Tripping.com

“Founded in 2009 by Jen O’Neal and Nate Weisiger, two friends who are passionate about travel and technology, Tripping is about connecting good people around the world and encouraging cultural exchange.”

Tripping.com is another great way to meet locals and experience the city you are visiting (or have moved to) like a local. And, like Spotted by Locals, it doesn’t get anymore up-to-date than this!

Tripping

Like the fellow in the picture above states, sometimes it’s also nice to see something other than a city’s highlights. Tripping is a world wide community made up of people who love to share their city with visitors. Whether it’s simply exchanging tips and tricks or actually meeting up with strangers, these members are all about cultural exchange and experiencing a city to its fullest capacity.

A step up from meeting up or exchanging tips, Tripping now also launched TechCrunch. A platform where traveling folk can find apartments and the like in over 15,000 cities. Making the city experience even more ‘local-like’.

Recently Tripping also interviewed Spotted by Locals Founder Bart van Poll (a Tripping.com member of course!) and you can read the interview here.

Tripping is also a partner in the Local Travel Movement – a non-profit organization started up by WHL Group and Spotted by Locals to unite all Local Travel partners.

Related posts:

1. Vakantiebeurs – Meet the Locals
2. All Guardian posts
3. A change in travel attitude

Cinema by Silveiro Neto

When the weather is getting you down, museum’s hold no interest for you and money is tight, a visit to an Art House Cinema can be a great option! Screening old classics in small, rustic rooms, an Art House Cinema charges little money for a great cinematic experience.

Guaranteed quality movies to keep you entertained, be it a foreign film or a documentary, in this list you’ll find some of Europe’s nicest and coziest Art House Cinemas as spotted by our Locals! In random order, we present a list of 35 Art House cinemas in 33 of our 41 cities in Europe.

Enjoy!
Vester Vov Vov (by Elina Roivainen)

1.) Vester Vov Vov, Copenhagen (by Elina Roivainen)
“[...] absolutely the cutest cinema in the city [...] Vester Vov Vov’s café plays a big role in creating the good, old cinema atmosphere: Cane chairs, big movie posters and checked floor, not forgetting the glass roof.”

Irida (by Kinimatografie)

2.) Irida, Athens (by Margarita Kalogeropoulou)
At Irida, the University cinema “[...] you have the chance to watch cult-movies that otherwise you would probably not have the chance to see in the big screen, for free.”

Kino, Budapest (by András Nagy)

3.) Kino, Budapest (by András Nagy)
“[...] it rather guards the fire of art movie culture. [...] The two functions of Kino are totally integrated creating one cultural space where you can have a Kino-coffee, watch a movie and discuss the experience with others.”

Cine Dore, Madrid (by Aneta Quraishy)

4.) Cine Dore, Madrid (by Aneta Quraishy)
“This (Cine Dore) has got to be the most popular film lovers hangout. [...] If you don’t speak Spanish, don’t worry all films here are original version so if you’re in luck you’ll find your pick in English, Swedish or even Bengali. There are several themes and seasons chosen each month.”

The Movies, Amsterdam (by Madelien Schippers)

5.) The Movies, Amsterdam (by Madelien Schippers)
“The Movies was built in 1912 and is the oldest cinema still in operation in Amsterdam. [...] When you enter the venue you will quickly imagine yourself back in time, due to the classic art deco interior.”

The Odeon Movie Club, Dublin (by Damian Byrne)

6.) The Odeon Movie Club, Dublin (by Damian Byrne)
“The programme features classic movies based around a different theme each month. Big, comfortable chairs, tables and candlelight create a kind of supper club effect, with a full waiter service throughout. There is no cover charge, so the bar (The Odeon Movie Club) makes its money on the food and drinks.”

Skalvija, Vilnius (by Julija Stancevit)

7.) Skalvija, Vilnius (by Gabija Venclovaite)
“Skalvija is a small and cosy art – house cinema in the centre of Vilnius. It is the oldest of the few cinemas [...] showing non – commercial and classic movies. Skalvija is also the major venue for cinematic events [...]“

Studio, Bucharest (by Alex Olteanu)

9.) Studio, Bucharest (by Alex Olteanu)
“Those cinemas (Multiplex cinemas) are totally impersonal. The cinema has to embrace you somehow and to have its own personality. Well, this is why every Wednesday I go to ‘Studio Cinema’. Many film festivals take place here.”

10.) Mal Sehn, Frankfurt (by Christian Paulus)
“Kino Mal Sehn is for all cinephiles arthouse-movie-lovers. [...] Almost an institution in Frankfurt (since 1984), the first arthouse cinema in town. It also houses various film festivals or special events with international topics.”

Central, Berlin (by Herrmann Königs)

11.) Central, Berlin (by Herrmann Königs)
” [...] interesting, independent and international films are right here. Usually they play films in their original language and have subtitles in English or German, respectively.” at Central Cinema in Berlin!

12.) Uto, Zurich (by Sabine Schweizer)
“This cinema is a relic from the past, full of charm and atmosphere. Hardly anything has been renovated over the last few years (or maybe decades?). The 280 seats are all covered in burgundy velvet and they’re not numbered, so it’s the first come, first served practice. Most of the films on the programme are indie films and hits from years gone by – in the original languages with German and French subtitles.” at Uto in Zurich!

Cines Verdi, Barcelona (by Christofor Rosique)

13.) Cines Verdi, Barcelona (by Bill Sinclair)
“The cinema is a member of the Europa network so there’s always a good choice of quality films in the original language with subtitles, and free notes with every film. Cines Verdi is not the place to go to see the latest Hollywood blockbuster.”

Kino Pod Baranami, Krakow (by Karolina Kolodziej)

14.) Kino Pod Baranami, Krakow (by Karolina Kolodziej)
“[...] it’s a non-commercial, small cinema. Nothing to do with multiplexes. A couple of rooms (named as colours), cafeteria, no special effects. They receive quite a lot of awards – including the one for best European cinemas (judged by programme) – as they often involve themselves into different kind of festivals and events.” at Kino Pod Baranami in Krakow!

Kino Europa, Zagreb (by Karla Lončar)

15.) Kino Europa, Zagreb (by Karla Lončar)
Kino Europa is “one more place where they’re able to watch latest independent films, national and international festival laureates, and all those movies they won’t easily find in some Movieplex. Kino Europa has also become a national movie center that is a host to many film festivals and art related promotions as well.”

16.) Les Scalas, Geneva (by Delphine Rieder)
“Les Scalas is one of the last independent cinemas in Geneva. Right in the middle of the Eaux-Vives, it has the particularity to show tons of little movies from many different countries around the world. Many huge film lovers prefer this place over imposing giant movie theatres built by huge companies.”

Rue Champollion, Paris (by Tamara Mesarić

17.) Rue Champollion, Paris (by Tamara Mesarić)
Rue Champollion is not a single cinema, but rather a street with three important art house cinemas! “Film festivals, different movie cycles, sometimes even the public lectures add to the feeling that if you are a film fan you are in the right place.”

Filmhouse, Edinburgh (by Stu Anderson)

18.) Filmhouse, Edinburgh (by Stu Anderson)
“The Filmhouse is definitely a cinema for lovers of cinema. It specialises more in niche cinema, and it does it very well.”

Xenix, Zurich (by Roman Rey)

19.) Xenix, Zurich (by Roman Rey)
“If you’re a film lover and thinking about watching a motion picture in Zurich, you should do that at Xenix. Why? Because it is one of the most reputable indie-cinemas in our country with a wild history and many myths and legends attached to it.”

Movie Theatre de Klappei, Antwerp (by Igor Daems)

20.) Movie Theatre de Klappei, Antwerp (by Igor Daems)
“The theatre itself is tiny but I think that makes the movie experience more real. I prefer this to the big movie complexes you can find anywhere, in every city. There’s only one theatre here so don’t expect a lot of choices. They play mostly classics and independent movies.” at de Klappei in Antwerp!

The Horse Hospital, London (by Matt Bramford)

21.) The Horse Hospital, London (by Matt Bramford)
“Film fans won’t want to miss out on a trip to the Horse Hospital – independent cinema at its best. [...] fashion films and independent screenings. Classic films from the golden age of cinema are shown alongside cult classics and films you never knew existed.”

22.) Tuškanac cinema, Zagreb (by Nikolina Demark)
“There’s nothing posh or capitalistic about this little gem. They don’t sell popcorn and there are no glossy posters, but they’ll give you a chance to watch the best that European cinematography has to offer.” at Tuškanac cinema!

23.) Dokumentarfilm Salon, Hamburg (by Louise Kunth)
“Every second Tuesday there is a special cinema-experience. [...] All films are carefully selected and refer to interesting, political and social topics.”

Cinema Vendôme, Brussels (by Theophane Raballand)

24.) Cinema Vendôme, Brussels (by Ianthe Lancsweert)
“The cinema doesn’t host a large crowd but mostly a film respecting and knowledgeable audience. During the year the Vendôme cinema offers various film festival. Like an African film festival, a short film festival, a Chinese film festival and other specific screenings.” at Vendôme Cinema.

Kino Svetozor, Prague (by Filip Grimm)

25.) Kino Svetozor, Prague (by Filip Grimm)
“[...] focused on art films (or let’s say less mainstream films) as well as festivals. [...] Every week there is a premiere of an art film, Mondays are reserved for screening of documentary films and Wednesday nights for minor and experimental genres such as video art, net art, animation, commercials, video-clips, short films etc.” at Kino Svetozor.

Kino Muranow, Warsaw (by Stefan Markiewicz)

26.) Kino Muranow, Warsaw (by Stefan Markiewicz)
“Kino Muranów is smaller than those chain cinemas but its atmosphere beats all modern cinemas. And if you are a big movie buff like me this cinema will be perfect for you as they offer a wide range of good quality cinema. In 2003 the cinema received the European Cinemas Award for the best cinema in terms of repertoire.”

Kinoteka, Ljubljana (by Jošt Derlink)

27.) Kinoteka, Ljubljana (by Jošt Derlink)
At Kinoteka “They show movies from Europe mostly, but also from other parts of the world, like Japan or, of course, America, but never too commercial. You can find different genres, from dramas to black comedies and thrillers.”

Filmcasino, Vienna (by Linda Nepicks)

28.) Filmcasino, Vienna (by Linda Nepicks)
“Maybe there is no nicer cinema in Vienna (apart from Gartenbaukino and Künstlerhauskino) than Filmcasino. [...] there are often very interesting small film festivals taking part in filmcasino – e.g. latin movie film festival or queer film festivals.”

Topkino, Vienna (by Linda Nepicks)

29.) Topkino, Vienna (by Linda Nepicks)
Topkino is another recommendation by Spotter Linda. It’s a three-in-one local, that offers classical and awardwinning films, dinner and drinks!

Mk2, Paris (by Tamara Mesarić)

30.) Mk2, Paris (by Tamara Mesarić)
“At MK2 you can watch the best independent movies, often those selected at the festivals specialising in that genre. Not rarely are they classics to be. Opened to mainly European films, there are world productions as well.”

31.) Illegal Cinema, Belgrade (by Dušan Lopušina)
At this Illegal Cinema in Belgrade, “It’s a place where marginalized and hard-to-find films are shown – documentary, activist, queer, anarchist, forbidden and underground films are screened in a limited space of about 30 seats.”

Grosvenor Cinema, Glasgow (by Gill Davies)

32.) Grosvenor Cinema, Glasgow (by Gill Davies)
Grosvenor Cinema has “[...] huge leather armchairs and there’s loads of leg room. If you fancy stretching out or snuggling up, book one of the leather couches at the back. [...] I like the fact you can take drinks from the bar next door into the cinema with you. [...] Films shown are a mix of the latest blockbusters, old classics and cult movies.”

ARS Cinema, Krakow (by Damian Olek)

33.) ARS Cinema, Krakow (by Damian Olek)
“If you think that big megaplexes suck then you will love ARS cinema. ARS is one of the oldest cinemas in Krakow …”, ARS Cinema, established in 1916.

Ciak Cinema, Rome (by Sabrina Favoriti)

34.) Ciak Cinema, Rome (by Sabrina Favoriti)
A small and cheap venue in Rome, where you can watch and enjoy qualities films in cozy seating, at Ciak Cinema!

Cinema King, Lisbon (by Irene Pomatto)

35.) Cinema King, Lisbon (by Irene Pomatto)
Local Irene says the following about Cinema King in Lisbon; “This place is probably a legend amongst those into films that have no explosions, no Bridget Joneses and no mainstream appeal. [...] The highlight is the projection room being totally visible to patrons from a big window in the main corridor …”

We’ve reached the end of this list of great and local’s favorite Art House Cinemas in Europe. Have you ever been to one of these? Or do you perhaps have another recommendation? Leave us a comment!

Related posts:

1. Top 10 Outdoor cinemas in Europe – local favorites!
2. Fairytale-esque Christmas Markets – Spotted by Locals!
3. Europe Street Art – Spotted by Locals

Gill Davies, Glasgow

Today an interview with Gill Davies, Spotter for our Glasgow cityblog.

How do you like being a Spotter? Do you have a nice Spotters-story?
Being a Spotter suits me fine as I work freelance and often have time during the day to cycle around the city and look out for new spots.

I first heard about Spotted by Locals when I was in Berlin a couple of years ago on a graffiti tour and one of the guides, Herrman, told me he was a Spotter for Berlin.  I thought it would be fantastic to do the same thing for Glasgow and when Sanne and Bart got in touch and asked if I would be interested in spotting for Glasgow, I was chuffed to bits.

Philadelphia, Glasgow

Why Glasgow? What is a must do when you visiting Glasgow? What is not?
Glasgow is a brilliant city to live in – there’s great live music, theatre, art galleries, festivals, parks … I could go on and on, but I won’t – just check out the recommendations on the site!  And you don’t have to walk for miles to get to the main attractions. I used to live in London and I wasted half my time on public transport. Now, I can get into the city in 10 minutes on the tube. But the best thing by far about Glasgow is the people – you won’t meet friendlier people anywhere and the sense of humour here is second to none.

A must do when visiting Glasgow?  Number one on my list at the moment is a visit to Kelvingrove Art Gallery.  You’ll see Dali’s masterpiece, Christ of St John of the Cross, but don’t miss the AC/DC exhibition. The £2 entrance fee is worth paying just to read singer Bon Scott’s letters to his girlfriends – they’re hilarious.  I’ve been four times already and I’ll definitely be back before the exhibition closes in February.

The Tall Ship, Glasgow

What not to do?  Avoid the city centre on Saturdays or Sundays.  Glasgow promotes itself as the best shopping centre outside London, but the shops in the city centre are the same shops you’ll find in any other European city.  Full of the same stuff.

Which prejudices about Glasgow are true? Which ones are not?
True – unfortunately, religious bigotry is still rife in the city, thanks to the big football clubs Rangers and Celtic.  Although not every fan is by no means a bigot, there are still problems when both teams play one another.  A tip – don’t travel by tube before the matches start or when they finish.  It’s not a pleasant experience.

Not true – that Scots are mean.

What do you know about Glasgow that no tourist will know?
Another wee tip – avoid the open air tourist buses and buy an all day ticket for the Number 44 bus instead.  It crosses Glasgow from the south side to the west end so you’ll see a good bit of the city for a fraction of the price and hear some quality Glasgow patter from your fellow passengers.

Speirs Wharf, Glasgow

Can you describe a perfect day in your city? Which spots (that you wrote about!) would you visit?
Perfect day – if the sun is out, go for a cycle along the Forth and Clyde Canal to Bowling or in the other direction to Speir’s Wharf.  Come back in time for Tchai Ovna opening at 11 and have some delicious Yogi Chai.  Go for a walk in Kelvingrove Park in the afternoon and, if I’ve won the lottery, treat my friends to a slap up meal in the Stravaigin.  If not, get a bag of chips from Philadelphia chippy and then go into the town to see a gig in Barrowlands Ballroom or the ABC.

The Stravaigin, Glasgow

Is there something else you want to share?
People (especially Glaswegians) like to have a good moan about the amount of rain we get.  But as Billy Connolly says, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing.

Check out all articles by Gill Davies and the other Spotter interviews.

Related posts:

1. Glasgow! Interview Paulo
2. Glasgow! Interview Spotter Roddy Cunningham
3. New cityblog! Glasgow by locals

Europe by Night by Thebadastronomer

And the winner is… Amsterdam, or London, or Antwerp? Which European city has the most nationalities within its borders? According to I amsterdam (Amsterdam city administration), Amsterdam has 178 nationalities as of January 1st 2010, which the Dutch Wikipedia states is the world record. Yes, you read that correctly, not a European record, but a WORLD record.

Spotter Igor Daems wrote in his Spotted by Locals Profile that Antwerp had more than 160 nationalities. According to this article that number is actually 164. Both Amsterdam and Antwerp account for more nationalities than New York, which has 150 nationalities represented within its borders.

Enter two fellows from London who decided to meet and greet a person from every country, living in London in 2007. On October 24, 2007 they claimed to have met people from 189 different countries, which would easily make London the city with the most nationalities. And then there’s another article from ThisisLondonUk, in 2011, stating London has over 270 nationalities. That sounds like a lot! Especially when NationsOnline published a list of countries in the world, and that total is only 251!  Does that mean there are over 19 phantom nationalities?

It is not easy to determine how many nationalities or even countries, there are in the world, because not all countries or nationalities are acknowledged by everyone. So where does that leave this article? Which city is the winner?

We’ll let you decide! In your opinion, which of these three cities deserves the title “Most Cosmopolitan European City“?

Related posts:

1. Research on city tourism
2. Germans born to travel?
3. Antwerp: Eclectic City

NRC Handelsblad, a good Dutch daily, recently published an article about the lovely city of Ghent. They mention Spotted by Locals Ghent (and especially our iPhone application) frequently, as a great source of inside tips!

Here’s the full PDF (in Dutch)

Related posts:

1. Publication in Esta Magazine
2. Publication Columbus magazine
3. Publication in Viva

Pierre Bismuth

Today an interview with Pierre Bismuth, Spotter for our Paris cityblog.

How do yo like being a Spotter? Do you have a nice Spotters-story?
The first time I heard about Spotted by Locals was in 2008, in an article from the French newspaper, Le Monde. I found it very smart and very amusing as I went out a lot at that time, and before.
So I sent an e-mail to Spotted by Locals to become a spotter! You (read: Sanne van Poll) replied that you were full but you kept my e-mail address. When I received an e-mail from you last June, I was delighted, and very enthusiastic about becoming a Spotter. Since then, I hope that the spots I write about are appreciated by our readers.


Place du Marché St Honore (by Pierre Bismuth)

Why Paris? What is a must do when you visiting Paris? What is not?
As I was born in Paris, and practically always lived there, it was obvious to write about spots in Paris. Indeed, when I was a teenager, I found it would be great to be the mayor of this city!
I found Paris beautiful and very accessible, because it is a little city, very walkable. It is always a pleasure to lift up your eyes and discover some wonderful buildings, new restaurants, monuments, museums you’ve never been in before.
And every district or quarter has their own charms. For instance, I live in the 14th district of Paris, which is not the most funny nor most trendy quarter. But it is so nice to live there, near the Parc Montsouris, especially when you have children. And if I want fun, with the underground, everything is reachable in less than 40 minutes. That’s priceless.
If it is the first time in Paris, I think the most beautiful place to go is on the shore of the Seine, in St Michel. In the summer, you can have a picnic here and enjoy Paris Plage just as if you were at the beach.

Rue des Frans Bourgeois (by Pierre Bismuth)

Can you describe a perfect day in your city? Which spots (that you wrote about!) would you visit?
A perfect day was like 2 days ago, when my brother-and-law and I decided to go with 6 of our children and nephews to a fun fair located in the Grand Palais, on the Champs Elysees. It was just funny to ride the sometimes very shaky merry-go-rounds under the magnificient glass roof of this momument, and very pleasant to see the amazed bunch of children running everywhere and laughing out loud! Besides, we managed between two pancakes, trhree ice creams and one barbapapa to sit and drink a glass of champagne ! Just perfect.

Rue du Louvre (by Pierre Bismuth)

More generally, the perfect day in Paris is the one when you let Paris lead your way! At one moment, the City will touch you and fill you with joy and happiness, and this moment is specific to each of us. It can be when you discover the historic Paris of the Latin Quarter, or in Avenue  Montaigne, with all the luxury boutiques of French designers, or in Montmartre, home of Amélie Poulain, the famous french movie

Which prejudices about Paris are true? Which ones are not?
As I was born in Paris, I can assure you that none of the prejudices about Paris are true ! I’m so pleased to live in Paris that I’m not sure I’m kidding. It is true that one can think that Parisians are a little bit aggressive, but it is because you have to juggle between work and children and sports and going out! So I’m trying to make of Paris a city as nice as New York, and I always try to help people looking at a map to ease their way through the streets of Paris.

114 Faubourg (by Pierre Bismuth)

Also, one thing about Paris is that you can eat very well, but sometimes very badly. That is the reason why I’m write a lot about restaurants because I think it is a pity for a tourist to eat in France in a very bad and often expensive restaurant.
And I think it is a great experience to go and eat in a Michelin star restaurant, like Alain Senderens, to taste the area for which France is known worldwide !
Finally, one always complains about strikes in France and with the underground, and as I travel exclusively by metro, I can assure you that this is a legend, and that it is very rare that there is a strike in the underground (the RER is another story).

Check out all articles by Pierre Bismuth and the other Spotter interviews.

Related posts:

1. Paris! Interview Adam
2. Gritty Paris pics
3. Paris! Interview Fred

Our Rotterdam Spotters Renia & Anne-Marie have promoted Spotted by Locals and their great city of Rotterdam really well. From page 9, in Dutch!

Related posts:

1. Launch Rotterdam cityblog!
2. Fresh updated iPhone apps & PDF Cityguides!
3. Local Spot of the week – Kiem Foei Rotterdam

Glühwein Hüsli by Samirluther

The picture above probably calls to mind several of the following things: cold, snow, wind, warm wine, fireplaces, cozy and so on. To save you from winter depression we’ve listed 30 of our locals’ favorite winter bars. So grab your scarf, mittens and friends and go out to chase away the winter cold!

Café de Wetering, Amsterdam (by Martin Sollmann)

1.) Café de Wetering, Amsterdam (by Martin Sollmann)
Café de Wetering in Amsterdam fits the bill perfectly with its fireplace! Cozy on up next to it with friends or a loved one, drinking your favorite drink!

Kuplung, Budapest (by Miklos Zsamboki)

2.) Kuplung, Budapest (by Kálmán Faragó)
Kuplung in Budpest is a great and cheery beer garden still open for business in winter. It’s warm and cozy, but still outside.

Mappamundo, Brussels (by Renata Riva)

3.) Mappamundo, Brussels (by Renata Riva)
Mappamundo will warm you up with its heated terrace in winter on the famous-for-beer square St. Gery.

Cocktails at Nine, Antwerp (by Caroline d’Hont)

4.) Cocktails at Nine, Antwerp (by Caroline d’Hont)
From Mappamundo we move on to the capable cocktail shaking hands of the barmen at Cocktails at Nine in Antwerp. While the cocktails are pricey (they have the quality to match it though) the decor and atmosphere at this cocktail bar are the perfect setting for a wintery night with friends! And yes, there is a fireplace!

Pacific Parc, Amsterdam (by Sanne van Poll)

5.) Pacific Parc, Amsterdam (by Gisela Clarke)
Pacific Parc is also on this list due to the radiating warmth from their big fireplace. Leave your table behind and just pull up your chair around the fireplace!

Ginger, Barcelona (by AC Uribe)

6.) Ginger, Barcelona (by Cinthya Uribe)
From fireplace warmth in Pacific Parc, we move on to fiery cocktails in Barcelona at Ginger. These will certainly warm you up on the inside!

The Jane, Copenhagen (by Elina Roivainen)

7.) The Jane, Copenhagen (by Elina Roivainen)
The Jane is a cocktail of several ingredients, making it a perfect spot for a winter night. There’s cocktails for relaxing in the Mad Men styled bar, a dancefloor for dancing, and yes…there’s also a fireplace!

Ryan’s, Beggar’s Bush, Dublin (by Neil McDermott)

8.) Ryan’s, Beggar’s Bush, Dublin (by Neil McDermott)
Dublin has many a great place for chilly winter evenings. First up is Ryan’s, Beggar’s Bush (pictured above). According to Spotter Neil McDermott is perfect and cozy for the coming evenings. But really, it’s good any time of year.

The Belle, Glasgow (by Roddy Cunningham)

9.) The Belle, Glasgow (by Roddy Cunningham)
Roddy Cunningham: “With its warm colors and real working fireplace this, especially during the sub-zero winters, exactly what I want in my local pub. Always busy enough to create a vibrant atmosphere without ever seeming to over crowded, this (The Belle) is definitely one of my favourite spots for a drink in town.”

Library bar, Dublin (by Damian Byrne)

10.) The Library Bar, Dublin (by Damian Byrne)
When it’s cold outside it can be really nice to curl up on a sofa with a blanket and a book. But hey, we can’t stay inside all winter! So this is probably your next best option. Drinks at the Library bar!

Coccio Birreria, Milan (by Audrey Smith)

11.) Coccio Birreria, Milan (by Audrey Smith)
Like the Library Bar in Dublin, Coccio Birreria in Milan is a great alternative to your own living room! Local Audrey: “[...] in winter it is particularly cosy inside, with comfy chairs and quirky furniture.”

Glød, Oslo (by Zoë Waage)

12.) Glød, Oslo (by Zoë Waage)
Zoë Waage adds the first bar in Oslo to this top 30 Winter Bars, and that is Glød, saying “The laidback atmosphere, candles and fireplace make it the perfect place to unwind [...]“.

Svetlost Bar, Belgrade (by Svetlost Bar)

13.) Svetlost Bar, Belgrade (by Maja Simov)
Svetlost Bar is sure to shed some light in the dark winter months, according to Spotter Maja Simov.

14.) Peristal Singum, Berlin (by Robby Block)
Next up is Berlin, with not just a bar with a fireplace but a bar with mystery! Also fun to head off miserable cold related moods! Welcome to the top 30, Peristal Singum.

Bergs Bazaar, Riga (by Martins Veidemanis)

15.) Bergs Bazaar, Riga (by Martins Veidemanis)
Bergs Bazaar is not one bar. It’s a place where many bars and restaurants are situated. So it’s a perfect location for you to find that specific bar for a ‘warm’ night out. “It is always clean and a very romantic place for an evening walk when the lights are turned on, even when the snow is dropping slowly in cold wintertime.”

College Hotel, Amsterdam (by Madelien Schippers)

16.) College Hotel, Amsterdam (by Madelien Schippers)
Seems like Amsterdam is big on fireplaces! College hotel also has a fireplace in their loungebar, set amongst the backdrop of vibrating jazz music. Combined with the rustic and warm colors of the interior, this place is warmth and coziness wrapped in one.

Familija Bistro, Belgrade (by Vesna Radovanovic)

17.) Familija Bistro, Belgrade (by Vesna Radovanovic)
Another Belgrade Spotter, Vesna, highly recommends Familija Bistro with its heated winter garden for people watching and warm drinks!

Zum Berger, Vienna (by Diana Pereira)

18.) Zum Berger, Vienna (by Diana Pereira)
The subtitle of Diana’s article about Zum Berger sums it all up, ‘Winter is wine drinking time’. This wine tavern will probably serve you the best Glühwein you’ve had to date!

Mikkeller, Copenhagen (by Sergio Alves)

19.) Mikkeller, Copenhagen (by Mayra Lemos)
Mikkeller is in this top 30 because it’s a beer bar, complete with bartenders with extensive knowledge about the golden liquid. And like Spotter Mayra Lemos says, “There’s nothing like a cold light beer in a hot summer day or a rich, dark, mouthwatering beer on a cold winter night.”

Skład win braci Gessler, Warsaw (by Kasia Boni)

20.) Skład win braci Gessler, Warsaw (by Kasia Boni)
Like Zum Berger, Skład win braci Gessler being a wine cellar/storage is guaranteed to make you a deliciously tasty mulled wine. They’re the experts on wine after all!

The Schoolhouse, Dublin (by Claudia M. Rodriguez)

21.) The Schoolhouse, Dublin (by Claudia M. Rodriguez)
The Schoolhouse is a real locals’ favorite according to Spotter Claudia Rodriguez. And you guessed it…in winter there’s a fireplace!

Kafe Asylet, Oslo (by Andrea Chirulescu)

22.) Kafe Asylet, Oslo (by Andrea Chirulescu)
Andrea Chirulescu: “The inside of the bar (Kafe Asylet) is best suitable for winter days I’d say. That’s because of the lovely fireplace where there’s always a piece of wood burning making it smell like winter. One can find both tables for two, since a fireplace on the background can be quite the perfect setting for romance”

23.) Blå, Oslo (by Andrea Chirulescu)
Andrea also recommends Blå, “I love the place in the winter due their wide terrace right by the river from which you can enjoy the fresh breeze of the water while sitting down with your friends and have a drink or a chat.”

Po 2 stronie lustra, Warsaw (by Magda Przedmojska)

24.) Po 2 Stronie Lustra, Warsaw (by Magda Przedmosjka)
Magda: “Red walls and mirrors everywhere, fridge full of various beers, beer mats on the ceiling in one room and beer caps in the other, gin bottles in the windows, a warm fireplace and possibly any drink you can think of. No, you won’t wake up, it’s a different reality in Po drugiej stronie lustra (Through the Looking-Glass).”

Café Gecko, Brussels (by Theophane Raballand)

25.) Café Gecko, Brussels (by Ianthe Lancsweert)
A fairly small bar in the centre of Brussels, Café Gecko offers you warmth on their heated terrace and great service.

East, Stockholm (by Vasco Castro)

26.) East, Stockholm (by Vasco Castro)
Vasco Castro on East: “But East used to be almost my second home for another very important reason: it has an extraordinarily large mix of people for a place lying in the heart of Stureplan. It results in a bar in which one can just start talking with the person nearby. [...] everyone tends to gather outside even under the winter time as the heaters are turned on.”

The Hole in the Wall, Dublin (by Open English Web)

27.) The Hole in the Wall, Dublin (by Marcel Krueger)
Marcel Krueger: “[...] even when it is raining or unlikely Irish snow is painting Phoenix Park white, the Hole in the Wall is a nice place to sit snug in with a creamy pint of Guinness and let the time pass by. They also do regular sessions of traditional Irish music on the weekends, so whatever the weather, you have almost no excuse not to try the place out.”

Ptasiek, Krakow (by Karolina Kolodziej)

28.) Ptasiek, Krakow (by Karolina Kolodziej)
Ptasiek is great for jam sessions and cuddling up to the fireplace with warm mulled wine.  Spotter Karolina: “[...] winter option – a fireplace. Sitting by the fireplace it’s nice to have a mug of hot wine with ginger, isn’t it?”

The Art Hostel, Sofia (by Ana Blagova)

29.) The Art Hostel, Sofia (by Ana Blagova)
The Art Hostel is a hostel with a bar. And according to Ana “It has become something like our winter headquarters due to the good, yet conversation-permitting music and the opportunity to hang out in just so many ways [...] It is a reliable place for beer and a company on a cold winter evening [...]“

Hütte am Weg, Vienna (by Wolfgang Körbitz)

30.) Hütte am Weg, Vienna (by Diana Pereira)
In two sentences Spotter Diana Pereira explains why Hütte am Weg is a great place to visit in Winter. “You can sit outside all year round, also in the Winter as blankets, hot wine and little heaters are provided to keep you warm! From time to time a little market takes place in the garden around the house where you can buy different home-made products like jam, cakes or even mustard.”

This last spot also concludes this top 30 of spots to warm your heart in the the cold, dark and dreary winter months.

What’s your favorite winter bar? Let us know in the comments!

Related posts:

1. 10 local favorite outdoors winter spots in Europe
2. Top 99 local favorite Europe summer bars and terraces
3. Glühwein & Gløgg – The winter drink in Europe!

Sharon Mertins

Today an interview with Sharon Mertins, Spotter for our Berlin cityblog.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Well, I guess at the moment I would say I’m a proper ‘Guatemalan Berliner’ trying to find my spot in the workings of every day life.  In the process, I’ve fallen into the all time favorite art of experimenting with writing.  And I’m currently learning to not forget to laugh during my adventures of ‘trying’ to master the German language.

How do you like being a Spotter? Do you have a nice Spotters-story?
Being a spotter is good fun!  It motivates me to go out in the city and investigate more than I would otherwise.  What better way to spend your day than riding your bicycle around the city on a summer day looking for nifty places to hang out.  In winter, I’m always looking for the nicest, coziest, and fun little getaway that I can recommend.

Manouche (by Sharon Mertins)

I don’t really have any particularly good spotter stories but I find it quite surprising how much more you can discover from your friends simply by asking them about their favorite spots in the city.  I suppose many of the places we often visit, we are sometimes used to visiting on our own  and are not necessarily part of more personal conversation.

Why Berlin? What is a must do when you visiting Berlin? What is not?
Berlin was an accidental choice for me.  I moved here from London with the intention of staying for one year and improving my German.  I wanted a more mellow urban kind of lifestyle.  In the end, Berlin allowed me to sit back and think, plan, and enjoy having the luxury of time!  That was virtually impossible for me in other big cities.

Kreuzberg Canal (by Sharon Mertins)

Must do?  Even in the winter, I would say get a bicycle and get pleasantly lost in the streets of Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain or Neukoelln.  You never know what lovely surprises await you here.

What do you know about Berlin that no tourist will know?
Hmmmmm. That this city’s charm is not only the nightlife, abundance of art, or cafes.  It’s most of its population enjoying the simple pleasures of life, long walks, long coffee breaks, good beer…..
But most of all, I think people don’t realize that despite the city’s reputation of being ‘arm aber sexy’ (poor but sexy), people almost always tip here when they go out.  Even if it’s just a very small amount.  To me, those extra thirty cents for a glass of beer say a lot about the mentality.  You give what you have as long as you ‘give’ as a gesture of support for the community that you live in.

Weichselstrasse 55 (by Sharon Mertins)

What is the most popular neighborhood to live in Berlin at this moment? Why? What can you do there?
To me it seems like as long as it’s in Berlin, people want to move there.  But I suppose Kreuzberg and Neukoelln are very quickly winning that race.  I think it’s because of the variety.  You hear so many different languages walking down the street and there are galleries and cafes popping up every day.  They’re also very down to earth neighborhoods.  You can very easily buy fresh vegetables at the local Turkish shop and then buy a designer bag at a local boutique next door.

Check out all articles by Sharon Mertins and the other Spotter interviews.

Related posts:

1. Berlin! Interview Sara
2. Berlin! Interview Herrmann
3. Berlin! Interview Natalia

Europe (by Albertane)

Just a couple of months ago the 7 billionth person was born into this world. It was in 1987 that the tally was 5 billion people. So in 24 years the world’s population grew by approximately 2 billion people.

That’s a lot…

In lieu of this, we would like to present to you a top 10 of the largest cities in Europe!

Tooting Common, London (by Charl Asuit)

1.) London
London has a whopping 7,825,300 inhabitants! It can get quite crowded on buses and streets that way. Thankfully London has many great parks, including this very large one of 92 acres to relax in and stretch your legs!

Kulturbrauerei, Berlin (by Herrmann Koenigs)

2.) Berlin
Following quite a large gap between first and second place is Berlin, with 3,440,441 people of all shapes and sizes!

Caixaforum, Madrid (by Nikko Hinderstein)

3.) Madrid
The Spanish inhabitants of Madrid make up a total of 3,284,110.

Cavour 313, Rome (by Eleonora Baldwin)

4.) Rome
From Spain on to the beautiful and historic capital of Italy, where the grand total is 2,774,625.

Place Dauphine, Paris (by Frederic Moussaian)

5.) Paris
The city of love is home to 2,203,817 people.

Chiajna church, Bucharest (by Raluca Gavris)

6.) Bucharest
Bucharest in Romania has 1,944,367 people within its city limits.

Speicherstadt, Hamburg (by Ute Kreitz)

7.) Hamburg
In Hamburg, one of Germany’s most famous cities, the city’s population is 1,773,218.

Fiumei Road Cemetery Garden, Budapest (by Andras Nagy)

8.) Budapest
Budapest is a close second to Hamburg, with 1,733,685 people.

WUK, Vienna (by Diana Pereira)

9.) Vienna
The gaps between the cities are narrowing down. Vienna follows Budapest with a population of 1,723,945.

Cytadela, Warsaw (by Magda Przedmojska)

10.) Warsaw
Last, and in this case also least…the least amount of citizens that is, is Warsaw with 1,711,466 people.

Click here for more cities in Europe and their ranking!

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1. Alpha, Beta and Gamma cities
2. Free tours by locals in Europe cities
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