With a panoramic view of the Andaman Sea, Baba Nest is one of the world’s most impressive rooftop bars. Open to only 20 guests at a time, it’s also one of the most exclusive; the bar occupies an island deck smack bang in the middle of a wraparound infinity pool. It’s the perfect place to watch the sunset blaze across the peninsula, or take in a sunrise – if you can last. Beanbags and low tables provide a home to park your rear and your glass while you cool off with your feet in the water and a sake mojito in hand.
Possibly the last remaining honesty bar on the planet, the Washaway is a Niue institution. Open only on Sundays, this open-air watering hole has an anything-goes dress policy and a laid-back, help-yourself attitude. Locals, expats and visitors who have crossed the 2,400 kilometres of ocean between New Zealand and this coral atoll congregate around the circular bar, decorated with hanging buoys and other trinkets washed up on the beach. Beer and wine lubricate the conversation, as the sun sinks into the Pacific. Help yourself to the fridge, write down what you take on the bar’s notebook and fix up owner Willie before you go.
It may be constructed from salvaged materials, but this beer garden is as cosy as they come. It’s a bohemian hotspot with a beachy vibe, live music and an up-close view of Amsterdam’s busy waterways. You can even moor your boat right out front. Try their organic food or the evening barbecue.
Depending on the day, you might be able to join a craft workshop or yoga class, or scour the onsite vintage market. Chill out in a hammock on the rooftop terrace or claim an armchair by the fire when it’s frosty outside.
Situated away from the rows of beach clubs that are most commonly associated with Santorini, Theros Wave Bar is the perfect place to kick back and escape the crowds. With the spectacular sandstone formations sparsely dotted with shrubbery, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve arrived on the set of Star Wars.
This is an all-day affair, with lounges along a private beach servicing sun seekers. Take a dip in the sheltered bay or organise a massage between cocktails. There’s a casual-chic restaurant and bar area overlooking the sea that, at night, is beautifully lit and primed for romance. For those who like things a bit more lively, Theros organises a killer full-moon party.
Although situated far from tropical climes, Arena Badeschiff definitely deserves beach-bar status. Created from the hull of an old 32-foot vessel, the bar was originally an art project funded by the city council. Now it is the only safe place to bathe along the banks of the River Spree, and comes into its own during the long summer days. There’s sand, deck chairs, a boardwalk, table tennis and, of course, an open-air bar, making it the perfect place to escape the city heat on a sunny day.
Beers and spicy chicken fajitas are the combination of choice for revellers, as DJs fill the air with chilled-out tunes to compliment the atmosphere. In the colder months it turns into a winter village, with Swedish-inspired wooden huts, ice skating, curling and artisan stalls.
Hvar has a reputation for attracting well-heeled types who like to party, and Hula Hula is one spot where you’ll be sure to rub shoulders with them. Built into the rocks that line the island’s coastline, drinks here flow from dawn till well after dark. Okay, in the morning they’re more likely to be fresh juices and coffees, but the harder stuff doesn’t take long to appear.
Choose the pavilion seating areas for a signature seafood platter or a waterside lounge for a cocktail. Rent a private beach or boat, or blend in with the hordes of locals and happy travellers. The club component of Hula Hula, located back over the rocks, opens at 2am so there’s no need to go back to your hotel.
Whirl down a jutting, spiral staircase and into the Void (Bar). You’ll find this subterranean establishment lurking on the lowest level of Mona; Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art, which hosts a rather unusual collection including a robotic digestive system that presents museum-goers with a Petri dish of poo daily.
Dwarfed by the vast slab of Triassic sandstone against which it rests, the sleek bar is the perfect place to sip on a brew and wax lyrical about your love of curious art. And booze – Void claims to serve the best cocktails in all of Tasmania. Indulge in a Poltergeist Bramble 20, made with locally crafted gin and house-made wild blackberry liquor, before plunging into a Modern – a delicious mix of whisky, sloe gin, absinthe and citrus.
If you’d prefer something more simple, beers from the on-site brewery, Moo Brew, are on tap, and you can admire the legs on a glass of Moorilla (from the winery next door) as you sink into an Edwardian armchair. Once you’re suitably sauced you’re ready to tackle the 6000 square metre labyrinth of provocative art.
A shot of absinthe helps the colours pop, but indulge in a second and find the museum’s wall of porcelain vaginas, or the working set of bowels, really speak to you – really. And if you need a trip to the porcelain yourself, there’s a surprise waiting in the third cubicle to the right. Be warned.
Mr Wow’s Emporium is a bar with balls. Bottles of premium spirits, malts and house-made bitters stand proudly behind a curvaceous counter. Dusk lighting falls on brick walls and a polished concrete floor. But it’s the boules that will catch your eye. Yes, two lanes of indoor bocce, and a billiards table – bar brilliance.
There’s a boules competition every Wednesday, complete with sweet beats and liquid treats. There’s often free popcorn floating around, so grab a bowl and line your stomach (just beware, the saltiness will have you shelling out for a few extra thirst quenchers). After a few solid drinks, the Melbourne road map plastered across the wall may be surprisingly helpful.
Tucked away in a former gallery on one of the oldest roads in Hong Kong, this chilled-out spot channels a Japanese vibe. Bar Ozu, with its plush couches, high ceilings and walls splashed with arty graffiti, manages to be both cool and unpretentious.
There’s an extensive list of Japanese whiskies, beers, signature cocktails and sakes – those unfamiliar with the fermented rice beverage can even try a flight of three samples. If you’re feeling adventurous, say kanpai with a Pasabi, the bar’s wasabi-infused cocktail. Laid-back reggae and hip-hop accompany the conversation rather than overpowering it, leaving you to enjoy some good company and delicious drinks.
We really dig bars that promote eco-living, not to mention discourage drink driving. Handlebar does just that with its cosy homage to the humble pushbike. Gold-painted retro bikes hang from the walls, and the furniture is vintage kitsch. Grab a beer or whisky and lounge on one of the patio chairs, or throw down a bowl of homemade meatballs and take in the sights and sounds of the vibrant Kensington Market. When the live music cranks up, head back inside and boogie the night away. Note: the bikes are bolted down so you’ll need to find an alternative ride home.