Recreating a Havana slum on London's Essex Road may seem a bizarre concept for a bar but the recently opened Barrio North is pulling in the crowds.

Billing itself "a neighbourhood DJ bar…that combines the spirit of community and collaboration with street culture from the ghetto archipelago", the venue is basically a fusion of urban sights and sounds from around the world.

Since launching in September 2007, it has attracted some great soul, Latin and funk acts, as well as a faithful weekend clientele making full use of the 3am late licence.

So-called 'street food' served at Barrio North includes snack staples like nachos and wraps, but beer choice allows more adventure with a vast array of unusual options and the promise to try and source customers' own global recommendations.

Those wishing to make a real party of the night can hire a rather cool cut-up and customised 1970s caravan in the corner, which accommodates up to 15 revellers.

Other DJ bars on the Essex Road include Embassy. While it plays a broad range of music, emphasis is on urban cuts and hip-hop.

Proving there is much more to the Irish pub than Guinness on tap and horseracing on TV, the Crown Liquor Saloon in Belfast is a drinking house gem and probably the most famous bar in Ulster.

Owned by the National Trust, the historic building retains much of its original Victorian charm thanks mainly to the organisation's £400,000 restoration investment in 1981.

It dates back to 1826 when it was known as the Railway Tavern after the first train that ran from Belfast to Lisburn.

Period features include ten elaborately carved booths or snugs, containing gun metal plates for striking matches and an antique bell system to warn bar staff your pint is running low.

Swing doors and wooden floors add to the historic ambience, as do ancient ceiling gas lamps and Victorian etched-windows.

Those looking for a more contemporary bar experience in Belfast should head to the trendy Apartment.

It does what the name suggests - for R&R and a few rounds on top head to Vienna's Chill Out Lounge on Salvatorgasse.

Snug sofas and warm paint schemes immediately instil a homely atmosphere making this the perfect bar to unwind after a busy day sightseeing or simply to spend some quality time with a date as part of a romantic Austrian getaway.

Striking a good balance between the late afternoon latte crowd and early evening cocktail clientele ensures the place remains lively despite the living room feel.

Visit during the extended daily happy hour of 6 until 8 pm to make the most of the excellent drinks menu.

Those hoping to sink their teeth into something more substantial than a cocktail cherry can order food and bar snacks until 1.30am.

Other good drinking establishments in the city include American-style cocktail bar Dino's, which offers rat-pack cool and lot of their music too.

Switch car horns for creaky floors and the concrete jungle for a blooming beer terrace at this popular pub on Hampstead Heath.

The Spaniards Inn offers a welcome country retreat from the hustle and bustle of the British capital, boasting fine ales and traditional grub in very quaint surrounds.

It takes its name from the Spanish ambassador who erected the building as a country house in 1585.

Since then its history has been long and colourful - highwayman Dick Turpin is said to have used it as a hideout and John Keats penned his famous Ode to a Nightingale here.

Nowadays the Spaniards is largely frequented by locals and tourists, particularly in summer when weekend barbecues and bank holiday spit roasts in the garden make it even more of a honeypot.

It is also an excellent base from which to explore the walks and views on Hampstead Heath.

Switch car horns for creaky floors and the concrete jungle for a blooming beer terrace at this popular pub on Hampstead Heath.

The Spaniards Inn offers a welcome country retreat from the hustle and bustle of the British capital, boasting fine ales and traditional grub in very quaint surrounds.

It takes its name from the Spanish ambassador who erected the building as a country house in 1585.

Since then its history has been long and colourful - highwayman Dick Turpin is said to have used it as a hideout and John Keats penned his famous Ode to a Nightingale here.

Nowadays the Spaniards is largely frequented by locals and tourists, particularly in summer when weekend barbecues and bank holiday spit roasts in the garden make it even more of a honeypot.

It is also an excellent base from which to explore the walks and views on Hampstead Heath.

Touted as "the most refreshingly civilised place to meet" on the chain's website, Prague's Bar and Books is certainly a favourite among discerning drinkers.

Boasting a sister venue in New York City, the brand is already well-established as a luxury lounge bar, with rich leather and dark wood interiors enforcing the opulent atmosphere.

Sophisticates will drool over the extensive bar menu, which includes a wide range of wines and whiskies alongside classic cocktails.

Service meanwhile, is as excellent as the bar's location - it sits in Prague's pretty old town with stunning rear views of the fairytale-like Tyn Church.

To sample the best of Bar and Books, visit on a themed night. Mondays include complimentary cigars for ladies, Tuesday is dedicated to whiskey and most evenings revolve around 007 screenings.

Another outlet of the chain opens in Manesova, Prague, in the autumn.

From mid-afternoon coffees to two-course dinners or cocktails on the dance floor, Iceland's Vegamot can accommodate most dining and drinking needs.

The two-floor venue is located in the heart of the capital on busy Vegamotastigur and serves as a cafe/bistro by day before transforming into one of the hippest clubs in the city after 10pm.

Food-wise, Vegamot is famed for its fresh fish and decadent desserts, all served from lunch hour onwards.

In summer outdoor dining becomes an option with tables set out on a cosy terrace.

Later on however, the action is all inside as clubbers file in for fabulous vodka cocktails and bottled beers while top DJs do their stuff on the turntables.

For other multi-purpose venues in Reykjavik, Hverfisbarinn transforms from a cultured coffee shop to cutting-edge club in the space of 12 hours every day. Located next to the National Theatre, its sexy interior boasts the best in Scandinavian design.

When in Rome, head to bar of the moment Freni e Frizioni opposite the Tiber river and near the main bridge.

The drinking establishment has grown out of a former car mechanic's workshop and is driving weekenders wild now with its shabby chic decor and great wine.

Its name literally translates to Brakes and Clutch but there seems no slowing the hoards of people who visit, spilling out onto the square or adjoining courtyard.

The interior offers an Italian romance of candles, chandeliers bookshelves and dishevelled walls. Black-and-white photos of Rome stuck up around the bar add to the nostalgic feel of faded glamour.

Other services setting this bar apart include tasty kitchen buffets.

Bar del Fico is another overflowing institution in the city. Formerly a coffee bar, the rickety interior here swaps the mood lighting of Freni e Frizioni for brash neon and plenty of plastic for a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

To warm up for a big night in Seville, the city's Le Rebotica bar is the place to start.

The drinking establishment is famed for its chupitos, or shots, boasting around 75 different kinds at very reasonable prices.

For a taste of glamour, try out the range named after celebrities including Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford or Kim Basinger.

Another good Seville spirit bar is Pecata Mundi. The place is decked in paintings of the seven deadly sins and Flor de Cana, a tasty Nicaraguan rum, is wickedly good enough to join them.

Shots and unusual décor go hand-in-hand again at Cabo Loco Bar. The place many be tiny, but the wide variety of drinks with a backdrop of American Indian artefacts including axes and clothes make this an interesting choice.

In summer Seville also boasts a big drinking scene along the river as well as outdoor bars in some of the parks.

Pre-theatre dining has got a whole lot easier in London with an ultra-modern roof-top area above one of Britain's top playhouses.

The Deck boasts a unique cube shape on one of the Thames-facing terraces of the National Theatre.

The spectacular views of London's skyline are complimented by architecture designed to maximise the capital vantage point - from translucent building materials to a retractable wall.

Head chef Simon Flint serves an array of mouth-watering international cuisine that can be tailored to suit different events and dietary requirements, while the cucumber martini on the cocktail list is a must-try for every visitor.

The hip venue is available to hire throughout the summer for events as diverse as cocktail parties, barbeques, wedding receptions and private dining.

Why not make a day of your Deck experience and visit the theatre afterwards? Productions in 2008 include The Revenger's Tragedy, Afterlife and Harper Regan.