This page shares with you our favorite places to drink in Belgium, France, Greece, the Czech Republic and Spain
Some are chosen primarily for their beer, some primarily for their location (but still sell at least 1 decent beer) - all have provided relaxation. and fine memories
| country or island | location | name | Beers | Description | last visited | Belgium | Brugge | Staminee de Garre | Very good selection of Belgian beers including a house Tripel from Van Steenburge . | Up an alley next to a lace shop on Briedelstraat. quiet classical music on two floors, good snacks, sheer relaxation | Oct 2002 |
| Belgium | Brussels | Poechenellekelder | Good selection of Belgian beers including La Chouffe. | has pavement drinking overlooking the Mannekin Pis. Relax and watch the tourists. Inside is like a museum | May 2004 |
| Belgium | Gent | The Bridge | A good selection of the more common Belgian brews plus the De Konninck range | In the square at the front of the cathedral. Tables outside. In the same family since at least 1983. Excellent bar food | May 2008 |
| Belgium | Gent | Galgenhuis | a good selection of Belgian Brews including some less common ones | The Gallows House in the Groenmarkt has only 4 tables in the bar plus one in a little snug upstairs plus tables outside in summer. | May 2006 |
| Belgium | Gent | Hopduvel | A huge range of Belgian beers including their own commissioned brews | Rokerelstraat is a cobbled sreet of terraced houses off the main tram route from St Peters Station towards the centre, but you will need a map to find it. The entrance is obvious but you have to be brave. The little sign does lead into a pub not a house. And it is like a tardis inside - several houses have been knocked together and there's a huge garden full of breweriana. There's an upstairs restaurant we haven't tried | May 2008 |
| Belgium | Gent | Trappistenhuis | big selection of Belgian beers particularly trappistes and abbey beers and their own Johannes bier . | In Brabantlaan. has in impreesive display of belgian beer bottles covering much of the walls. In an earlier life was the San Tropez | May 2008 |
| Belgium | Gent | Trollekelder | big selections of Belgian beer. | In St Jacobsplein. The trolls cellar offers classical music and exquisite beer on three separate floors. | May 2008 |
| Belgium | Gent | Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant | No Belgian draught lager (has Bitburger) but impressive selection of Belgian beers | By the canal opposite the Galgenhuis (above). Amusing beer menu, shares a waterside terrace with De Dreupelkot Jenever bar and Chez Lentine Eethuis, and you can use all three, whist sitting at the one table! The house beers are brewed by Van Steenberge | May 2008 |
| Czech Republic | Praha | The Keltic Pub | Staropramen, Keltic Stout and Hoegaarden on draught | In Bethlehem Square. Incredibly cheap beer and food (Goulash 40p). Must be the cheapest draught Hoegaarden (£1 for a half litre) anywhere. | Oct 2001 |
| Czech Republic | Praha | U Krale Jiriho | Pilsener Urquell and Gambrinus | The King George is in LIlova, close to Bethlehem Square. It has good value accomodation plus 3 bars and a jazz club. Avoid the James Joyce pub unless you have money to burn or are desparate for a Guinness. The downstairs beer hall is where the Czechs drink, or there's the small hotel bar on the ground floor | Oct 2001 |
| Czech Republic | Praha | U Medvidku | Budvar, Regent (dark) and Staropramen Beers | The Little Bear is on Na Perstyne, again close to Bethlehem Square. It has accomodation. Excellent beer choice if a little too touristy | Oct 2001 |
| Czech Republic | Praha | U Vejvodu | Pilsener Urquell | This beer hall is between U Medvidku and Bethlehem Square. We frequented the "small" front vaulted hall. But there is a huge music bar with long tables down the corridor if you fancy it! The beer is good and is really cheap. | Oct 2001 |
| France | Beaune | Route 66 | A good range of bottled Belgian and French Ale | Don't let the name or the signs put you off. Its situated in a square in the centre of this wine resort. There are lots of Wine Tasting Caves and an abundance of wine shops. Even the Ibis hotel sells wine by the case. So when you have had your fill of the wine relax with an Orval or a Pelforth Bruin. | Sept 2005 |
| France | Carcassonne (La Citie) | one of the bars in Place Marcou | locally produced abbey style bottle fermented "Trencavel" | Very touristy and only recommended for the beer which was being heavily promoted | Apr 2002 |
| France | Paris | Au Trappiste | Wide range of draught and bottled Belgians | At 4 Rue St Denis. Expensive but excellent place to eat and drink | Oct 2001 |
| France | St Omer | La Brasserie Audomaroise | Only sells beer brewed on the premises. All are on draft and in bottles. In September there was blond, honey, white, rhubarb, and chicory There is no Lager. | At 6-8 Rue Louis Martel, just around the corner of the Queen Vixtoria. Large beer house with downstairs restaurant. The owner/brewer will happily talk about his brewery and offer tasters if you are not sure about the fruit/spiced beers. Try them you will be surprised. And the bottles are available to take away in 3 and 6 packs | Sept 2005 |
| France | St Omer | Queen Victoria | Good range of draught and bottled Belgians(Moortgat and Chimay feature heavily, plus draught Leffe blond) | On the main square. Snacks available, Outside terrace on the square. Gets very very busy late at weekends. If there are several of you with the same choice in draft beer ask for a giraffe (a 2.5 Litre tube with a tap at the bottom) | Sept 2005 |
| Greece | Kardamili | Cafe Bonasto | bottled Erdinger and Irish Guinness | small friendly bar with side patio overlooking the main road from Kalamata to the southern Peleponese. A welcome relief from Greek lager | Aug 2003 |
| Lanzarote | Playa Blanca | Eis Cafe Contin | bottled Erdinger and Schneider Weizenbier, plus Altbier and German lagers | small friendly sea front bar with lots of tables outside ( & a few inside for when its cool) | Nov 2000 |
| Rhodes | Pefkos | Kelari | Breaks my rules - a bottle of Stella and a Metaxa for me | If Yanni sold a beer I realy liked, Kelari would be the perfect evening holiday bar. Its a beer garden (there is no inside), with background music (often 60s-80s), and Yanni makes the settees. On the road down to the beach. | Jun 2002 |
| Rhodes | Rhodes Old Town | Socratous Beer Garden | Franzikaner Weizenbier, Diebels Alt and German Lager | up a well signposted alley on the right going up the main shopping street (at 124 Socratous) is this cool large beer garden at prices well below those in the "little fountain square" and by the harbour! | Jun 2002 |
| Rhodes | Rhodes New Town | The market/shopping area behind the harbour front bars | Belgian and German beers | If you fancy a German or Belgian beer and you are near the harbour go to the shopping area behind the row of bars - some of the bars have seats out the back at prices much lower than out the front!! | Jun 2002 |
| Rhodes | Vlicha Bay | Taverna at the Yota Beach Hotel | German Weizenbier | 5 minute from Lindos by taxi, not far from some posh hotels, and on the huge "Lindos" beach is this small hotel. Excellent Greek lunches too | Jun 2002 |
| Symi | Symi Town | Vapori | bottled Erdinger | just off the harbour front, directors seats outside, english newspapers and decent butties | Jun 2002 |
| Spain | Barcelona | Cafe Opera | large range of Belgian bottled beer plus bottles from Germany and the UK | Near the Opera House on the Ramblas - the tables are in the pedestrianised centre of the road. Excellent spot to relax after dinner (or at any time!!) | Apr 2003 |