iKangaroo has found some of the cheapest beers in Paris so you won’t be forced to surrender between €5.00 and €8.00 for a pint of beer, even if it is an imperial pint.  If you are in search of a vibrant 20 to 30 something crowd and a little rock music then click through to find some of the cheapest pints in Paris.

The Fifth Bar:  62, rue Mouffetard- Paris, France

This pub is one of about 100 on rue Mouffetard but the €2.50 pint special for happy hour makes it worth poking your head in to find slice of College Americana complete with beer pong, pitcher specials and NFL Football Sundays.  When I spoke with the friendly Aussie bartender he said that they would be more than happy to play college football as well.  The Fifth Bar does €4.00 pints all night on Thursdays.

The Hideout- Bar: There are three, soon to be four, of these “Irish Pubs” spread out over Paris.  All locations run the same €2.50 pint and €3.50 Mojito happy hour prices and each extends these prices one night of the week with the Saint Germain and Chatelet locations doing Thursday nights while the Latin Quarter Mouffetard pub does Tuesday nights.  Upscale they are not but fun with great drink specials they are.  These pubs are alway running special nights and do a pretty good job of keeping up their website so go to www.hideout-bar.com for more info.

The Hideout-Bar Mouffetard:  11, rue Du Pot De Fer- Paris, France

Located just off rue Mouffetard and just steps away from a few Paris colleges, this is the original location and the most broken in of the bunch but that does not stop the scores of French college students from storming this pub, especially on Tuesday nights when €2.50 pints go all night long.  The music is rock and the atmosphere is surprisingly tame, especially if you are used to packed college bars with attitude swinging Big-Men-On-Campus.  Moreover, the friendly bar staff speaks a little English and is happy to welcome guests from anywhere.  Bring cash because this location does not accept credit cards.

The Hideout-Bar Chatelet:  46, rue Des Lombards- Paris, France

Located in Las Halles this Hideout is less worn than its Left Bank Mouffetard brother, but at the same time it is still a rock bar that serves cheap beer and drinks so don’t expect the atmosphere of Kong. Nevertheless, the €2.50 pints and €3.50 Mojitos all night on Thursday night will not break the bank.  Plus, its location in Las Halles allows you to either use it as  jump-off point or you can swing by for a night cap as it does not close until late.  €15.00 minimum for credit cards, so have cash if you are going to just have a quickie.

The Hideout-Bar Saint-Germain de Pres:  32 rue Dauphine- Paris, France

Just follow rue Dauphine (make sure that if you use Google maps that you do not forget the “e” in Dauphine) from the Pont Neuf to the Left Bank and you will find The Hideout-Bar on the right.  The other two Hideout-Bars are located in areas where the €2.50 pint is a little lower than the competition but this location in Saint-Germain des Pres truly destroys the competition with its drink specials, especially on Thursday evenings.  €15.00 minimum for credit cards, so have cash if you are going to just have a quickie.

Coming soon:  The Hideout-Bar Bastille. As it is not open yet we cannot review it but we will get the info to you soon after its early October opening.

There you have ‘em, four, and soon to be five, solid pubs with some of the cheapest drink specials in Paris.  Of course there must be more so if anyone has any recommendation please let me know and I will be sure to give them a look.

Happy Travels,

Chris

]]> http://ikangaroo.com/2008/09/15/paris-cheap-blondes-ie-pints/feed/ 0 http://ikangaroo.com/2008/07/07/costa-rica-party-onand-on/ http://ikangaroo.com/2008/07/07/costa-rica-party-onand-on/#comments Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:57:51 +0000 Chris http://ikangaroo.com/?p=538 By Tai–

So you wanna party and go dancing…….

Part One: San Jose, Costa Rica

The name Costa Rica conjures lush mountains, white sand beaches, surfer-dream curls and jungle adventures – but if you’re coming to Costa Rica, more than likely you’ll be in San Jose for at east a day or two getting your bearings and planning your excursions.  San Jose – or Chepe, as it’s known throughout the country -  is a sprawling, bustling, active city, shabby at the center and confusing in its layout.  There are no street names, roads curve and go dead-end with no notice, and no one can give you any real directions.

What better place to go party??

Start your night at El Pueblo, just north of downtown – all the cab drivers know it well.  Designed to look like an old Spanish village, El Pueblo has a broad mix of bars, clubs and restaurants, scattered with the occasional trinket shop and local art gallery.  Some of the clubs offer rock music; some offer dance; they all promise a good time cozying up to sweaty, fun-loving locals.  Most places here serve reasonable food and lots of beer – an Imperial or Bavaria will set you back about $3, and a decent cocktail will be around $6.  Known amongst the locals as the place where tourists go, be careful to watch your pockets.  Varying hours; some places open as early as 10AM but the place really gets hopping from 9PM – 3AM.

Sand Live is a massive indoor/outdoor performance venue and bar, overflowing with Ticans and ex-pats coming to hear heavy metal and other serious rock music.  Located across from the San Pedro Mall, Sand has hosted the likes of Metallica and Smashing Pumpkins, as well as local, Central American and South American groups.  The ubiquitous Imperial will set you back $3; cover charge varies.

Cheek to jowl grinding not your thing?  Looking to pick up a hot, well-styled Tican or ex-pat, an elegant lounge downtown near the Sabana Park called Rapsodia, will hit high on your list.  Carefully pick a spot to scope the scene – the bustling main room on the first floor has a few semi-private spaces while offering a great view of the crowd; the second floor VIP area has an outdoor patio with a great street view so you can check out exactly who is entering, and the lush backyard is great for cuddling with your new friend, with cushy lounges spread about a bamboo-growers paradise.  Serving light food and well-made cocktails to Costa Rica’s young and upwardly mobile – a Bavaria will set you back $4, and and a Cosmo will run you $6, they have a rotating roster of talented local DJ’s spinning house, minimal techno and sometimes (unavoidably in Central America) reggaeton.  The address is listed as “Frente al HSBC Paseo Colon – In front of the Paseo Colon HSBC.  Hours: from 8PM – 2AM daily.

In addition, San Jose is full of clubs offering salsa and merengue; reggaeton; and just plain drinking.  Check out the week’s listings in the free publications: the Tico Times will give you all the local dirt in English, while La Nacion will deliver more information in spanish, including the latest on clubs, movie theaters and music.

Late night partying means early morning dining – a tough call in San Jose.  The street-food vendors usually wrap up by midnight, well before the serious reveler is ready to turn in.  There’s one great option, downtown by Sabana Park (and very close to Rapsodia): Soda Tapia, a 24-hour diner styled after classic American 1950’s roller-skate diners.  You won’t find any wheeled girls here, but the Tapia Gordito lives up to its name: a huge sub sandwich with beef, sliced ham, bacon, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, it’s 3 meals in one.

Not feeling adventurous?  Or more likely, craving a burrito?  There’s plenty of instantly-recognizable Taco Bell’s located throughout the city – and just like our North American counterparts, Ticans on a late night bender all seem to converge upon them around 3AM.  Nothing like Fiesta Fries and Taco Pizzas to mop up the morning hangover.

Happy partying!

On a recent short trip to Paris I sat down with the staff from to get some insight into the city from a local’s point of view. Ok, nobody I talked with is actually French, but everyone has at least 3 years experience in the City of Light and all have personally shown around 10,000s of tourists, thus making them uniquely qualified to recommend places that people visiting Paris will love. Afterall, think about it, tour guides are living in their city, they talk with 100s of tourists weekly, and have access to fresh information that traditional travel writers don’t, so a tour guide’s recommendations are fresher and more robust because they are based on the satisfaction of 1000s of clients. In the case of Fat Tire Bike Tours, it has correctly made it a part of their service to seek out and recommend restaurants, pubs and other nightlife activities that satisfy their clients desire to have the best and most economical experience possible.

Thanks to Claudia, David and Lisa for your time and this list.

Happy Travels,

Chris

Campo de’ Fiori in Rome, Italy has great nightlife, delicious restaurants, worthwhile happy hours, a huge market plus it is rich with all the history that makes Rome so special. The Campo thrives in the morning with its fantastic market and bakery, in the afternoon there are a number of places to get a light snack and nice glass of wine and at night you can party down in an international atmosphere or simply enjoy the scene from a low key wine bars; oh, don’t forget all the clothes and shoe boutiques.

The Campo’s rich in history dates back to the time of Julius Caesar, who was assassinated just 500 meters away. Tradition has it that Campo de’ Fiori took its name from a mistress of Pompey the Great named Flora, translated flower. So the literal translation of Campo de’ Fiori is “field of flowers”, which is a name that remains relevant because it still hosts a daily, weekdays anyway, flower market. The tradition of the field taking its name from Pompey’s mistress is a nice story, but probably not true as the name was not applied to the area until the Middle Ages when it was a meadow, or literally a field of flowers.

Here are some recommendations for places to eat and drink in and around Piazza Campo de’ Fiori. I like to go beyond the actual physical piazza and extend to the traditional meadow that extends all the way to the Tiber, plus getting just way from the main square will save cash and a lot of the times provide a more quaint experience.

1. Filitti di baccala: Old fashioned Roman deep fried cod fish (baccala). No frills and cheap but that is the charm of this little restaurant so close to the Campo but so far away from its chaos.
2. Trattoria Da Sergio: Traditional Roman family owned and operated trattoria serving simple and good food. Excellent meat, cheese and vegetable antipasto platter, steaks and other typical Roman dishes. If it is crowded, you might want to think about giving this place a skip rather than waiting to be seated as it can take a long time. We are not saying that it is not worth the wait but that wait can be long and a little frustrating as the staff will have no idea when they can seat you. In the summer it can be quite warm inside. Closed between lunch and dinner. Steaks highly recommended.
3.  La Vineria Reggio: If you can get a seat outside of the Vineria guard it well, and you have to drink to keep it. This place has been around for 40 years and is a Roman Institution. Light Italian snacks available.
4. Insalata Ricca: There are a bunch of these throughout Rome. They have a full menu but if you are looking for a great salad to off-set all the pizza and pasta you are eating Insalata Ricca is an excellent option. I recommend the pear, walnut and Gorgonzola combo.
5. Taverna Lucifero: Seating 90 people in this cozy spot just off the Campo. This place has the feel of an undiscovered secret. They do not have a house wine so common and inexpensive in Italy therefore ordering by the bottle can get pricey. Fondue on the menu Taverna Lucifero unique and fun. NO LUNCH
6. Aristocampo: a late night eating place that makes excellent sandwiches (even when you are sober). The special of the house is the porchetta, which is roasted pork. Located where the statue of Bruno is facing.
7. The Drunken Ship: With such a huge reputation The Drunken Ship is actually a little disappointing to see for the 1st time when you see how small the bar actually is. However, with this said, The Ship lives up to its reputation which is why people are so keen to shove themselves into this very popular bar. Be strategic about using the toilet as the line can be long.
8. Sloppy Sam’s: The tamed down, and some would say the classier, younger sibling of The Drunken Ship. Sam’s has a decent sized bar and a fantastic location for sitting outside and taking in the atmosphere because of its fantastic location in the square. Also, if you are jonesing for chicken wings or nachos Sam’s has them on the menu. They have a ton of happy hour specials and like the Ship they are very student friendly so make sure you bring your student id if you have one. Finally your ISIC card will get you some discount.
9. La Carbonara: one of the few typical large places located in the center. Not to be located with the 1906 Via Panispera restaurant with the same name, and vica versa. This location is famous and has a prime location which are reflected in the prices.
10. Statue of Giordano Bruno: Standing in the place where the real Bruno was burned at the stake in 1600, morbid huh? This statue has become something of a symbol of free speech which is why many times there is a congregation of anti-government types at its base.

Thanks for reading.

Happy Travels,

Anthony

Unabellavista

]]> http://ikangaroo.com/2008/01/20/rome-campo-de-fiori-eating-and-drinking/feed/ 0 http://ikangaroo.com/2008/01/18/andy-nightlife-review-buenos-aires-the-spot/ http://ikangaroo.com/2008/01/18/andy-nightlife-review-buenos-aires-the-spot/#comments Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:30:19 +0000 Chris http://ikangaroo.com/2008/01/18/andy-nightlife-review-buenos-aires-the-spot/ Buenos Dias Travelers!

Finding a good bar in downtown Buenos Aires is not a hard thing to do. Pubs and cafes line nearly every main street and plaza, catering to a vast clientèle of both locals and tourists alike. Finding a truly unique nightlife experience, however, is decidedly harder. Even the most casual traveler will tell you that they want to do something different than they’re used to at home. They want good drinks, atmosphere, music, crowd, and most of all fun. If that’s your idea of a good time then look no further then “The Spot”, Recoleta’s best kept secret.

Nestled behind 15-foot steel gates, through a dark Fourier on a quiet street in the posh Recoleta neighborhood, “The Spot” can be tough to find. There’s no sign out front, no advertising, and the bar doesn’t open until 10pm. This bar is no frills, nevertheless it’s all fun and you can expect something different every visit.

The crowd is almost 100% Argentine, who usually work or live nearby. There’s no food, but they serve a full cocktail list, draft beer, local malbecs, and French champagne. The prices are cheap by neighborhood standards (cocktails $12-18, beer $7-9), and good tippers are often rewarded with a free shot, a loud cheer, or even the typically Argentine kiss on the cheek. As of January 16, 2008 the Argentine Peso ($) is trading at 3.13 per $US, 4.6 per Euro, 6.16 per British Pound, 2.8 per $AUS and 3.09 per $CAD, so for a Capital City prices are very reasonable.

The room itself is rather small, which gives the bar an intimate, yet sometimes crowded feel. There are small cocktail tables which line the outside walls, no table service, but by 2am, no one is sitting down.

The music has the feel of an international house party. On the weekends, the resident DJ, or the bartenders play a mix ranging from Latin House, Hip-Hop, 80’s Rock, Cumbia, and in the late hours, Reggaetone. By the time the sun comes up, the party starts to wind down, and people slowly begin to matriculate back home.

When asked why he doesn’t do more to advertise the bar, owner Diego Colb said, simply, “I don’t have to,” “the people that know about the bar are great customers, and the ones they’ll tell to come are just as good.” And it works. Since 1998, “The Spot” has kept its business steady with a good mix of loyal followers and curious one-time patrons. According to Colb, they are planning on opening a new bar in nearby San Isidro, and making some small renovations to the original “Spot”.

“I want people to come in, relax, and feel like they’re free to do what they want here”, said Colb, “Think of this as an extension of your living room, and understand that you’re always welcome.”

“The Spot” is located at 1261 Ayacucho in Recoleta, about 3 blocks from Avenida Santa Fe, just behind this nondescript door.

Happy Travels,

Andy Jackson

New Orleans has a lot of pubs that never close or what the locals call “industry bars” so if you are looking for a place to wind down or want to insure a hangover there are plenty of options. These places offer drink prices well below average to those adventurous enough to find them. And when we say “adventurous enough” we mean that you might go100 feet from Bourbon Street or poke your head into a place on Lower Decatur. True, they are what most would call dives, but we like to call them nexuses to the local colour, not to mention that they are effective budget preservation and rehabilitation.

iKangaroo surveyed 100+ bars in NOLA and the average price of a premium beer bottle is ~$4.50 so each of the listed bars are 10-20% below the average.

1. Aunt Tiki’s: 1207 Decatur St. New Orleans Premium beer bottle $3.50

With a tag line like, “we only have one door so we can’t close it,” this place is another friendly local joint on Lower Decatur. They specialize in Bloody Mary’s and are famous for $1.75 cans of PBR. And yes, they really only do have one door.  Credit cards are no good  no good here so bring your cash.

2. The Abbey: 1123 Decatur St. New Orleans Premium beer bottle $3.50

Smoke filled local hang out that never seems to be completely empty. The regulars are friendly and proud of their watering hole to the point where many of them took our reviewer aside to specifically state that more visitors should stop in The Abbey.

3. Flanagan’s: 625 St. Philip New Orleans Premium beer bottle $3.50

Flanagan’s is an all around fantastic pub: it serves food -until 10:00pm Sun to Thursday and until 2:00am on Fri and Sat- it has a pool table, it is the meeting spot for French Quarter Phantom Tours, pints of Guinness are only $4.00 and it has free WiFi. Let’s just say that Flanagan’s is a 24 hour-one-stop-information-cheap beer-good food-shop/pub.

4. Johnny White’s: 733 St. Peter St. New Orleans Premium beer bottle $3.50

Located just across from Pat O’s on the corner of St. Peter’s and Bourbon. Open 24 hours a day for the last 14 years, that includes during Katrina.

5. The Boondock Saint: 731 St. Peter St. New Orleans Premium beer bottle $4.00

The Boondock Saint is a clean, friendly bar with great prices that shows the movie Boondock Saint on a constant loop. Another so-called industry bar which it is filled with locals late-night so do not be surprised if you are sitting next to the bartender who you stiffed earlier that night; or better yet the one who you were especially generous to.

Happy Tavels and hangover,

]]> http://ikangaroo.com/2008/01/03/24hr-drinking-in-new-orleans/feed/ 1 http://ikangaroo.com/2007/12/28/best-drinks-in-new-orleans/ http://ikangaroo.com/2007/12/28/best-drinks-in-new-orleans/#comments Fri, 28 Dec 2007 20:54:28 +0000 Chris http://ikangaroo.com/2007/12/28/best-drinks-in-new-orleans/ Hello Travelers!

New Orleans is famous for its delicious food, party atmosphere and first class hospitality. With all its world-class drinking establishments it seems logical and necessary that NOLA would have some world-class beverages, in fact it does.

Here is a list of some of the best drinks in NOLA with a handy map that will get you to them:

1. Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane: A trip to the Big Easy would not be complete without paying a little homage to the institution that is Pat O’s. Generations have enjoyed these concoctions, which have taken on a mystical quality, but the hype aside they do actually deserve their reputation as an effective and “seemingly” benign kick start. Plus it is a chance for guys to drink something with cherries in it.

2. Grenade at the Tropical Isle: This famous Grenade is just like an over-sized swizzle stick and every bit as sweet. However, the packaging makes this drink at least worth considering. You won’t be able to miss all the people on Bourbon with their Grenades exploding all over the place, so make sure you stand back when you see a pack of them approaching.

3. Pimm’s Cup at Napoleon House: Just like going back in time 200 years is the feeling one gets when they arrive into this don’t miss classical music cafe. Granted it is not a place to go when you have your “Bourbon on” so we recommend giving it a go when you are winding up. Plus, it is a great and cheap place to get a snack or a lunch. Don’t miss the Napoleon House!

4. Frozen Iced Irish Coffee at Molly’s on The Market: In New Orleans there is a lot of competition among the frozen drinks as can be seen by the daiquiri stands on every street corner, but Molly’s Iced Coffee stands out. Located on Lower Decatur, going to Molly’s is also a good excuse to get out and explore the rest of the Quarter.

5. Bloody Mary at EnVie Cafe: While in New Orleans the time will come when a Bloody Mary will be needed and EnVie Cafe will be happy to serve up a good one, plus, they have great breakfasts and excellent coffee. The owner of EnVie is one of the captains of the neighborhood and prides himself on providing delicious and inexpensive food, drinks and of course fair trade coffee. Oh, did we say that they also provide free WiFi?

6. Flaming Camel’s Milk at Attiki: Any time a drink is lit on fire it raises its fun level exponentially. Attiki is a nice, clean and classy restaurant / bar where one can do a flaming shot, smoke a hookah and get a good meal.

7. The Octo-Bong at Beer Fest: Yep, that is an eight person beer bong! Beer Fest has two locations on Bourbon so it is hard to miss. When you enter either location the spider-like beer delivery system is hanging from the ceiling and ready for your group to partake. Be sure to ask the price of the beer to be bonged because some of the brews are quite pricey, which when multiplied times 8 can mean a bill close to $100, or 20 Big Ass Beers. Give Beer Fest a look if you are in mood for craft beers while Bourboning or if you and 7 of your friends want to funnel together.

Happy Travels!

]]> http://ikangaroo.com/2007/12/28/best-drinks-in-new-orleans/feed/ 0 http://ikangaroo.com/2007/12/11/prague-absinth-bars/ http://ikangaroo.com/2007/12/11/prague-absinth-bars/#comments Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:03:43 +0000 Chris http://ikangaroo.com/2007/12/11/prague-absinth-bars/
Hello Travelers!

Martina from The Art of Your Travel in Prague has recommended a few absinth bars- in Czech the “e” is dropped- in Prague to help you warm up on those chilly Czech nights. Absinth, made popular in Paris in the 19th and 20th centuries, has enjoyed something of a comeback as of late. However, the stuff of today is really not as potent, I am told, as it used to be. Nevertheless it is still an interesting experience if done in moderation. With this said here are some recommendations for places to chase the “Green Fairy” in Prague.

Happy Travels!

]]> http://ikangaroo.com/2007/12/11/prague-absinth-bars/feed/ 0 http://ikangaroo.com/2007/09/10/ruined-in-rome-a-pub-crawl-guide/ http://ikangaroo.com/2007/09/10/ruined-in-rome-a-pub-crawl-guide/#comments Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:37:43 +0000 Chris http://ikangaroo.com/2007/09/10/ruined-in-rome-a-pub-crawl-guide/

As of May 26, 2010 until December 31, 2010 the Rome municipality has instituted strict penalties on establishments that host organized drinking tours (pub crawls).  This is the strongest measure taken against drinking tours in the Eternal City after the 2009 death of an Australian tourist whose death authorities directly link to his participation on a pub crawl and which also led to formal charges being filed against the organizers.

La Republicca:  Alemanno vieta i pub crawl basta con i tour alcolici per turisti