 fully fledged trees growing out of giant planters weighing tons, a fantastic view of Vienna and all that with no obligation to make a purchase either. One of the capital’s more unusual new rooftop rendezvous opened in August, right next to Vienna’s Westbahnhof railway station. Swedish furniture giant Ikea has created “hus,” an innovative city centre location featuring a greened facade, as well as a hotel called JO&JOE. But the rooftop terrace is where it is all happening. Open to the general public, there is no pressure for visitors to buy any of the culinary offerings to enjoy the views, but that would mean missing out a little: the Ikea Snackbar on the roof, a culinary world first, is inspired by vegetarian cuisine. (Ikea Westbahnhof, Europaplatz 1, 1150 Vienna)

mariatrink: Following Amsterdam and Stuttgart, Jaz in the City Vienna is the third hotel in the German chain’s portfolio and destined to make music fans’ hearts skip a beat. The lobby recreates a record shop vibe, and building on these laid-back musical foundations, the rooftop mariatrink bar has panoramic views of Vienna in store. The menu features innovative cocktails, alongside dishes made from regional ingredients. That all-important feelgood factor comes courtesy of luxuriant velvet seating. (mariatrink, Windmühlgasse 28, 1060 Vienna)

Chez Bernard Restaurant et Bar: Anyone yearning for spectacular architecture should head for the roof of Hotel Motto on Mariahilfer Strasse – a boutique accommodation scheduled to open this fall, where a combination of 1920s Parisian charm, contemporary Viennese lifestyle and Scandi chic awaits. And the same winning formula applies at Chez Bernard Restaurant et Bar on the rooftop: flooded with natural light, surrounded with lush greenery and spread across two floors, it holds court beneath a striking glass dome. The menu offers an assortment of Austrian dishes with French and North African influences. Freshly prepared food and organic ingredients set the culinary tone. Meanwhile, leftover bread from the in-house bakery is used to brew the signature beer Brewdi. (Chez Bernard Restaurant et Bar, Mariahilferstrasse 71a /Schadekgasse 20, 1060 Vienna)

Zoku Vienna terrace, photo – Ewout Huibers Photography & Concrete

Kindred Spirits Rooftop Bar: The boutique Hotel Zoku Vienna’s Living Kitchen Rooftop Restaurant and Kindred Spirits Rooftop Bar is ideal for a laid-back lunch or an after-tour drink, while taking in the 360-degree views of Vienna from the rooftop terrace. In the evenings, the attractions at the Prater amusement park below twinkle like a sea of brightly coloured lights, adding to the atmosphere. The cocktails, beers and wines served confirm the team’s strong commitment to Austrian artisanship. (Kindred Spirits Rooftop Bar, Perspektivstrasse 6, 1020 Vienna)

NENI am Prater: The new NENI am Prater offers top views of the Prater amusement park as well as the city centre. The rooftop restaurant, with spacious terrace on the top floor of hotel-hostel hybrid Superbude, serves cosmopolitan Middle Eastern cuisine centered on open-flame cooking. Seating is arranged around the centrepiece of the eatery, an open kitchen and the on-site bakery supplies freshly baked sourdough bread and focaccia every day. (NENI am Prater, Perspektivstrasse 8, 1020 Vienna)

360° Ocean Sky: Below, brightly coloured, shimmering exotic fish; above, eye-catching cocktails and great food. Opened in 2020, the 360° Ocean Sky is a spectacular rooftop bar and restaurant that enjoys pride of place on the top floor of the House of the Sea. The building it sits on is particularly interesting, too: the Haus des Meeres is located in a World War II flak tower which stands head and shoulders above the surrounding apartment buildings, opening up fantastic views of the city in every direction. The daytime and evening menus are full of classic dishes with a modern flourish. Breakfast with a view is another option here. A newly constructed panoramic lift whisks visitors to the top of the building to enjoy the culinary heights that await. (360° Ocean Sky, Fritz-Grünbaum-Platz 1, 1060 Vienna)

Coming soon: Another of Vienna’s rooftops is set to welcome an unusual new addition in the near future. The late-19th-century Austrian parliament, one of the most important buildings on the Ringstrasse, will unveil a modern rooftop restaurant of its own in 2022. Construction work is continuing at pace as part of a huge refurbishment project at the Parliament. Once complete, the new arrival will have four outdoor terraces that promise to open up previously unseen views of Vienna’s historic city centre. An area with table service, a self-service section and a bistro are all planned. The menu will include a mix of traditional Viennese cuisine and international dishes. (Parliament, Dr. Karl Renner Ring 3, 1010 Vienna)

With glass purposefully in hand, we at Travel Industry Today continue our series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues. For more articles in the series, click here:

PREVIOUS ARTICLES: https://travelindustrytoday.com/pub-patio/

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: A little ‘husband daycare’ in Niagara

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Niagara on the Lake perennially ranks as one of Canada’s prettiest towns. Throw in the nearby falls, gorge, whirlpool and riverside parks, a wealth of wineries, and popular annual Shaw Festival, and the town is a favourite destination for visitors (especially again from across the border) plus day-trippers from the GTA and around southern Ontario.

I found myself there on a recent weekend and the place was packed, pandemic be damned, which might be the only negative thing one can say about the place.

Beyond the boutique shops on the main street, there’s certainly no shortage of eating and dining establishments, many of them with lovely patios – which brings us to The Irish Harp Pub, a little gem just off the main drag on King Street at Platoff/Johnson (not that anything in tiny NOTL is hard to find).

But the pub’s location is critical, offering respite from the bustle and line-ups of the Queen Street. A little further along (shh!) is street parking without fee or frenzy, and the five-minute walk past the pub to the business district takes one past charming cottages and leafy homes guaranteed to make you wish you lived there.

As for the pub, it knows its place, with a sidewalk chalkboard cheekily identifying itself as “Husband Daycare,” declaring “Ladies! Need time alone? Need time for shopping? Drop your husband here, we will take care of him. All you pay: food and drink.”

For all its charm, non-shoppers of any denomination can cover the town proper in five or 10 minutes, so settling in somewhere to enjoy a drink and simply bask in the ambiance is ritual, and the Harp has a patio out back and benches and a few tables along the sidewalk in front to allow guests to do so (and plays to the notion that a nice day is often part of the motivation behind visiting). There’s also inside seating, of course, when required or desired.

Sidewalk seating

In or out, patrons will find an extensive beer list, both on tap and in bottles, including house, local craft, domestic, and Irish – among them Guinness, Smithwick’s, Kilkenny, and, of course, Harp lager. Flights of both house ale and an Irish mix can be sampled.

Being in wine country, Jackson Triggs and Inniskillen highlight the local offerings and there are international vintages, plus cocktails.

The Harp gets its Irish up on the food side, with dishes like Irish egg rolls (corned beef and cabbage), Gaelic nachos, Irish stew, steak and Guinness pie, Irish hot pot, various fish dishes, sticky toffee pudding for dessert, plus much more (there is “non-Irish” fare as well).

Of course, the pub is more than just a shopping detour, offering live Irish music nightly (with the exception of Wednesday and most Mondays) and other ongoing pub-style activities, such as music trivia nights on Tuesdays. And there are three rooms upstairs (with handcrafted Irish décor) to accommodate stayovers.

Located at 245 King St., the Irish Harp Pub is open 11 to midnight daily, 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Note that proof of vaccination is currently required as per Ontario provincial regulation.

With glass purposefully in hand, we at Travel Industry Today continue our series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues. For more articles in the series, click here:

PREVIOUS ARTICLES: https://travelindustrytoday.com/pub-patio/

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: We Bierliebe in Switzerland

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Sometimes drinks just taste better in a particular setting, such as beer with a ballgame in front of it, or a glass of wine with a lush vineyard stretching out to the horizon behind. Such is the case with Bierliebe and Friends, which is nestled along the edge of the River Reuss within paddling distance of Lucerne’s famous covered bridge/causeway.

Lucerne is arguably Switzerland’s prettiest city and the Europe’s oldest timber bridge, Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), which spans the river diagonally and contains a number of historic paintings inside, is its prime attraction. So where better to settle in for in a peaceful and regenerative drink after a few hours of sightseeing? – an experience I was lucky enough to have earlier this month while on a post Air Canada Race 2021 FAM trip excursion.

There are a number of venues chock-a-block to Bierliebe and Friends along the Rathausquai, but one of my colleagues had found this pub/patio a couple of years ago and recommended we return for the service, the beer (and, of course, the view).

As for the former, the owner Vince Vercueil, South African by birth, remembered Ann, and sat with us to chat, explaining that his establishment’s philosophy was “love of beer” and mission to “elevate” Swiss beer, which boasts 1,300 microbreweries.

To that end, Bierliebe doesn’t serve pints or pitchers, rather unique two- and four-decilitre glasses (typical is three), and sampler flights (four glasses). “You won’t get drunk here,” Vercueil laughed, adding, “We’re not a Saturday evening address.” He notes that much of the pub’s clientele is local, despite its prime location on the town’s tourist trail, which helped the business survive the pandemic.

There are 12 local Swiss craft beers on tap to try, ranging from wheat, sour and stouts, to lagers and IPA. There is also wine, cider, whisky, and gin.

“You have a lot of people who want to discuss (Swiss) beer and there’s always someone here to do it,” says Vercueil.

Food is similarly locally sourced with burgers courtesy of a neighbourhood butcher and custom bread made at a local bakery. The “Swiss” gourmet hotdogs and bratwurst also earn raves.

Patrons can sit inside, with some window views of the bridge, but the patio on the Rathausquai provides the most desirable setting.

In sum, its attributes have garnered awards for Bierliebe and Friends. Add to it my distinguished blessing, and, hopefully soon, yours.

The Pub is open daily from 11:30 a.m. and is easy to find. You’ll see it from the bridge.

With glass purposefully in hand, we at Travel Industry Today continue our series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues. For more articles in the series, click here:

PREVIOUS ARTICLES: https://travelindustrytoday.com/pub-patio/

 

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News