BarChick loves nothing more than a boozy weekend break, naturally. When you’ve only 48 hours it’s go BIG or go home so if you’re thinking of boarding a plane, or hopping on a train, here are the cities you should be hitting up and why.
Berlin
Europe’s party capital is the place to hit it hard, and we’re talking all night long (trust us – this city doesn’t sleep). Come 5am, if you’re not standing on a bar in a packed-out after hours haunt then you’ve failed Berlin, and yourself. Whatever your thing, you’ll find it in this city; wild west saloon bar Stagger Lee is waiting to slide you a bourbon down the bar and the burlesque dancers at Prinzipal Kreuzberg are playing with their nipple tassels in anticipation. If you’re all over clubbing and chemicals then f*ck it, you could even try your luck with Sven at ‘the world’s hardest to get into club’ – Berghain. Just say BarChick sent you. Hit up east side’s Kreuzberg district for laid-back cafés, vintage shops and total German hipsterdom by day, and smoky all-night party bars post-midnight. If swanky buildings, ridiculously good cocktails and bit of a culture fix (just don’t mention the war) are your thing, stick central and go out west. Whatever you do, it’s going to be epic.
Don’t go home without:
Trying a pork belly infused Dirty BBQ Manhattan at Stagger Lee, it’s wild baby.
Liverpool
Take everything you’ve heard about scousers and multiply it by a million, this bunch are bloody fabulous. With a decent claim to being the UK’s second city, Liverpool has it all: culture, docks, hotels, Michelin stars, old rockers and more mezcal than most parts of the capital. Find speakeasies, live music venues, dive bars and the sort of techno raves people boast about in Ibiza. If you’re looking for banter, you’ll more than find it here. Don’t even think about taking a coat out clubbing with you, you’ll look like you’re off to the arctic compared to the thick skins that tip-toe on stilts between bars here. When it comes to dress codes, choose from one of two looks – skinnies, something retro and a handful of tattoos your mum doesn’t know about or skyscraper heels, a bodycon and a curly blow. Go home with an accent, a fake tan, a jumbo serving of humble pie and a stable to keep your high horse in if you’ve ever turned your nose up at this city.
Don’t go home without:
A dirty-ass hotdog and a Salt Dog Millionaire with rum and marshmallows at Salt Dog Slims.
Paris
When the Eurostar takes you from London to the heart of Paris in two hours, and allows you to get p*ssed on that 20 pack of G&Ts that are in your case en route, the Parisian party gets started from the get go. In the land of swanky bistros, too many cigarettes and high fashion, there is always something fabulous happening. If Chanel window shopping and Eiffel Tower views to make even Carrie jealous ain’t your thing, no biggie, Paris has it all. For a taste of low-key Parisian life head to BarChick’s fave area Canal St Martin; this canal is alive with pavement-side bars, chilled out coffee shops, art spaces and mega party venues. Here to party all night? Pop over to Bastille in the 11th arrondissement where maze-like streets are filled with Brooklyn-esque bars and hidden clubs. If you like it down-right-dirty pop up to Pigalle, where amidst all the sex shops you’ll spot the pretties gathering to party until the wee hours in epic bars like Glass. Hangovers so aren’t chic so pop on big shades and walk it off with a stroll along the Seine where you can casually take in most of the city’s epic landmarks. And why not stop for un petit glass of vino? Poils du chien, dah-ling.
Don’t go home without:
Bar hopping between Dirty Dickand Glass and dancing till 5am.
Barcelona
When they say the Spanish start late and don’t stop until dawn, they sure as hell mean it, so powernap through those siestas and get ready to dance until sunrise. Barcelona is dreamy for a weekend break as everything is central. The Raval area is filled with hot skaters, vintage shops and bar terraces to soak up the rays. Fancy upping your game? El Borne is swankier with boutiques, tapas bars and ice-cream shops to get your gelato on. Thought it couldn’t get any better? There’s only a mother freakin’ beach! You’ll come home with a tan and last night’s hangover will be cured before you finish applying sunscreen (you know you need to wear it, people). Stay long and late drinking Sangria on the sand and head back into town to spruce up, channel that beach wave look and hit it hard; just ask a local where the party is at.
Don’t go home without:
Having Catalan experience; sunset vibes and dirt cheap wine at La Xampaneria.
Prague
At last, it’s good riddance to the lads and their stag-dos, and Prague is getting a chance to shine. There’s some mega history in there – so first tick off the castle and Charles Bridge and then it’s time to see how these guys do it. Czechs know their way around a night out and if you’re into hops you’re in luck as this is the number one beer drinking nation on the planet! It’s all about drinking like the locals do (basically drinking all day). In winter, you’re a nobody if you haven’t got a cup of svarak (that’s hot wine to you & me) in your hand. When things hot up it’s about daytime drinking at one of the riverside bars that pop up out of nowhere, and as it gets dark moving onto a swanky cocktail bar. Prague really knows how to do cocktails, so go all classic, Ernest Hemingway style, and get your absinthe on at Hemingway Bar. If you dig masks (we won’t tell) you’ll love Anonymous Bar where the barman haven’t seemed to move on from V for Vendetta days; sure they might creep you out but they’ll also booze you up in style. Closing time is late, or non-existent and there's ALWAYS a party to find. Oh and the only thing the Czechs love more than their pilsners and local wines is rum so get ready for a strong one!
Don’t go home without:
Going all local and trying A Beton, the locals’ favourite digestive Becherovka and tonic, at Black Angels Bar.
Amsterdam
It’s obligatory for any self-respecting party person to earn their stripes in the cafés of Amsterdam; smoking weed just cos it’s legal, eating magic mushrooms the size of your head and trying not to fall in the canal (really, don’t do it). But, there’s so much more to this city; museums, tulips and Rembrandt aside, when it comes to boozing they’re in the middle of some kinda cocktail boom with speakeasies like Hiding in Plain Sight, Door 74 and The Butcher ruling the roost. Rave it up in the hipster east at Trouw (they’ve even got a cocktail pop-up inside the venue) or take a short ferry ride to Noord - the Brooklyn of Amsterdam – for the edgiest restaurants and, come summer, an urban beach. Even the Red Light District is having a facelift, though hopefully it won’t get too cleaned up – we like a bit of gritty inner city, too. Toot, toot.
Don’t go home without:
Drinking some hardcore jenever and a local brew in the city's ancient brown cafés. We like Café Pieper or Café T'Smalle best.
Copenhagen
Firstly, this is known as ‘the happiest city in the world’ so get smiling. That smile might fall of your face when you see the hefty price-tag on the drinks but don’t let that put you off, just hit up the smoky bodegas if you're on a budget or blag a hot rich Dane, there’re plenty about. This city just works; the water in the harbour is so clean you can take a dip, they have two-way bike lanes so you can get your cycle on, and it boasts the best restaurants in the world (fact; the highest number of Michelin stars). Sure it used to have a rep for being a bit conformist, but that’s just an excuse to break some rules! Find yourself in a party after hours at Zefside or Vice's Bakken and you’ll soon be on track or head to the Red Light District Vesterbro, this hipster heartland is littered with naughty bars. If you’re in to ‘up-and-coming’ your hood is Norrebro – laidback and multicultural, it’s packed with independent shopping and antiques markets. Love the hippy vibe? Who doesn’t. Spend an afternoon in hippy freetown Christiania, which has declared itself autonomous from Danish law – it’s Copenhagen’s take on a Berlin squat.
Don’t go home without:
Dancing on the bar top at The Union.
Rome
As if you need an excuse for a trip to the Italian capital. But if you really do; WINE and CARBS. Exactly. The city’s lavish nightlife comes complete with an equally extravagant crowd, but this Eternal City is not just for bigwigs and politicians. Trastevere changed the scene a couple of years back and word got out that Rome got cool. So if you’re looking to do an Italian, sorry do it like an Italian, bypass ever-popular Trastevere in favour of the locals’ favourite Monti or up-and-coming Ostiense to mingle with the rags to riches Hoxton types. Feeling particularly youthful? Join the students with a six-pack and trek up to the top of Gianicolo for unbeatable views of the city. Drinking here is all about standing in the street and getting social, and we’re not talking the kind you see on Geordie Shore. Forget Pimm’s-o-clock, it’s all about appertivo hour in Rome which those Italians ideally seem to eek out for about four hours, but why wouldn’t you when it’s this good? Forget a measly olive in your drink, here you basically get a free meal of mega bar snacks alongside that aperitif. Bellissimo baby. Take a turn down the right street and you’ll find yourself enjoying an Aperol Spritz or a cold beer in a crowded piazza, or tucked away in one of Rome’s more discreet establishments. Wherever you are one thing’s for sure; a decent pizza and glass of wine are never far away. When in Rome… and all that.
Don’t go home without:
Getting in cheap beers at Bar San Calisto in Trastevere.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.