This is our exhibition of the finest pubs and bars in Europe for Who has reached the top step this year? Flip each of the windows below to find out more in the countdown to 1! A carefully guarded love-or-hate pub that is a a monument to individual character and insistence on standards. A one-off explosion of kitsch in the very heart of Basel provides something completely different.
A veritable cathedral to beer and socialising, this gigantic, remarkable complex of beer halls makes enjoyment feel pretty damn easy. Vibrant, bustling and atmospheric corner bodega with customers spilling out onto the street. This is the very picture of Barcelona social life. Late night revelry in old world surroundings proves Bamberg isn't just about its traditional breweries and beer halls.
A lost-in-time late night hangout for unabashed, informal fun yards away from some of the most pompous and upright elements of central Vienna. Quirky, unique with a distinctive identity and character, a basement bar with local beers and fabulous hospitality. This characterful Viennese style pub is a true standout amidst a wash of bland Croatian 'caffe bars', with a legion of young fans on account of its distinctive identity and up to date drinks selection.
Breaking the typical British theme pub mould with its distinctive size and unconventional identity, with superb beers including immaculate cask ales. Black Dog's ancient vaults are a characterful setting for a pub that is simply the best Bratislava old town has to offer! While touristy, this infamous state-run beer hall is jaw-dropping in scale, unique in form and draws you in to its noisy, gaudy fun. A flamboyant bar that does its utmost to impress, with a versatile drinks list including the famous, and lethal Agua de Valencia.
An ideal blend of modernity and tradition reboots the Czech pub format, offering modern beers in an authentic neighbourly hangout. Behind a blacked out shopfront is this ramshackle cocktail bar. Everything you see is for sale - including we hear - the business itself. A true survivor and now preserved cultural icon, a bar where you can make new friends almost as soon as you walk in.
