Charlie's Pub- A well-known late night bar and disco. Perhaps the best place in town to get down and boogy. Open until 4:00 a.m. Packed with foreigners and Slovaks alike - often a heavy drinking crowd with loud Western music from the 70's and 80's. $$. Špitálska 4, % 363-396. < 10:00-4:00 M-Sa.
Harley-Davidson Saloon- Next to the cemetery in Ružinov, you're likely to find leather-clad bikers dismounting from their choppers and swaggering into this place, which looks like it's from a Hollywood movie set. Inside, they've got a pool table, pinball, poker machines, and more than 40 kinds of whiskey. Be prepared for a few surprises including kick boxing, female and male strippers, and cheerleaders. In the spring, food starting at 5 p.m. includes guláš, hamburgers, steak tartar, sausages. $$. % 423-585. < 10:00-22.00
Hollywood Billiards- Watch youth hockey live, while quaffing Budvar and playing pool on over a dozen tables. The music is from those CD disco deals on TV that you wonder if anyone ever buys. Open until 4:00 a.m. - plan to spend a few hours. $. Ružinovská ul. in the new Zimný Štadión. < 10:00-24:00 M-Su.
KGB- Descend into this dark, narrow cellar and find one of the city's hot spots. Decorated with socialist souvenirs. Heavy metal music pumps you up. A young Slovak crowd jams the place on weekends. Thirsty Monk is on tap. $$ Obchodná ul. < 10:00-24.00.
Kolkáreň- Tables inside, tables outside. Fussball inside, statue outside. Service inside, long waits outside. No grill inside, occasionally-functioning grill outside. Draft beer inside, draft beer outside. Inside or outside? Trnavská cesta. < 11:00-4:00.
Koník- Western-style pub with memorabilia covering the walls. A comfortable place to hang out. Come ready to drink, there is no food served. $$. Mlynské nivy 8, 367-511. < 10:00-22:00 M-Su.
Mamut- One of the biggest beer halls in Central Europe serves Budvar drafts by the truckload. Swing your spurs on Fridays to live country music or sit back and relax with Thursdays' jazz. Make table reservations in advance. $. Cintorínska 32, % 321-151. < 10:00-24:00 M-Su.
Mamutko- If you want to experience the traditional Slovak lifestyle, the hours here are for you. This central European O.K. Corral has few seats and the logs you lean against have little padding for the behind. Soups and sausage are available to fill your stomach. $. Nám. Slobody 1. < 6:30-21:30 M-Sa.
Monaco Club- Two flights below ground in the Hotel Danube, this is a hangout for Slovaks dressed for success. The club is becoming a hot spot for live music every Thursday. The big, beautiful pool table, large-screen TV and open dance floor make this place comfortable. Be ready to put your money where your mouth is: A small beer is 56 Sk and mixed drinks can be three or four times that. $$$. Rybné nám. 1, % 5340-000. < 20:00-4:00 M-Su.
Nightmare Pub- This place mellows out Thursday nights with a dose of the blues. Budvar and Martiner light and dark are on tap. Disco sounds and lots of funky lights indoors create a weird contrast to the cloistered courtyard. Often a loud, young artsy crowd huddles in the passageway. $$. Františkánske nám. < 17:00-24:00 M-Su.
Queens Club Mercury- Are you a champion of the world? Do you want to fly like Superman? Then ride your bicycle into this shrine to Freddy Mercury and his legendary band, Queen. With the band's classics piping in non-stop and portraits of the guys adorning the walls, the only thing that could make the experience more complete would be Freddy's embalmed body standing in the corner. $$$. Panenská. < 18:00-1:00 M-Su.
Rock Café Bratislava- This modern bar next to the ice rink has a slick-but-comfortable feel. That may be a result of the occasional performances by a Frank Sinatra impersonator. Sit at tall stools to partake of the large range of drinks and small menu of grill meats; DJ and pool table too. $$. Trnavská cesta. % 360-312. < 12:00-4:00.
Satellite Bar- This raucous joint in Lamač serves a rough and ready crowd that is highly excitable. Dancing is a strong component to the mating game here, which means it is not hard to grab one of the two pool tables, even on weekends. Three types of drafts for under 22 Sk keeps the crowd happy. $. Borinská 12. % 782-564. < 18:00-4:00.
Centrum Pub- The pink, sparkly Senátor has given way to the less eccentric, more noisy and smokey Centrum. New management has made better use of space, allowing for a small, mellow bar one flight below street level and a bigger bar with blaring dance music two flights down. After midnight, the second level down is a good option. The wooden furniture is tasteful, the fantastic posters are not. $$. Župné nám. 3. % 533-4303. < 17:00-02:00.
Slamená Búda- Get off trolley #213 at the top of Kamzík, walk down a bit to the hidden entrance to the small inner room. You can get Tatran here on tap and in bottles, light and dark. It goes well with vyprážený syr or guláš. You shouldn't leave without trying at least one of the soups - the spicy lentil is delicious. $. Cesta na Kamzík 39. % 371-608. < 9:00-23:00 Tu-Su, 12:00-23:00 M.
Smíchovský Dvor- Well-priced and tasty Slovak specialties. Staropramen flows from the tap and starting April 1, the streetside beer garden will begin its spring season. Nestled on a back street around the corner from Obchodná ul. with a Bavarian facade. $. Mariánska 6. % 324-163. < 10:00-22.00
Smirnoff Klub- Downstairs next to Hotel Krym, Smirnoff gives Šafárikovo námestie some sorely needed life. Service can be slow, so take the opportunity to hit the dance floor - one of Bratislava's more inviting ones. Gypsy break dancers are not unheard of here. $. Štúrova ulica. < 18:00-2:00
Steps- A revamped version of its socialist predecessor. You won't find any people who are holdovers from that time here either. Witness the advent of choice: one room is a mini beer hall, another passes as a pick up bar and the third is for those who want to boogie. And pay homage to heady times ruled by the young at heart. Though it may be a rumor, it's said to be ventilated. $. Panenská ulica. < 18:00-3:00
Tri Sudy- Duck through one of the passages on Nám. SNP and you will find a brown and white vináreň appropriately called "three casks." You don't have to be Slovak to appreciate the funny cartoons of Slovak politicians and other celebs hanging on the walls. This is a central place to start any evening destined to finish downtown anyway. $. < 10:00-23:00 .
U Čierneho Orla- Stein on tap, but you may have to wait until the keg literally rolls into the cellar. Your basic good and greasy Slovak food (which means, of course, pork dishes). Clear the cholesterol by chugging a brew. $$. Obchodná 17. % 335-358. < 10:00-22:30.
U Club- Nuclear shelter turned night club under the Hrad and right next to the tunnel where the trams run. Plays deafening music. Open until 4:00 a.m. for dancing. 20 Sk cover charge. $. Nabr. gen. Ludvíka Svobodu between the SNP bridge and Žižkova ul. < 10:00-2:00 M-Sa.
U Eda- The stuffed animal heads on the wall are sure to be a big hit. Easy to pick out this two-room eating and drinking establishment from the street - just look for the frosty beer mug sign hanging above the door. $$. Biela ul. 5. % 371-822. < 10:00-22:00 M-Su.
U Hemi- Named after Ernest Hemingway, his framed signature hangs on the wall. One can imagine the author dwelling here, with the atmosphere loud and the smoke thick. Foreigners stick out, but the pub fraternity would hardly notice as beers are pounded like there is no tomorrow. In the back room, order up a bowl of mighty goulash or a plate of pork and potatoes for low prices. $$. Šašinková 1. < 9:30-21:30 M-F; 10:00-21:30 Sa-Su.
Clubs & Cafés Key
$ = Cheap $$ = Moderately expensive $$$ = Expensive
< = Hours open
% = Telephone number
