When it comes to Lime Out, the premise is simple: cocktails, tacos and a floating bar. Yep, the newest drinking establishment to hit the US Virgin Islands is currently adrift off the coast of St John. On one side of this lime-green speck in gin-clear waters is a swim-up bar where you can take a seat on a submerged stool or tether your inflatable unicorn.
The other side is a drive-through service for those aboard speedboats and yachts who just want their tacos and margaritas to go. Lime Out is super eco-friendly too – along with being hooked up to solar power, the bar uses metal cups and biodegradable taco containers and employs a strict no-straw policy. Could this be heaven on Earth? We reckon it’s pretty close.
Part wine bar, part tasting and selling room, part events area, the recently opened Kolby Wine Bar is shaping up to be the new triple threat on Prague’s wine-quaffing scene. With renowned local architecture firm CMC at the helm of the project, the dedicated wine space has been specifically designed to best showcase the vinos from the famous Kolby vineyard.
We’re talking custom-made joinery products, a bespoke shelving system for storing and presenting bottles, and a modern, minimalist approach to the interiors. Tasting sessions take place on the reg or you can pop in any time for a glass of Kolby’s finest – the riesling and chardy go down a treat. Consider this your one-stop wine destination when you hit up the Czech capital.
For a slice of true blue nostalgia, get yourself down to the Gold Coast’s newest watering hole, Rosella’s. Inspired by good old-fashioned Aussie culture, the walls are appropriately adorned with slang-inspired art (‘flamin’ galah’ and ‘budgie smuggler’ feature heavily) and the space has an old-school pub vibe about it.
You’ll definitely feel at home here knocking back a couple of ice-cold tinnies after a day in the Burleigh surf. The menu is a playful homage to all things Australiana. Think cocktails inspired by Zooper Dooper icy poles and every Aussie kid’s favourite cereal, Nutri-Grain (the drink is called the Ironman, of course), served alongside fancy Vegemite jaffles and oysters served in Styrofoam eskies. You’re in for a bloody ripper of a time.
If it wasn’t for the Kiwi accents, you’d be forgiven for thinking you had stumbled upon one of Moscow’s finest drinking dens. Home to more than 150 varieties of the clear spirit, Auckland’s Vodka Room lives up to its name, serving rare and limited-edition drops, house-made infused varieties (cookie dough, anyone?) and flights of different voddies for the indecisive among us.
Any vodka drinker knows a solid sesh calls for a hearty feed, and the modern Russian menu doesn’t disappoint, with vareniki (potato and cheese dumplings), blini rolls, caviar and borsch just some of the drool-worthy options that should help fend off potential hangovers. Kick on in the private karaoke rooms, where ‘press for vodka’ buttons ensure you’re in good shape to give the performance of a lifetime.
‘Sin and be seen’ is the motto at this ritzy rooftop bar, a not-so-subtle hint at the sultry vibe you can expect upon arrival. Mirroring the glittering Bangkok skyline, this indoor-outdoor space, located on the top floor of the Avani+ Riverside Hotel, is dripping in luxury, with gold accents, art deco-inspired details and plush furnishings.
Seen’s signature cocktail list is as dazzling as the decor, with award-winning mixologist Mochammad Fadli blending contemporary Asian flavours to create heavenly drinks like the Forbidden River (coriander shochu with hints of citrus and celery) and Fusion Julep (kaffir lime bourbon with ginger and pickle). Food-wise, Seen offers everything from sushi to wagyu beef burgers. Tunes spin till late, so settle in for a night of glamour.
Take a self-guided tour along the Denver Beer Trail and sample craft beer paradise in the Mile High City. Explore the featured breweries, most of which are in the walkable city centre, and you’ll find everything from stouts to lagers and all the flavours in between.
Blue Moon Brewing Company started producing its beloved Belgian White in Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies baseball team, in 1995. For more than 20 years, the Sandlot brewery provided its team of brewers an opportunity to create and share new beers with fans around the world. In the summer of 2016, Blue Moon brought the same creativity and passion for beer to a new state-of-the-art brewery and restaurant in the city’s RiNo District. Since then the brewers have been fermenting fan favourites – old and new – and experimenting with unique ingredients on the pilot brewing system.
There are more than a hundred breweries, brewpubs and taprooms in metro Denver, and you can check out the interactive map on the Visit Denver website to see what’s open in the neighbourhood you’re visiting.
Named after one of the most fierce gangs in New York City, The Dead Rabbit is as notorious as its historic moniker. Set in Manhattan’s Financial District, the bar – created by Jack McGarry and Sean Muldoon, alumni of Belfast’s much-lauded Merchant Hotel – has featured on ‘World’s Best’ lists since opening in 2013, finally taking out World’s Best Bar in 2016. Sawdust-sprinkled floors, leather furnishings and unpretentious service infuse the vintage venue with an ambient atmosphere across its three levels. There’s the Taproom, pouring 145 varieties of Irish whiskey (the largest selection in the USA); the Parlour, featuring a graphic novel-like cocktail menu; and the Occasional, a private function room, plus with traditional Irish fare served across all floors.
Hidden in the depths of the Smithfield Meat Market is Oriole, a bar where Africa meets Europe. Playing with history, Oriole embraces the magic of time, and its interior creates an atmosphere of warmth, mystery and magic. The food menu treats guests to flavours and ingredients from all corners of the world that are artfully combined into imaginative dishes, while a list of cocktails will see guests transcend to another era and offers a sense of adventure in a glass.
Tantalise your tastebuds choosing dishes like sweet potato and green curry ice-cream with tamarind, sambal and palm heart while you sip on the Cape Of Good Hope cocktail, a concoction of Plymouth Gin, buchu infusion, grapefruit liqueur and lime juice.
Sitting above Perth’s Richmond Quarter, Sweetwater Rooftop Bar has brought the taste of Asia to Western Australia. Former head chef of Melbourne’s Gingerboy, Leigh Power, has collaborated with cocktail guru Ben Tua, to create a hawker-inspired venue. Sit under the ambient light beaming from lanterns and enjoy the stunning view over the harbour while you savour the inimitable flavours.
Delight in the steamed duck and water chestnut dumplings or grilled sirloin with kimchi and black pepper sauce, and sip away at the Jungle Book cocktail made with Eristoff, melon, raspberry and spiced pineapple. It’s open from Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, so find a perch on a wicker chair and let the chaotic city life go on without you.
Step off the streets of Berlin’s Lichtenberg borough and right into this cosy bar. Eclectically designed with red and turquoise walls, disco ball and a blend of vintage and modern lamp fixtures, Zum Schwalbenschwanz – the name translates to dovetail – re-creates a comfy, welcoming living room with its interiors.
Focused on offering the full cultural experience, Zum Schalbenschwanz’s program includes live music, readings and film screenings. And if you’re up for some good ol’ fashioned fun, the bar is also decked out with a foosball table and a variety of board games. For those after more than just a drink, the menu offers a selection of homemade and organic food, and coffee and cake from 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
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