Dino’s American Bar – best cocktail bars

While the décor at this veteran cocktail bar looks like it’s straight out of a cheap hotel, the barmen behind the bar know their way around cocktails. And somehow the décor fits here with the cigarette smoke clouds, the old soda water dispensers, the pretzel and nuts served as soon as you take a seat. Here, we sipped at some of the finest cocktails we tried on the night and enjoyed watching the bar staff work the crowd with their charm, their monster sideburns, or their Spanish accent. If you can’t make a decision after flicking through the menu repeatedly, we recommend asking the highly knowledgeable bar staff to have their way with you… your tastebuds, we mean.

Number of cocktails on the menu? Around 300

Barman banter with Rene
VW: What drink would you recommend ordering for a pretty Girl, or a handsome guy sitting at the other end of the bar?
Rene: If somebody asked me to make them up something for somebody at the bar, I’d deal with it on a individual basis – there’s no uniform drink for a girl or guy.
VW: Is there a secret to your cocktail shaking technique?
Rene: There’s no secret to it. You have to rely on the sound and the feel.
VW: What’s the craziest story you’ve ever heard, or witnessed, behind the bar?
Rene: There’s been plenty – we’ve seen people meet here, get married here and divorce here. Plus, we’ve been around so long that their children even drink here now.
VW: What’s your favourite cocktail?
Rene: One of my favourite cocktails to make, and one that’s very popular amongst women, is the Rosebud. It’s a champagne based cocktail with a rosebud in it.