fbpx
Menu

Pubs Breweries and Bars

Pubs Breweries and Bars, Pubs Breweries and Bars
Pubs Breweries and Bars, Pubs Breweries and Bars
Northern Ireland

“I need the anesthetic qualities of the local fire water.”

anthony bourdain

Those who have enjoyed watching the American hit sitcom Cheers will remember the opening theme song, “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” by Gary Portnoy. It speaks to what draws people to these establishments and the communities they form. We aren’t speaking of nightclubs or tourist-based party bars; we are talking about small personal places that bring locals to a neutral equalitarian territory to form social bonds. Where people gather to talk to others, find companionship, speak about their community, play games, and discuss world news. They do this over a drink and some food. It serves an important social function, a community center of sorts, where people can relax and let go of their day.

Pubs Breweries and Bars, Pubs Breweries and Bars

Our Pubs, Breweries, and Bars’ Discoveries

This page is dedicated to Pubs, Breweries, and Bars we have discovered during our travels overseas and in the US. Let us define a bit what each is known to mean.

Pubs Breweries and Bars, Pubs Breweries and Bars
Florence, Italy
  1. A Pub originates from the word Public house. For example, in many English pubs, most consumers will be people from the neighborhood, the village, or the parish, who gather around the bar or table. Pubs are often associated with beer, but in most cases, most alcoholic beverages may be available, though, on rare occasions, we have come across some that don’t serve wine. Pubs are usually known to serve food, and the gastropub cuisine world has taken a life of its own. Both great drinks and great food can be enjoyed at a Pub.
  2. A Brewery is a business that makes and sells beer. They have become trendy worldwide in recent years with the explosion of the microbrewery market. Many Breweries now have tasting rooms allowing guests to sample their products and grab food when gathering with friends. As these Breweries draw many people in, you will discover many expanding beyond beer making to Ciders, Meads, and even Wine.
  3. A Bar, also known as a saloon, tavern, tippling house, or pub, is a retail business that serves alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine, liquor, cocktails, and other beverages. The term “bar” refers to the countertop where drinks are prepared and served, then refers to the overall premises. They can be small places that draw in mostly locals or larger-scale nightclubs. They can vary from pretty bare bones to incredibly elegant.

Ireland was a great place to start

Pubs Breweries and Bars, Pubs Breweries and Bars
The Crown Liquor Saloon Belfast, Northern Ireland

We first became drawn to local pubs in small historical villages during a trip to Ireland. Places off the beaten path, and the simpler, the better. The atmosphere captivated us; watching the locals interact and share stories were heartwarming. If you enjoy people-watching, it is a great venue to do so. But we soon discovered how welcoming and warm they were to these strangers in their world. Maybe they don’t need to know your name.

It often started with the bartender, who always loved to suggest local brews with a bit of story along with them. They genuinely seemed interested in where we were from and how we were enjoying the area. Next thing you know….they ask your name and introduce themselves. As they conversed with us, others began to join in. We met some lovely and kind people during these encounters along the way. More importantly, we came to know the real people of the community, away from tourist spots and hotels. It has become a tradition we do everywhere we travel.

There were even times when local musicians played, as occurred in the small port town of Westport, Ireland. Being part of their world was so personal and intimate that evening. We were worried we would feel like an intruder and not welcome. But that never occurred; it was the opposite. Over time, we have observed that we rarely see anyone inebriated in the places we go to in Europe. People seem respectful and considerate of others. This is their community; they may not want to be the talk of the town the next day. Ultimately, it seems all have fun, and isn’t that what matters?

Loving an excellent dark beer doesn’t hurt

Pubs Breweries and Bars, Pubs Breweries and Bars
Croatia Beer Zagreb

We undoubtedly, enjoy a cold draft beer, especially of a darker variety. We make a point of asking what is local and what they recommend. We take what they suggest if they don’t have a local dark brew. We tasted some fantastic beer, and then there was the Budweiser type, yuck!

Some of the food we have ordered in these establishments has been amazing. A food truck on-site is trendy in the US, which likely keeps the quality high because if it gets customers’ complaints, a new truck can easily replace it. In Europe and the UK, we have not observed food trucks yet. We have, though, enjoyed some incredible food along the way. It is often fresh and homemade. In one pub in a small town in England, the kitchen was already closed, and we were starving, which must have been obvious. The bartender offered to make us some simple sandwiches; wow, they were delicious. Back to that kindness and welcome we do adore.

We aren’t leaving out our Homebase

Pubs Breweries and Bars, Pubs Breweries and Bars
Cooperstown NY

In each of our respective areas of the country in the US, we seek out pubs, breweries, and bars when we travel for business or vacation. The experience is a bit different. We have found the bartenders and servers are warm and welcoming. They love when you are interested in their products and are a wealth of information. The sense of community and friendliness of the other customers we see in Europe is rarely there. It is still worth trying the delicious brews and checking out each brewery’s unique atmosphere and decor.

Come back often and check out how our list grows.

Pubs Breweries and Bars, Pubs Breweries and Bars
Ostrich Bar in Slough England

We have collected quite a list over the years, and it will take a bit to catch up. The focus will be on the fun and unique Pubs, Breweries, and Bars we have encountered during our travels at home and abroad. Places that exude charm and character while representing the residents. Some of you may have heard of some on our list; some may be centuries-old, innovative, entertaining concepts, or simply off-the-beaten-path tiny places. If we list it, we believe it is worth visiting if you are in the area.

Do you have suggestions and pictures of some of your travelers’ favorite Pubs, Breweries, and bars? Please share below in the comment section. It could be where we are heading next, and we would love to share it on the blog after.

© 2024 Wanderers Compass All Rights Reserved

Featuring Our Favorite Pubs, Breweries, and Bars

Featuring Our Favorite Pubs, Breweries, and Bars

Our Top Recommended Travel Products and Services

Travel Insurance

Squaremouth.com
Our favorite travel insurance site!

We could not be stronger advocates of being well-insured—not just for the little stuff but for the big things like medical emergencies. We never leave home without it. Our go-to place is Squaremouth.com. It does a fantastic job with its user-friendly interface and uses top-rated and reputable insurance carriers. They also mediate on your behalf if you have problems.

To empower you as a consumer, we suggest you read our blog post on the importance of travel insurance and how to get the best coverage from top-rated companies for an affordable price.

buy now
MedjetAssist
Medical transport back home from anywhere in the world

They are the premier global air medical transport. One caveat to travel insurance is that medical evacuation usually gets you to the closest facility to care for you. Medjet gets you back to the U.S. to the hospital of your choice once you are stable enough to fly. A Medjet membership is only for medical transport. Medjet Horizon offers expanded coverage. They have individual trip policies starting at $99 and annual policies for around $300. Most of their policies limit the age to 74.

To learn more about how Medical Evacuation membership with Medjet Assist works, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.  

Buy now

Accommodations and Airfare

Expedia and VRBO
Hotels, home rentals, BNBs, flights, and other transportation & tours 

Expedia is a US-based company whose mission is to power global travel for everyone and everywhere. Wanderers Compass focuses on independent travel, and using sites like Expedia makes that possible. Every aspect of travel you need, from airfare, accommodations, rental car, and cruises to activities to do at your destination, can be booked on Expedia.  

Book now
Booking.com
Hotels, Home rentals, BNBs, Flights, and other Transportation & Tours 

Booking.com connects millions of travelers to memorable experiences, various transportation options, and incredible places to stay – from homes to hotels and much more. It is one of the world’s largest travel marketplaces for established brands and entrepreneurs of all sizes. It is our preferred booking site.

Book now

Transportation

Daytrip
Personalized city-to-city private car transfer service

Daytrip is an affordable private car service for city-to-city transfers around the world. We love their service, and it costs much less than renting a car. You can enjoy comfortable, stress-free travel with the added bonus of scenic sightseeing stops along your journey. For example, we used them between Budapest and Vienna, making some fantastic stops along the way. Their professional drivers and customizable routes ensure a smooth ride while allowing you to explore hidden gems and local attractions.

To learn more about how Daytrip, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.  

Book now

Travel Experiences

Viator
The leading marketplace for travel experiences

Viator believes that making memories is what travel is all about. And with 300,000+ experiences to explore—everything from simple tours to extreme adventures (and all the niche, interesting stuff in between)—making memories that will last a lifetime has never been easier. We use them often during our travels and love their liberal cancellation policy.

Explore now

Communication products for seamless connectivity overseas

GigSky International eSIM Data Plans
Local Prices. No Roaming. Fastest Networks.


GigSky eSIM keeps travelers seamlessly connected worldwide without the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards or facing unexpected roaming charges. With affordable data plans and instant activation, you can enjoy reliable internet access in over 190 countries, making travel more convenient than ever. They have a great offer, a 100 MB data plan for free, and no credit card is required. They are that confident you will love their product!

Enjoy 10% off all GigSky Plans (except cruise and inflight) with our discount code WCOMPASS10

To learn more about how GigSky, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.

SHOP NOW

Shopping

Wanderers Compass Amazon Storefront
An excellent source for all travel essentials and guides

Amazon is one of the most comprehensive online shopping sources in the world. Teams worldwide provide lower prices, better selection, and rapid delivery on behalf of customers. They offer a vast inventory, and their 1.7 million small and medium businesses worldwide selling on Amazon.com offer extensive options to customers.

Shop now

This article contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Passionate about travel? Subscribe to our Wanderers Compass Community

Our quarterly newsletters will inspire your wanderlust

Check out our most recent blog posts

Do you have a question for us or have a comment?

Contact us

Passionate about travel? Subscribe to our Wanderers Compass Community

Our quarterly newsletters will inspire your wanderlust

Want to learn about Wanderers Compass?

Click Here
Pubs Breweries and Bars

IMG 8134 scaled

Passionate about travel? Subscribe to our Wanderers Compass Community

Our quarterly newsletters will inspire your wanderlust

No spam, unsubscribe at any time, no more than one email a month