7 Destinations Worth Visiting for a Drink

From sipping sake in Japanese restaurants to gulping down pints of Guinness in a pub, drinking like the locals can provide a crash course in a destination’s culture. Here’s a list of seven places we think are worth visiting just for to sample local concoctions. Whether they’re serving up the best cocktails or a local concoction that will knock you off your feet, these are the drinking spots worldwide you can’t afford to miss.

1. Germany

No drink list would be complete without Germany on it! Ask any beverage connoisseur and they’ll tell you beer is the national treasure of the country. Don’t worry if you can’t visit during Oktoberfest–there are over 5000 breweries in the country, ensuring any time you visit you’ll get to indulge in a good pint to accompany your weinerschnitzel. Expand your tastebuds by seeking out some unique brews such as Leipziger Gose, Andechser Doppelbock, or Gaffel Kolsh.

Flickr photo by Rodrigo Galindez

2. Ireland

Like Germany, you can’t avoid talking about Ireland when it comes to drinking. Guinness is probably the country’s most recognized global export, and Irishmen are known for the sheer amount they drink at one sitting, but that’s not what drinking is about. No, in Ireland, you have to experience the pubs to really understand its drinking culture. These family-friendly community gathering centers (that happen to also serve big pints of Guinness) bring you back to a different era when sing-alongs and impromptu jam sessions were the norm. No worries if you can’t hold a tune – after a few rounds of Guinness you’ll be ready to sing your heart out!

3. Russia

Lauded as the alcohol capital of the world, Russia is routinely cited as the nation that consumes the most alcohol in the world – so if you’re determined to be well-rounded in your drinking experiences around the world, you have to get sloshed in Russia. Visit the capital city of St Petersburg where you can spend time visiting the numerous museums and historic places, before hitting the bars where you’ll find locals drinking vodka all night long.

FLickr photo by True Russian Vodka

4. South Korea

In a quick Twitter survey Seoul, the capital of South Korea, made 85% of the respondents’ best drinking lists. That’s because South Koreans have raised drinking to a cultural art form that is part of every social event, whether business or personal. A cosmopolitan range of alcoholic beverages can be found throughout the country, but the national favorite is soju, a distilled beverage similar to vodka and often made from sweet potatoes. Don’t let the light taste fool you; drink too much and you’ll feel as if a donkey had kicked you the next day.

Flickr photo by Chris Ornellas

5. United States

As a country founded by Puritans, it’s probably no surprise that there’s no nationally celebrated drinking culture. Despite that, you can still find a few pockets of places where the alcohol flows like the legendary fountain-of-youth that sent Ponce de Leon to Florida in the first place. For the best U.S. drinking experiences, visit one of the cocktail capitals, New Orleans, Louisiana or Key West, Florida where pub culture is on full display. That said, wander into any sports bar on any given Autumn Sunday in the Southern U.S. and you’ll find scores of American football fans ready to share a beer and a platter of spicy buffalo wings while rooting on the local team favorite.

Flickr photo by Linda Duchain

6. Thailand

The sun-kissed islands in Thailand are not only known for their pristine beaches, easy-going natives and spicy cuisine, but also their palpitating nightlife and full moon parties. Each month almost 20,000 people gather on Had Rin Nok beach on Koh Phangan to party all night long under the full moon. With an international crowd arriving monthly, most of the drinks you’ll find on the beach will be brands you recognize but to drink like a local ask for yah dong, a Thai whiskey mixed with various “beneficial” herbs, or sang som, a Thai equivalent to rum.

Flickr photo by re-ality

7. Kenya

Surprise to find Kenya on the list? This East African nation brews up interesting local concoctions for the curious traveler. One good example is Urwaga, a banana beer created from fermented banana and sorghum. Another is Nsafufuo, a sweet palm wine that’s 95% alcohol. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to watch someone shimmy up the palm tree and create a fresh tap for your wine on the spot. Stay away from the changaa though – Kenya’s version of moonshine was recently legalized but it is rumored to turn drinkers into zombies or, at the least, cause health issues that could include blindness… its name doesn’t mean “kill me quick” for nothing.

Flickr photo by Barry Pousman

What is your favorite drinking spot in the world? Share with us!