Insider’s guide to the top bars in Europe

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Find the perfect bar with our insider’s guide to the top drinking spots in London, Paris, Berlin and Barcelona.

Bars in London

Best for vibe
5CC
Upstairs in a great East End pub, this buzzing bar serving pints and fresh oysters but it’s downstairs in the cocktail club where things really get going. Low ceilings, dim lighting and arched alcoves give this place a speakeasy cool in the heart of London’s Shoreditch.

Best for business
The booking office
Set in the grand Victorian elegance of St Pancras Station the bar is literally based in the magnificent vast ceilinged, wooden floored former booking office. Nowadays the space is decked out with stylish modern sofas and armchairs.

Best for design
Trailer Happiness
The design here celebrates 1950s lounge bar kitsch while at the same time managing to feel modern and cutting edge. Enjoy perfectly concocted cocktails from the comfort of sleek vintage furniture.

Bars in Paris

Best for vibe
Island Bar, Mama Shelter
This vibrant, bustling hotel bar is also the hotel lobby, library and restaurant. A great energetic ambiance with live music at the weekends. Very bobo Parisian.

Best for business
Le Bar, Park Hyatt Vendôme
This chic, sophisticated hotel bar blends traditional elegance with stunning works of modern art. The bar menu boasts an extensive list of champagne available by the glass and tapas created by the hotel’s executive chef.

Best for glamour
Le Bar, Shangri-La Hotel
A small, elegant space in the heart of 5 star luxury. The bartender here rustles up some fantastic creations including the bar’s signature cocktail Pink Lady.

Bars in Berlin

Best for vibe
Tausend
A large iron door is the only outward sign of this hip high-end bar. Those in the know will find a wide range of cocktails being sipped by è╝ber-cool Berliners inside.

Best for business
Reingold
Combining an old speakeasy charm with stylish modern retro fittings this place exudes a lounge bar cool. With a warm ambiance and an extensive cocktail menu it’s a good place to meet colleagues or friends.

Best for design
Bar Lounge 808
Fantastic 70s retro furniture, complete with fish-tanks set into the walls and sleek wood panelling, with a vibe so bang on beat it’s classic Berlin cool.

Bars in Barcelona

Best for vibe
Bambú Lounge
Situated in the Gracia district, this is where Barcelona’s It crowd head for killer cocktails and an atmosphere so deliciously electrifying you’ll never want to leave.

Best for business
Sky Bar, Grand Hotel Central
Enjoy the views across Barcelona from this elegant rooftop bar above the Grand Hotel Central. Spend the day lounging in the sun and swimming in the infinity pool then settle by the bar for cocktails into the night.

Best for design
Boutique Bar, Ohla Hotel
Sleek modern design and sharp clean lines combined with warm woods and stone make this a stylish place to stop for an award-winning cocktail. For a change of scenery, try the roof terrace for stunning views across the city.

What do you think?

Well travelled with a passion for seeking out the coolest places to drink in a city. Let us know where’s your favourite bar in the world. Post a comment here or visit us on Facebook or Twitter.