BEST bar buys

Happy hour is the best way to get champagne service on a beer budget. Here are some of our favorites from around the world. If you have a favourite happy hour hot spot email us at editor@idontdohostels.com 

The YARDBIRD, Birmingham myspace.com/TheYardBirdBirmingham

Situated in Paradise Place, this club lives up to its location for any IDDH flashpacker. A quirky, off-beat venue, this dimly lit, vibrant, atmospheric venue offers everything one could possibly want. A hotspot with everyone, business types, after work drinkers and the more individual sorts, this jazz bar doesn’t disappoint. With live jazz, salsa, funk, Latin and soul music played from up and coming bands, or being spun by live DJs, you are guaranteed groovy and sophisticated beats. If you fancy a quick bite and a cheap bar beverage, they have a delicious and affordable menu, a Happy Hour and free entry to their main night on Saturdays. This little, funky jazz club packs its punch. With no over picky dress-codes, grumpy bouncers or even an ounce of pretension to contend with; just friendly faces, quality music, and food and drink at very reasonable prices - it really is paradise. FIONA MCCOSS

The Stage, Paradise Place, Birmingham B3 3HJ

CLARET HOUSE Wine BAR,
Brisbane AUS ClaretHouse.com.au

Like the name suggests this bar ‘takes an obsessive delight in house wine’. Tucked away in Teneriffe it is a stylish, cosy and relaxed atmosphere. There is a deck to sit out on a watch the world go by, or you can sit inside and admire the cool and bizarre antique chairs hanging from the ceiling. This hidden secret is a hit with students, City Suits and sophistiqués alike. On the weekend, Claret House hosts two fun events in which you can indulge the flashpacker in you. On Saturdays they hold a fun and interactive wine master class for $30 AUD p/person where you and a group of friends can sample 6 exquisite wines from Australia, New Zealand and around the world, whilst nibbling on delicious complimentary canapés. And if you fancy something off the barbie, in true Aussie style, you can book a table at the deck for just $25 and pick anything off their gourmet grill menu, which runs every Sunday, and is very popular with the locals. Book now, tables are going fast! Call +11 61 73257 0402 to reserve a spot at the wine tasting, and +11 61 73257 0402 to book your place at the BBQ. FIONA MCCOSS

Shop 5, London Woolstores, 36 Vernon Terrace, Teneriffe 4006.

Boutique BAR, LeedsBoutique-leeds.co.uk

In a perfect blend of innovation, atmosphere and prudent-prices the Boutique Bar has all the right ingredients to make it a great night whether it’s drinking, dancing or simply relaxing. Located in the heart of Leeds city centre, this award winning bar has promptly become the hot spot since opening its doors in 2005. A restored townhouse, with its overcast beam ceilings, exposed brick walls, candlelit tables and lush crimson leather seats invite a sleek sexy ambiance to this dual floor space. From ‘pornstar’ style martinis to the ‘hick sips’ of moonshine cocktails, Boutique serves up an inventive cocktail menu so extensive it’ll make you dizzy before you order that first drink! But if you’re in a fix with your cocktail picks, just order the special of the month at just $3.50. The current featured drink is the ‘Silence of the Lambs,’ an exclusive elixir of Lambs Spiced Rum, Cointreau, pomegranate juice and apple juice. So if you want to fill up on flavor and flamboyance at Boutique, leave your inhibitions at the door and stop in on their ‘Orange Wednesdays’ where you can buy one cocktail and get one free from 5pm till late. KATELYN FRICK

11-15 Hirsts Yard, Briggate, Leeds. P: 0113 245 6595

Graphic BAR, London GraphicBar.co.uk

Ever tried to pick a bar in London’s Soho district? The process can be harrowing, especially when every exterior looks chic and high-end until one enters the dingy and badly-lit interior. Fret no more, because Graphic Bar in Soho, London actually is what it seems. Boasting more than 40 different cocktail creations, including the intriguing flaming rum grog, an extensive wine list, and a tapas menu with mouthwatering bites like manchego cheese and quince wrapped in serrano ham and herb-crusted salmon skewers with roast garlic aioli, you’ll want to sit down and stay awhile. With happy hour most nights from 5 to 7, getting comfortable is no problem. Buttery brown leather couches and unique cluster-lamp lighting, along with sporadically placed bunches of exotic flowers and shining, white tables emphasize the simple, calming atmosphere of this hip new outpost of Soho’s nightlife scene. Graphic nights await you. JENNIFER CHRISTOPHER

4 Golden Square, London W1F 9HT. P: (0207) 287-9241.

The CAPITOL CLUB, SeattleTheCapitolClub.net

Though having changed owners since its initial opening, the Capitol Club has never lost its class. The plush booths and candle-lit tables truly live up to the laid-back vibe that the West Coast is known for, and the wine-colored walls up the level of sophistication. Offering weekday Happy Hours from 5-8pm and all day Sunday, the club boasts $3 draft beers, $3 well drink, and $5-and-up appetizers. Wednesdays are even nicer, with all bottled wines marked at half off their original price. If you're in the mood for tapas, you've definitely come to the right place. Capitol Club has both a warm and cold tapas menu in the $10 range; for larger parties, the Meze Platter includes nine different Mediterranean delights for just $17. As for entertainment, the club has fun events like Monday Night Trivia, live flamenco, and live performances by local artists. This is definitely the place to go if you're in for a fun and easy dining experience in the Emerald City. STEPHANIE TROTT

414 East Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98122   P: (206) 325-2149

LIMA, Washington D.C. LimaRestaurant.com

Kick up your heels and spice things up at LIMA! Boasting a prime location on the East End, LIMA makes its presence known with flashing lights and pulsing beats spilling from this three level restaurant, lounge and dance club all night long. From salsa lessons on Monday to special guest DJs on Saturday, LIMA always buzzes with a posh Latin-infused vibe. A place where style and sophistication is paramount, the dim lights, sleek modern furnishings, and red hues of this club serve to set the mood for what is sure to be an unforgettable night. You can experience all this for much less than the price of a typical high-end nightclub. LIMA’s philosophy is to never charge cover at the door, ever. Stop in for happy hour from 4-9pm and enjoy reduced price drinks while enjoying live music on the patio, or come for the open bar and complementary hors d’oevres in the lounge from 5-6pm. So whether you come to lay back and relax on the patio, mingle at the bar or let loose on the dance floor, the lounge at LIMA is sure to light up your night. MEGAN KNAPP

1401 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 P: (202) 789-2800

163 NE 39^th Street, Miami, FL 33137. P: (305) 572-1400.