Cocktail Bars are a funny animal. They definitely are not a pub, or corner bar, or wine bar; however, they are also not always a hotel bar, even though some hotel bars are famous for their signature cocktails. They are often dark and subdued -- velvet, leather couches, antiques, and mirrors are frequently involved in the decor. Many people see them as off-putting or pretentious; but venture inside and they are usually quite welcoming and eager to share their knowledge of mixology, food, travel, and everything in between. In the United States they often mimic speakeasies from the 1920s, or Don Draper's hangouts from the 1950s. In Europe they can vary as much as Europe itself.
All of which is a long way of asking: What are some of your favorite cocktail bars in Europe. Bonus points for suggestions in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, and Holland -- the short list for immediate travel. I'll go first with a few recent memories:
- Milk & Honey, Kontanz, Germany
- Moonlight Experimental Bar, Zaragoza, Spain
- LINO'S Bar, Heidelberg, Germany
- Viva Madrid, Madrid