Cantys was the other pub we ventured into earlier tonight. You will find this bar on Pembroke street next to Barrys photographers. It is a very modern and comfortable bar. It is long and narrow at the front section and there are some very comfortable seating areas down near the back of the pub. The first thing that caught my eye is the big television that sits next to the bar. It would be great place to watch a live match. I ordered a 7up and a red wine for Jen. The barman was very polite and when i couldn’t decide which red wine, he gave me his best! I have to say that i was pleasantly suprised at this pub. It is a very cosy spot to enjoy a drink. There wasn’t that many people in the pub tonight but i would say it can get very busy here.
You have to climb the stairs to get to their toilets. The gents is small but was in good order. The bar man was setting the tables for food tomorrow. I was happy that we stopped off at this pub. Check it out for yourself.
Toilet rating: 7.5/10
Overall rating: 7.5/10
Final comment: Cantys is a fine city center pub that is most comfortable.
Strolling through Cork city tonight and we decided to check out a couple of pubs. The Long Valley is a pub on Wintrop street bang in the center of the city. I noticed a snug area that looks very appealing just inside the door. I ordered a Murphy’s at the bar and the guy pulled it and then disappeared for about 5 minutes. He came back and apologised for the wait. I got chatting to a guy by the bar who had some interesting tales to tell. We sat just across from the bar and took in our surroundings. Their clientele was very mixed with both younger and older people relaxing. I have read in many places that this pub has the best sandwiches in Cork city. I didn’t get to try one but thats what they say. I noticed two plasma tv screens that varied in size. The pint was very enjoyable and a good one. Jen commented that this is a pub you could most certainly come into on your own and no body would bat an eye lid.
You could view the toilets in a couple of ways. The gents are half indoor and half out door. There are two urinals and one cubicle. They aren’t the cleanest but they reminded me of an old cork before modern toilet facilities. The decor of the pub is dated and you feel as if you are out in a country area. I would head back as i enjoyed the visit and can recommend the pub. John Spillane, acclaimed Cork folk star has been known to enjoy a sandwich in the bar!
Toilet rating: 7/10
Pint rating: 8/10
Overall rating: 8/10
Final comment: The Long Valley enjoys a very central location and has a lot to offer any Corkonian in need of a pint and a good sandwich.
This is a pub that i have always wanted to visit and did so on the way back from Mallow the other night. There is a sign on the new Mallow road for this pub and that’s how i found out about it. The Log Cabin Pub is on the old Mallow road and has quite an isolated location. There is a good sized car park outside. It is advertised as a sports bar. There is a function room available off the main pub area. It is a very impressive pub. The lady serving behind the bar was very polite and told me that the pub is up for sale at present. It is a very cosy place to have a few drinks. I was driving on the night but we liked the place so much we stayed for two drinks. There was a few people scattered around enjoying a few drinks. I was told that this pub gets a lot of business from college mystery tours. There was a big tv near where we were sitting and there was an arcade machine in the other section of the pub.
The toilets were clean and looked like they were recently modenised. They serve an all day breakfast which sounds good. This pub is most certainly worth a visit. It is a bit out of the way but has a lot to offer. We found it to be comfortable and relaxing and very welcoming which is important.
Toilet rating: 7.5/10
Overall rating: 8/10
Final comment: I wouldn’t mind heading to The Log Cabin for a few pints of Murphy’s and hopefully will in the future.
Dunes Bar and Bistro enjoys a idyllic setting facing Inchydoney beach in west Cork. We went in for a drink recently. The bar has big windows and commands fantastic views over the beach and ocean. The bar was relatively quiet and i ordered my drinks at the bar and the bar said that he would drop them over, good service. I was driving so i had a 7up and Jen had a glass of red wine. It is a big hotel bar with some interesting seating areas. It is an upmarket hotel and this is also the case with the bar. It is a fine place to sit and enjoy one or two drinks.
The toilets are what you’d expect from a good hotel. They were very well maintained and a good size. As i said it is a grand spot for a couple of drinks but i wouldn’t fancy being here for much more than that. Heading here for a bite to eat is always an option.
Toilet rating: 7.5/10
Overall rating: 7/10
Final comment: Dunes Pub and Bistro is worth a visit even if its just for the stunning views.
A west Cork spin led us to Ted Amber’s bar and restaurant in Bandon, Co Cork. We decided to stop off here for a bite of lunch. A person i work with told me that both the bar and restaurant provide very enjoyable food. We decided on the bar for lunch. There is ample parking available in the car park at the front. We took a seat inside the bar and checked out their menu and specials board. It looked very appetising indeed! I opted for the lasagne with salad and chips and Jen decided on the turkey and ham dinner. We both had minerals and water with our meal. The prices are very reasonable and the food was enjoyable. The bar itself is modern and is a small enough size. It was busy with plenty others eating out.
The toilets were fine when i checked them. There is one cubicle available and it is bigger than you would normally expect to find. The restaurant is located at the back at the bar. Ted Amber’s is just off the Bandon bypass and it is convenient for passing traffic. I would head back for food again.
Toilet rating: 7.5/10
Food rating: 8/10
Overall rating: 7.5/10
Final comment: Ted Amber’s is worth checking out. Bandon has an abundance of pubs and we have to get down there to check some of them out.
Welcome to the …… You know the rest! If you did not know it before Paris is home to its very own Hotel California. Another hotel on Rue De Berri, we were passing on our way back to our hotel and heard a very decent live band playing so we decided to head in for a look. Take into account this is a four star hotel and i was dressed in a tracksuit. Normally this is a bad combination so i was waiting for them to ask me to leave but they didn’t. The bar is very comfortable and ultra modern but was practically empty when we headed in. Perhaps this is why i was left remain on the premesis. The bar man was very polite if not a bit strange. He brought our drinks over to the table for us and we did not have to settle our bill until we were leaving. I was drinking bottles of Kronenburg beer and they were nice. The band were excellent and did attract more of a crowd as the night went on. It was an extremely chilled out place.
The toilet in the bar was a male/female one. It just consisted of the one cubicle and a a freshening up area. After you washed your hands you used these disposable hand towels to dry them. Seems an awful waste as some pubs i know can go 10-20 years with the same oul towel! A very enjoyable evenings entertainment that was unfortunately not repeated. Bar Le Rouge Marine is a class bar.
Toilet rating: 7/10, Drink rating: 7.5/10, Overall rating: 8/10
Final Comment: A very enjoyable and relaxing visit overall. The band made the whole night. There is a big model ship hanging from the ceiling which is a nice feature.
An English pub was the next one visited on our Paris adventure. The Freedom is very near the Champs Elysees on Rue de Berri. This is the same street as our hotel. We inhabbited this pub twice on our holiday. The first night we went in i ordered a pint of Carlsberg and i saw that they sold Beamish Red so i ordered a pint of that. The second pint was very creamy but i didn’t fancy trying it again. The price for the drink came to about 7 euro. Jen’s wine was more reasonable at about 5 euro to 5 euro 50. I have been in a few pubs in England and their decor has been similar to this pub. There are plenty seating areas and the lighting is low. There is a pool table in an area at the back of the pub. We were charged 3 euro each on our second visit and it was so busy and full of smoke that we left after one drink.
The toilets are down a stairs and they weren’t too bad to be fair. There was a dj playing music and overall this pub wasn’t too bad. To be honest about it, the smoking ban is the best thing to happen in this country when you consider the health benefits and the fact that you can wear the same clothes the following day. It’l be a long time before France considers it though.
Toilet rating: 6/10, Pint rating: 6/10, Overall rating: 6/10
Final comment: The Freedom also know as Mayday Inns is not a place i really enjoyed all that much but it was convenient.
A place that we went into twice during our trip was Week End Cafe. This is a small cafe/bar on a street off the Champs Elysees. A pint of beer will cost you around 7 euro to 7 euro 50 and this place was no exception. On our first visit i had a pint of Belgian beer and a few pancakes to go with it! The one thing i noticed on this visit was that the tables at the front are extremely close together. One of the bar men has this plastic club that he bangs up and down the bar counter every so often. The next night we went in we sat further up in and ordered a very enjoyable bottle of champagne to celebrate our engagement.
The toilet is where things go wrong with this place. Basically the gents is just a hole in the ground. I found it all a bit primitive. To access the ladies you have to have 20 cents at the ready. All in all not a bad spot for a couple of drinks while in Paris. The night we got the champagne the staff were very nice and helpful. Most of the other people in this cafe appeared to be drinking expresso in very minute cups. The Week End Cafe stays open quite late.
Toilet rating: 2/10, Pint rating: 7/10, Overall rating: 7/10
Final Comment: I will remember this bar with fond memories. A place for a quiet few drinks and a chat.
I can’t believe we have done this many but they are all there. Another ‘thank you’ for visiting the site and for your recommendations and comments.
Eoin and Ryan
Travelled to Paris recently for a long weekend and myself and Jen ended up getting engaged which i am delighted about. We stayed at the above hotel. Our room was pure luxury and even though expensive, was well worth it. A few minutes walk from the famous Champs Elysees and Lourve it enjoys an ideal location. The bar in the hotel is pretty much like an avarage sized living room. They don’t serve draught anything but do provide a small selection of bottled beers. It is the smallest bar that i have ever had a drink in. The couches are extremely comfortable. We went in on one occasion just for the one drink. I ordered a Jack Daniels and Coke which came to 17 euro. A bit too pricey for me! The service from the night porter was excellent and he gave us some crisps and peanuts to nibble at.
There is another small seating area just outside near the lobby area. The ladies and gents toilets are individual cubicles and are fine. The manager of the hotel told me that they are extending the bar in a couple of months time. It is a small, intimate hotel and if you are ever considering a special weekend in Paris then keep this in mind.
Toilet rating: 7/10, Drink rating: 8/10, Overall rating: 8/10
Final comment: I would head back to this hotel in the morning. The service is excellent but the prices are over inflated. Visit http://www.champselyseesplaza.com/
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