november-2011

118 | DESTINATION GUIDES More free monthly guides available at traveller.easyjet.com
Basel/
Mulhouse/
Freiburg
Switzerland
EXCLUSIVE
Restaurant
Schloss Bottmingen
(9 Schlossgasse,
Bottmingen, tel: 061
421 1515) This castle
surrounded by a moat
is one of Basel’s most
romantic spots to dine
out. Takers of the fi vecourse
Menu Château
won’t be disappointed,
with courses like
Andalusian scampi and
fresh apricot compote.
AFTER DARK
LOW KEY Charlie’s
Bar (26 Rue de la
Sinne, Mulhouse, tel:
03 8966 1222) This
bar, with authentic
art-nouveau décor
and piano music from
1920s Paris, is the
perfect place to start
the evening with a glass
of chilled Champagne.
LIVE MUSIC The
Bird’s Eye Jazz Club
(20 Kohlenberg, Basel,
tel: 061 263 3341)
The best jazz acts
from Switzerland, and
many big names from
all over Europe, play
four or fi ve nights a
week at this club sunk
into the cellars
of Basel’s old prison.
LATE & LIVELY
Bar du Nord (200
Schwarzwaldallee,
Basel, tel: 061
683 1313) Eclectic
surroundings give
this bar the edge
over other local
nightspots. Housed in
the old buff et canteen
at the German
train station, it still
has many of the
original fi ttings.
THIS MONTH
SHOP The
Petersplatz, in the
middle of Basel
University, is the place
to gorge yourself on
sweets, fried food,
and to stock up on
Christmas presents,
especially if your
friends like scarves,
essential oils and
handmade toys.
GO Since 1471, the
Basel Herbstmesse
(Autumn Fair) has been
Basel’s best autumn
attraction. While the
fattened pigs and
prize cows have given
way to roller-coasters
and candy fl oss, kids
and adults seem to
love it, fi lling the streets
for the fi rst two weeks
of November.
ESCAPE In that
limbo between
summer and ski
season, it’s worth
taking a trip to Bern,
Switzerland’s capital.
The green-stone
city off ers stunning
UNESCO-certifi ed
street-scapes, as well
as the the chance to
visit the Bundeshaus,
Switzerland’s
parliament building
NO WAY!
The 1356 Basel
earthquake is
considered to be
the most signifi cant
seismological event
in central Europe
in recorded history.
Richard Harvell
Belfast
UK
DIALLING CODE +44
CURRENCY £
FLY FROM
Alicante,
Amsterdam,
Barcelona, Bristol,
Edinburgh, Faro,
Geneva, Glasgow, Ibiza,
Krakow, Liverpool,
London (LGW, LTN,
STN, SEN), Málaga,
Malta, Manchester,
Newcastle, Majorca,
Nice, Paris (CDG)
FROM THE
AIRPORT
TAXI Pre-book your taxi
at easyJet.com.
A local taxi costs £25.
The airport
express takes
25 minutes to the city
centre. Buy onboard,
tickets: £10.
Visit the Europcar
desk for special
easyJet rates.
BON APPETIT
UP TO €15 The
Grill Room at Ten
Square (10 Donegall
Square South, tel: 028
9024 1001) The Grill
Room is situated at
the rear of the City Hall
and is buzzing most
nights of the week.
The food is excellent
and great value.
UP TO €30
Drennans (43
University Road, tel:
Let’s spend the night together
028 9020 4556) This
large restaurant is a
great place to dine on
a cold winter’s night.
The menu is pretty
basic but the food is
tasty and is largely
homemade. You
might even be lucky
enough to catch
some live music.
UP TO €50 Ink
Restaurant (111
Newton Park, tel:
028 9070 7970)
This restaurant has
arguably the best
view in Belfast and the
food is also not to be
sniff ed at. It’s part of a
complex of bars called
The Four Winds. It’s a
great place to go for a
romantic meal for two.
EXCLUSIVE No.27
Talbot Street (27
Talbot Street, tel:
028 9031 2884) The
Cathedral Quarter
is home to a lot of
Belfast’s best bars
and restaurants and
No.27 is at the heart of
the action. It’s a bistrostyle
restaurant that
THE PARK
AVENUE HOTEL
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Promising comfort
and enjoyment, this
hotel is in a central
location yet close
to the airport.
Breakfast included.
From €80, book at
hotels.easyJet.com.
hostelboat berlin
serves terrifi c modern
cuisine. It tends to be
busy at weekends so
book in advance.
AFTER DARK
LOW KEY Bittles
Bar (103 Victoria
Street, tel: 028
9031 1088) This
tiny triangular bar is
situated next door to
the massive Victoria
Square shopping
centre, but it might as
well be a world away.
Its walls are adorned
with paintings of
famous Irish artists
and it has a very
friendly atmosphere.
LIVE MUSIC
Limelight (17 Ormeau
Avenue, tel: 028 9032
5968) Although many
live venues have come
and gone over the
years, the Limelight
has been putting on
great live music over
the last couple of
decades. Bands such
as Blur, Oasis and the
Happy Mondays all
played here before
they hit the big time.
LATE & LIVELY
The Parlour
(Elmwood Avenue, tel:
028 9068 6970) In any
city the bars and clubs
close to the university
are usually a safe bet
if you are looking for a
bit of craic. The Parlour
bar is a case in point as
it’s situated a stone’s
throw from Queen’s.
It’s busy most nights
of the week and has
several fl oors.
THIS MONTH
SHOP For fresh food
and arts and crafts
make your way to St
George’s Market. The
old Victorian market
is packed full of
interesting stalls and
lots of local character
every Friday, Saturday
and Sunday.
SEE Irish icon Christy
Moore has released
over 30 albums over
a career spanning 40
years. He will perform
with Declan Sinnott
on 20–21 November
at Waterfront Hall.
GO Head to Queen’s
Quarter for a stroll
around this elegant
part of town. It’s
chock full of great old
buildings and leafy
boulevards, as well as
the Botanic Gardens.
ESCAPE If you are
heading to the northwest
from Belfast
why not stop off at
the bustling town of
Magherafelt. Around
40 minutes from
Belfast, it boasts loads
of great shops
and restaurants.
NO WAY!
The British Museum
owes much to Sir
Hans Sloane, born
in Killyleagh, County
Down. He began
collecting plants and
birds’ eggs on the
shores of Strangford
Lough and his
accumulation grew into
a priceless collection
that formed the
nucleus of the British
Museum. Sloane
Square, Hans Place
and a tube station were
named after him.
Chris Sherry/
Ulster Tatler