Bard is one of those places that feel like a second home: it’s not just a bar, it’s the bar. A tiny place with a big heart, where it only takes a few visits to become a devoted regular.

The Celtic-themed decor and dimmed lights give it a cozy vibe; add the friendly waiters, great music and a nice selection of beers, and it’s no wonder the place is always packed. On weekend nights, once the bar starts overflowing with people, the merry crowd spills out and everybody grabs the first seat they can find – be it a chair, some steps, or the pavement in front of the cathedral. As long as the beer is cold, nobody minds the crowd!

And one more thing I find endearing: they close at 00:00 sharp and have their own closing-time playlist that hasn’t changed a single bit in years. At a quarter to midnight, the lights turn on and the soft, Celtic tunes announce it’s time to down that last drink. When you hear Louis Armstrong crooning the opening lines of What a Wonderful World, you know it’s time to go. Bard will still be there tomorrow.