Central Germany
This sleek, modern cafe-bar offers a contrast to the historic aspects of Eisleben. As well as serving wine and cocktails (in broad daylight), it does…
Must-see nightlife in Central Europe
Vienna
Don’t let the run-down appearance put you off: it's all part of this dive-bar experience. Blue Box is too small for dance-floor space so guests groove to…
Zürich
A good weekend brunch stop (until 4pm), this is above all a popular place to hang out and drink – anything from coffee to cocktails. In summer, spread out…
Innsbruck
A big black crow guards the bar at this industrial-style pub. It doesn’t make much noise, but the punters do after one drink too many. There are regular…
Warsaw
In the entry lobby to the Warsaw Spire building and with a prime view of Plac Europejski, this unfortunately named cafe is fine for a coffee, a cake or a…
The Julian Alps
We applaud the deal at this wine bar: for €15 you can enjoy five tastes of Slovenian wines, served with pršut (air-dried ham from the Karst), plus local…
Lausanne
If you want sand and a deckchair, head for seasonal Flon Plage – yes, a 'beach' (without water!) – in the heart of the Old Town, but with a bartender…
Wiesbaden
Expats congregate at this sprawling, Irish-run basement establishment for live music (from 9.30pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday), karaoke (from 9.30pm…
Vienna
Why Not? is a fixture of Vienna's gay scene. The small club quickly fills up with mainly young guys; there are three bars and a dance floor. Cover charges…
Sopron
Less-than-salubrious pub in a 17th-century cellar, where you can imbibe a wide selection of local wines while sharing large platters of cured meats, local…
Neuchâtel
In the heat of the summer much of the drinking action gravitates towards the water's edge with pop-up bars and drinking spaces such as upcycled, portside…
Vienna
Little has changed in Bräunerhof from the days when Austria’s seminal writer Thomas Bernhard (1931–89) frequented the premises. Classical music plays from…
Zürich
An easygoing lounge-bar arrangement (with a tiny courtyard at the side), the ‘Dani H’ is a cruisy place to start the night. It is hetero-friendly. Note…
Vienna
Picnic tables are surrounded by apple trees and vineyards at this simple spot, where whites are the predominant drop. Salads complement its small…
Graz
A young, fashionable student crowd loves this place, which has a patio perfect for warm summer evenings. There's a small admission of around €5 when there…
Geneva
Deep house and mainstream sets have Genevans dancing 'til dawn at this hybrid cocktail club, dance school and nightclub in Pâquis. Those in the know book…
Brno
More than 50 kinds of handmade chocolates and bracing coffee make this an essential mid-morning or mid-afternoon detour. You'll find it inside the small…
The Julian Alps
This enormous pub, next to the Storžič cinema, is popular with students. Weekends bring regular DJ nights and occasional live acts. Drink on the terrace…
Trier
Winny and Morris have presided over this locally loved watering hole for years. Drop by for a Pils and a bite, like crispy chicken wings called 'Flieten'…
Lübeck
Live jazz only plays once a month but the sound system can always be counted on for good tunes at this sleek, glass-fronted bar, which has moodily lit…
Kraków
A legend in its own time, this nightlife giant entices revellers into its labyrinth of passageways, nooks and crannies. It specialises in presenting…
Hanover
Hanover’s most popular beer garden has a lovely stand of trees, low prices and a large screen that shows German football matches – and always the Hannover…
Piran
This nautically themed cafe-bar – named after the jujube (Chinese date) that grows prolifically along the Adriatic – has tables right on the main square.
The Julian Alps
A welcoming cafe-bar in the basement of a 16th-century toll house, with a big terrace backing onto the river, is just the place to relax in Kranj on a…
Graz
M1 is a modern three-storey cafe-bar replete with rooftop terrace. Its spiral staircase can cause a few problems after a couple of the 200 or so cocktails…
Great Plain
This cafe serves hot and cold drinks and snacks at the Máta Stud Farm, east of the ticket office and information centre.
Zürich
Nicely placed in the upscale area of Enge, this stylish Italian bar is as much about posing as sipping your expertly mixed cocktail or glass of full…
Regensburg
Take some Gothic cross vaulting, paint it high-visability tunnel orange, throw in some killer cocktails and invite a millennial crowd – and you've got…
Prague
This cosy, out-of-the-way cafe is popular with students, who come for the relaxed mood, decent cakes and an interior fitted out like your auntie's drawing…
Potsdam
Even after changing owners in 2016, this low-key Dutch Quarter pub still proudly flies the rainbow flag. A good place for plugging into the local LGBTIQ…
Lower Saxony & Bremen
A great place to pick up a cappuccino, latte or flat white, plus some cake or pastry to go with it. Lactose-free and non-dairy milks (soy etc) available,…
The Salzkammergut
Gmunden is not the nightlife capital of the world but this bar has various events, including DJs. The quality, like anything on a lake, can bob around a…
Fribourg, Drei-Seen-Land and The Jura
House, trance, rock, reggae…every sound goes at this mainstream club in Fribourg's hip industrial zone. For aspiring pop stars, Thursday is karaoke night.
Szeged
This giant, two-storey sidewalk cafe overlooking Klauzál tér has a generous choice of frothy coffee concoctions, ice creams and cakes (345Ft to 660Ft).
Southeastern Slovenia
The venue of choice among Novo Mesto’s students, this bar-club-cafe has programs throughout the week and DJs (and sometimes live music) at the weekend.
Basel
A soothing spot for an upscale cocktail moment, especially in warmer weather, when you can listen to the water play of the adjacent Tinguely Fountain.
Szentendre
This cafe, next door to the marzipan museum, is a good place to stop for cake (420Ft to 650Ft) and ice cream.
Poznań
Ambient wine bar serving only the Spanish drop, with up to 100 bottles in stock. A simple menu of tapas dishes is available to complement the vino.
Zürich
With its outdoor terrace and prime location near the Hauptbahnhof, this tiny bar on an island in the Sihl river makes a tempting stop at any time.
Podgórze
Chilled-out local boozer just over the Bernatek Footbridge from Kazimierz. Good selection of beers and an ideal spot to start or end a pub crawl.
