Where to drink in Bondi – the Bucket List bar, Bondi Beach

True to its name, the Bucket List on Bondi Beach is one of those places you have to drink at before you die! I mean you’re front and centre on one of the most famous beaches, and you’ve got a coldie and a delicious plate of something in front of you. Can it get much … Read more

Where to drink in England – the Gate Pub, Chorleywood

The Gate Pub in Chorleywood, England has done extremely well to revamp itself. Going from tired old pub – or the Jenny Wren as it used to be – to the comfy welcoming country inn with a bistro menu and good ales on tap. We popped in for a late light lunch and a beer … Read more

Where to drink in London – Churchill Arms, Kensington

Pubs are like cultural fingerprints in England. Every one of them is different but at the same time, they all tell a story of what the country’s about. Some of them are great, some of them are terrible. Some are new, some are incredibly old. The Churchill Arms in Kensington is one of the good, … Read more

Where to drink in England – The Rose and Crown, Wivenhoe

I’ve always said the Rose and Crown pub in Wivenhoe, England should be the best pub in the county. It’s on the waterfront of the Colne River. Across this once-busy-now-quiet waterway, you’re greeted by views of green fields, woodland and the twinkle of distant riverside towns, miles upstream. On the pub’s doorstep, the quay juts … Read more

Where to go in Trieste, Italy: James Joyce Cafe

Who’d have thought you’d find an internationally acclaimed mixologist in Trieste? It’s true though. The James Joyce Cafe – named after the moody Irish author – is a tiny bar full of the flavours of Triestino life. The best of which are made at the bar by Robi. Robi – or Roberto to his mother – … Read more

Where to drink in Milan – Terrazza Aperol

Milan’s duomo – the spectacular Milanese Cathedral – is one of the most important pieces of medieval architecture in the world. As we sipped on our ice cold Aperol Spritzes and gazed at the duomo’s spikes and spires, we couldn’t agree more. Some find the need to climb its mighty walls to peer out at … Read more

Where to drink in the Gold Coast – Stingray at the QT

Gone are the days when a hotel bar meant over-priced ugly drinks, a seedy lounge and inept staff whose arses and elbows are easily confused. To put this in context, let’s look at a hotel bar that’s got it spot on: Stingray in QT Hotel Gold Coast in Surfer’s Paradise, Queensland. Stingray, right around the corner … Read more

Where to drink in California – Altitude Sky Lounge, San Diego, CA

It’s hot from its latitude, it’s dry from the desert and its coastal breezes cool everything down when needs be. Because of this, San Diego is a rooftop bar mecca. San Diego is one of those… outdoorsy sort of places. But I don’t mean a hike up a mountain or interminable days spent under canvas (Mrs … Read more

Neighbourhood Restaurant, Bar and Radio, Bondi Beach

New bar Neighbourhood should have opened in Bondi ages ago. I’m often mystified at how Sydney’s (if not Australia’s) most famous suburb has so few really good drinking spots. I mean there are some, but with a name like Bondi Beach, you’d expect a bit more. Thankfully Neighbourhood is taking Bondi’s reputation by the scruff … Read more

Where to drink in NYC – The Bar Room, Upper East Side, New York City

From my perspective, nothing’s a bigger treasure than a bar near a shopping spree. Don’t get me wrong, Mrs Romance and I shop well together. There are several techniques I employ to cope. In fact here are some tips for shopping with your partner. Even in the midst of a Bloomingdale’s shoe sale, Mrs R … Read more