TWO POPULAR Irish bars have been named among the 50 best dive bars on offer across Europe.
A colloquial term first coined in America, dive bars are famous for their disreputable nature, moody lighting and distinctive down-and-out look.
Appearances can be deceptive, of course, with dive bars known for their rarefied atmosphere and a back-to-basics feel that appeals to many in this age of generic pub chains and overly-sanitised drinking establishments.
Playboy famously defined dive bars as “a church for down-and-outers and those who romanticise them, a rare place where high and low rub elbows—bums and poets, thieves and slumming celebrities. It’s a place that wears its history proudly.”
There’s a distinct different between a good dive bar and a dump, of course, which is where Big 7 Travel’s list of Europe's 50 Best Dive Bars comes in.
They have trawled through the continents best and worst dive bars to bring you the definitive list of the very best.
Based on a combination of online reviews and expert ratings, these are the crème de la crème – and two Irish establishments have made the cut.
Bruxelles on Harry’s Street in Dublin is the first to feature, coming in at number 30.
Delighted to have #TheWeeknd in #Bruxelles today. Lovely man and we hope you have an amazing time @longitudefest pic.twitter.com/HE2TOPXaKS
— BruxellesHarrySt (@BruxellesBars) July 14, 2017
“Bruxelles Bar played such a huge part in the birth of the Irish music scene and is still a classic spot to come to for live music,” Big 7 Travel says.
“Upstairs has a casual terrace while the downstairs basement is where you can really rock out – be sure to try their Jack Daniels and Coke Slushies.”
Riot Bar in Temple Bar, Dublin, meanwhile, makes the top 10, earning plenty of praise in the process.
“Right on the Quays in the city centre, you’ll find this Dublin-meets-Berlin dive bar where retro cocktails, heaps of neon signage, pool and beer pong combine to create one of the city’s best bars,” Big 7 Travel wrote.
“This is a classic dive bar with a premium twist.”
Warsaw’s Pijana Wisnia in Poland tops the list, ahead of Who Hit John in Vilnius, Lithuania with QP Pub in Bucharest, Romania ranked third.
The Dolpin in London came in fourth with Two Schmucks in Barcelona, Spain completing the top five.
The full list can be viewed here.
