Other entertainment in Europe
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Kursaal Kalhesa
Recline on plump sofas with silk cushions and sip a cocktail beneath the high vaulted ceilings. There’s a roaring fire in winter, plus art exhibits and a bookstore with foreign newspapers. A lively unpretentious crowd is attracted by the good program of music and literary events. Meals (from €30) are served in the dining room or on the leafy patio flanked by 15th-century walls.
reviewed
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Morocco
Owned by the zany Alaska, the stand-out musical personality of la movida, Morocco has decor that's so kitsch it's cool, and a mix of musical styles that never strays too far from 1980s Spanish and international tunes. The bouncers can be a bit shirty, but then it's not the most amiable profession in the world, now is it?
reviewed
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Kristinemut
Wild-west themed with wagon-wheel ceilings, this was Greenland's first pub, made (in) famous in Lawrence Millman's book Last Places. It remains an understandably popular, appealingly raucous place to drink and dance, with Dkr25 happy-hour beers before 8pm. There's a live band every night from around 9pm.
reviewed
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Café Haiti
If you’re a coffee fan, this tiny cafe near the harbour is the place for you. Owner Elda buys her beans from her home country of Haiti, and roasts and grinds them on-site, producing what regulars swear are the best cups of coffee in the country.
reviewed
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Amsterdam ArenA
Matches usually take place on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon during the season (early September to early June). The ArenA conducts a one-hour guided stadium tour that includes a walk on the hallowed turf and entry to the Ajax museum.
reviewed
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O Luain’s
For the craic in Cascais, it has to be this cheery Irish watering hole, run by Ivor and Karen. Pull up a stool for Guinness and – at 10.30pm from Thursday to Sunday – live music, including the popular banjo jam sessions.
reviewed
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Absolut Lounge
Absolut Lounge is a sophisticated joint serving good food and yummy cocktails along with plenty of room to chill to the electro-jazz wafting out of the sound system. Don't wear turquoise and red or you'll blend in with the decor.
reviewed
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Osteria del Bugiardo
On busy Corso Portoni Borsari, traffic converges at Bugiardo for glasses of upstanding Valpolicella bottled specifically for the osteria. Polenta and sopressa make worthy bar snacks for the powerhouse Amarone.
reviewed
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EJ Kings
A busy old pub established in 1852, EJ Kings has decent though fancy pub food, but it’s really the place to quaff some pints on a busy weekend night. Get a tip on the ponies.
reviewed
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Pardo Bar
With its background music, scattered timber tables (a couple of computers on one) and wine and cocktails on offer, Pardo Bar attracts a relaxed and mixed crowd.
reviewed
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Bierhaus
The imported beer here won’t insult your sensibilities. Good brews from across Europe are on offer along with Hooker. At night DJs provide a Euro beat.
reviewed
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Barbara
Barbara is a gay bar/club in theory, although in practice it attracts everyone in town who likes wild dancing.
reviewed
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People’s Bar & Grill
The preferred hang-out of Novosibirsk’s would-be rap stars and models. Descend the stairway opposite St Nicholas chapel.
reviewed
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R-16
Booming nightclub with a big dance floor and attached lounge. It’s next to the Tokyo restaurant.
reviewed
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Cines Princesa
Screens all kinds of original-version films, from Hollywood blockbusters to arty flicks.
reviewed
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Donnybrook Rugby Ground
Leinster has had similar fortunes to the national side – good, but not quite good enough. They have performed steadily in the European Cup, the premier provincial tournament that sees sides from the Six Nations countries play each other from December to May. The 2006 season culminated in a final that their great rivals Munster won. Leinster has done better in the lesser Celtic League (played against teams from Scotland and Wales), which runs from September to January, but mostly because everyone is gearing up for the European Cup. If you want to see them play, you can do so at the Donnybrook Rugby Ground. Tickets for both competitions are available at Elvery’s ((679 4…
reviewed
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MK2 Bibliothèque
This branch of the ever-growing chain (nine outlets at the most recent count) next to the Bibliothèque Nationale is the most ambitious yet, with 14 screens, a trendy café, brasserie, restaurant, late-night bar and a trio of shops specialising in DVDs, books and comics and graphic novels respectively. MK2 Bibliothèque cinemas show a variety of blockbusters and studio films, so there’s always something for everyone. Don’t miss MK2 Quai de Seine ([tel] 08 92 69 84 84; 14 quai de Seine, 19e; [metro] Jaurès or Stalingrad) and MK2 Quai de Loire ([tel] 08 92 69 84 84; 7 quai de Loire, 19e; [metro] Jaurès or Stalingrad), which face one another across from the canal and ar…
reviewed
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Grandes Eaux Musicales
In the Château de Versailles gardens’, a truly magical, must-experience are the Grandes Eaux Musicales and Grandes Eaux Nocturnes fountain displays set to the sweet tones of baroque and classical composers throughout the grounds in summer. The grand finale of these fabulous fountain dances to soul-stirring classical music sees the Bassin de Neptune flow for 10 minutes from 5.20pm. Set the soul stirring still further with the fountains’ fabulous summertime performances at night! Brilliantly lit, it is a performance to remember. Reserve tickets in advance at the Billeterie Spectacle in front of the château or on the same day directly at the garden entrances.
reviewed
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Wimbledon
The All England Lawn Tennis Championships have been taking place here in late June/early July since 1877. Most tickets for the Centre and Number One courts are distributed by ballot, applications for which must be made the preceding year. Try your luck by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (PO Box 98, Church Rd, Wimbledon SW19 5AE). Limited tickets go on sale on the day of play, though queues are painfully long. The nearer to the finals, the higher the prices. Prices for outside courts are under £15, reduced after 5pm. You might be better off going to the men’s warm-up tournament at Queen’s Club, which takes place a couple of wee…
reviewed
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George & Dragon
Once a scuzzy local pub, the George (as ye shall dub it if you value your Shoreditch High St cred) was taken over and decorated with the owner’s grandma’s antiques (antlers, racoon tails, old clocks), cardboard cut-outs of Cher and fairy lights, turning this one-room pub into what has remained the epicentre of the Hoxton scene for more than a decade. It’s one of the most exciting places to go out, with a great jukebox, though it tends to get packed out at the weekends. Some of the best DJ nights in London are on offer here, with cabaret performances taking place on window sills. It’s total fun and mindless hedonism. Definitely not a place for a quiet pint.
reviewed
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Gianpula
The Ibiza-styled Gianpula, a few kilometres east of Rabat (signposted en route to Żebbuġ), is a huge open-air club that kicked off in 1980 and is still going strong. It hosts big-name events showcasing top international DJs, as well as tours from megaclubs such as Cream, Godskitchen and Ministry of Sound. As well as staging these one-off nights and the odd music festival, Gianpula is open every Friday and Saturday night from June to September. Join up to 4000 others in a huge field complete with swimming pool and seven bars.
reviewed
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Wiener Residenzorchester
The philosophy and mission of the Vienna Residence Orchestra – currently led by the esteemed pianist and conductor Paul Moser – is to present Viennese classics in their full glory and purest form. And its speciality? Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss, of course. Concerts are held at the opulent Auersperg palace, where between 15 and 30 musicians showcase their talents while dressed head to toe in rococo and Biedermeier costumes. The orchestra also occasionally plays at other venues in town, including the Börse Palais.
reviewed
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Stade Roland Garros
By far the glitziest annual sporting event in Paris is the French Open, the second of four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, held on clay at the 16,500-seat Stade Roland Garros in the Bois de Boulogne from late May to mid-June. Tickets are expensive and like gold dust; they go on sale mid-December and bookings must be made by March. They are only available online or via mail. One week prior to the competition (on the first day of the qualifiers), remaining tickets are sold from the box office at the entrance to the stadium.
reviewed
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Peniche el Alamein
The third in the trendy trio afloat opposite the library, this deep-purple boat is strung with terracotta pots of flowers from head to toe, making it a lovely spot on the Seine to sip away summer evenings – the deck is open from 4.30pm when the sun shines. Sit amid flowering tulips and enjoy live bands playing from 9pm; flyers are stuck on the lamppost in front. Its sound – less hectic than its next-door neighbours, hence the older crowd – embraces jazz, world and Piaf-style chansons françaises (French songs) of 1930s Paris.
reviewed
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Arena Sferisterio
One of Europe’s most stunning outdoor theatres is the Arena Sferisterio, which resembles an ancient Roman arena but was built between 1819 and 1829. Between 15 July and 15 August every year it’s a venue for the Stagione Lirica, one of Italy’s most prestigious musical events, which attracts big operatic names. In late June every year, the arena plays host to the finals of the Musicultura competition for talented, up-and-coming singer/songwriters as well as a famous guest singer (tickets €5 to €30).
reviewed
