Bars
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Grand Theatre

Bar de l'Hôtel de Ville (BHV) 4 rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville. Friendly little gay café-bar which stages a variety of free events every other Sunday (10.30pm).

Calle Ocho 24 rue des Piliers-de-Tutelle tel 05.56.48.08.68. Bordeaux's best known and liveliest salsa bar is packed out on Friday and Saturday nights. They serve real Cuban rum and mojitos, a traditional drink of mint, lemon, sugar, sparkling water and lots of rum, and the music is loud.

Connemara 18 cours d'Albret. For the homesick pining for a pint of Guinness, this is Bordeaux's liveliest Irish pub, with free concerts or some other event most nights, plus cheap bar-snacks, such as fish and chips, Guinness pie and apple crumble.

Dick Turpin's 72 rue du Loup. Opposite the wisteria-filled courtyard of the municipal archives, this is a pretty good rendition of an English town pub with a great atmosphere and an international clientele. There's the standard range of beers – Guinness, Bass and Newcastle Brown – in addition to well-priced bar meals, and tea and cakes in the quieter afternoons. Happy hour 5.30–8.30pm.

Le Plana 22 place de la Victoire. One of the more relaxed student hangouts around the square, though, like everywhere else, it's jumping on Thursday nights. Free live music on Sun (jazz), Mon & Tues (various).