From ice palaces to coffins, these eccentric bars and clubs make a night out while travelling something you’ll be talking about for years:
1. You won’t know which way is up at Madame Claude in Berlin, Germany — even before you start drinking! Located in a former brothel in the city’s Kreuzberg district (and named after the infamous brothel keeper with a high-profile client list, Madame Claude), its ceiling has been decorated as if it were the floor, with suspended chairs and tables.
2. Ice, ice, baby. Bundle up and have a drink in the bar of Quebec City’s ice hotel — from a glass made of frozen water, of course! This Canadian winter wonderland is rebuilt from scratch each year, brick by snowy brick. It’s open from January to March, with frigid spas and saunas, and a gigantic ice slide.
3. In Sacramento, California, one club has taken the term “dive bar” to a whole new level. Sip your cocktail and marvel at real-life mermaids swimming overhead, alongside tropical fish at Dive Bar — the place is essentially one long aquarium and a must-visit if you’re the Golden State!
4. Closer to home, we’ve got a world-famous watering hole in Modjadjiskloof, Limpopo. Close your eyes and venture into The Big Baobab — a 1,700-year-old tree with a hollow trunk, large enough that it once reportedly accommodated about 60 birthday celebrators! With its own wine cellar, this pub is definitely one of the most unique ways to do post-work drinks.
5. This next bar is unfortunately now closed, but it shows the lengths owners will go to showcase their brand identity! Run by undertakers, Eternity Bar in Truskavets, Ukraine bar held a global record as “the world’s largest coffin” (20m long, 6m wide and 6m high) with a funeral-themed interior to match, including wreaths, sparse candlelight and caskets.
6. Burn those beer calories in cities like Berlin, Munich, Amsterdam, Riga and Bratislava, on board a so-called beer bike. This unconventional ride features a middle bar and pedal power for up to eight people — so you can drink and see the sights in one go.
7. We don’t know how the uncanny marriage of La Lucha Libre in Paris came to be! The French bar gets its name from a form of Mexican free fighting famous for its coloured masks and even includes its own sparring ring for customers…but then there’s the bar snacks: grilled insects. We guess they’re a good source of protein?
8. Everyone’s in trouble at the Lockup Shibuya bar in Tokyo, Japan. The outlandish concept behind this prison-themed bar means waiters are dressed as inmates and tables are locked away behind bars. What could be more unusual?
9. It’s hard not to eavesdrop at Club 28 in Rotherham, England currently the world’s smallest “bar”, according to the Guinness Book of World Records — even though there’s no space for a bar. Measuring 0.9m x 1.5m x 2.1m, the club’s dance floor can hold three people (keep your wild moves to a minimum, please) and a dangerously-low hanging disco ball.
10. Live on the edge — in the middle of the ocean — on board the new Celebrity Edge cruise ship. Its first-of-a-kind design features a cantilevered “Magic Carpet” that soars 13 storeys above the sea with 29 world-class restaurants, bars, and lounges.
The floating platform changes mood, function and location as the cruise progresses and often features live music performances.
Want to experience it for yourself? There are 10-night Western Mediterranean sailings, 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailings, or 7-night Western Caribbean sailings to chose from (as well as 7-night trips to Spain, France and Italy). Contact Sure Travel’s expert agents to enquire or book with Cruises International, or call +27 (0)861 47 48 49 for a quote.
