Bar Warszawa de Luxe (Warsaw, Poland)

Bar Warszawa de Luxe, Krakoewskie Przedmiescie 79, Warsaw Poland, right in the heart of Old Town.   This bar is well located and right by the Palace and shopping areas. There is a big side walk patio area with seating in front and along the side with nice comfortable chairs.  The bar is kind of a two story bar, in actuality it is open in the middle and in the back part of the bar there is an area that wraps around and looks down to the bar.  The sit up bar is very small and sits about 5 people. The waiters are dressed in plaid shirts, blue jeans and Poorboy hats.  The furniture consists of antique tables and chairs.  The wine worked out to be about $3.50 Canadian/ USA for 2 two glasses.  They had a couple of types of beer on tap.  I am guessing large varieties of beer on tap is not big in Poland from what I have seen.  there were various food specials, but I did not try the food, yet most others were eating brunch when we were there and it look very good.  Service was good and the waiters spoke fairly good English.  If I am here ever again I would like to sit out side and watch everyone pass by!

Pijalnia Wodki I Piwa (Warsaw, Poland)

Pijalnia Wodki I Piwa, ul, Nowy Swait 19, Warsaw Poland.  This little bar is in Old Town Warsaw, and is located in the heart of the shopping district.  They have two sit up bars, the front one seats about 10 people, and the back one seats about 10 people.  The prices here are amazing, you can get a glass of wine or beer or Vodka Coke for $ Zloty or around $1.33 Canadian/ USA dollars!!  The food is around 8 Zloty or about $2.50 Canadian / USA dollars.  There is a side walk patio that seats about 15 or so people.  The service was very good and the bartender was very professional.  The walls were adorn with old Polish news papers.  There were 2 types of beer on tap. If you get stuck going with your wife shopping, this place is right in the heart of the shopping area....let her shop while you relax! 

Karczma Polska (Legionowo, Poland)

The Karczma Polska, Zegrzynska 8a, 05-119  Legionowo, Poland. In other words it is just on the outskirts of Legionowo, and Legionowo is about 20 kilometers or so from Warsaw, Poland.  A very cool little cozy bar with seating inside for about 30-35 people at picnic style tables.  There is no sitting up at the bar but you can stand if you wish.  They have two Polish beer on tap and lots of Vodka to choose from.  I went right for the Vodka and a Coke Light.  The Coke Light (as does regular Coke) comes in the glass bottle!  For a Vodka and Coke it cost  6 Zolty or about $2.00 US/ CDN which is a pretty good deal.  There was a a group of people having a get together when I was there and they had bottles of Vodka on the table.  I stood up at the bar and talked to the two owners, a husband and wife team,  They only spoke Polish so he brought out his lap top and used Google translate so we had a nice chat.  I was told that they make traditional Polish food, the bad part was I ate just before I arrived.  Bad move on my part as I got to see the food being served.  Quite a few people stopped in for lunch and a beer.  The bottle beer which is Polish comes in very large bottles.  Everyone was very friendly and having a good time!  There is one toilet or as they call it here "WC" for water closet.  It is for both sexes.  In front they have a patio area on the grass with tables chairs and sun umbrellas.  The interior was rustic with some animal heads and pelts on the wall, but not over bearing.  A fun place and I wish that I had found it earlier on during my trip as I did not have a chance to go back! Get out and see the world and if you do stop by and try the Karczma Polska for sure!!

Coalmont Saloon (Coalmont, British Columbia) CLOSED

Coalmont Saloon, in Coalmont British Columbia, Canada.  Where is Coalmont you ask, well it is about 1 hour west of Osooyos B.C. or about 3 hours East of Vancouver.  You take Highway #3 then when you are in the town of Princeton you go north over the one lane bridge towards Tualameen, B.C. and it is about 20 minutes from Princeton.  That was easy!  The hotel and bar are 100 years old and boy if the walls could speak! The Wonderful woman who runs the hotel and the bar is a delight to talk to.  She heard our dog barking outside and told us that we could bring him in to the bar, the best day of his 12 years of life, sitting in the bar!!  If you want lunch, forget about it, but you can bring your own.  She does serve dinner.  It is in an old mining town with tons of interesting history on the west side of the Okanagan so the weather is great!  We heard that it  has ghosts, and the Vancouver Paranoramal Society has been there 3 times taking all of their fancy ghost cameras.  We did see pictures that they took of a ghost who had her arm cut off.  It relates to the story of a prostitute that was murdered in a house near by 80 or 90 years ago and had her arm cut off.  You can come down and follow up on that stuff. They have cougar, tiger and cheetah skins on some of the furntiture, cool touch.  It is like you walked in to a Hotel and Bar 100 years ago.  Check out the 3 rd photo above of the lobby of the hotel.  By the way the rooms are $40.00 per night. A 5 minute drive towards Tulameen and there is a beautiful lake and Priovincial beach. There is also a great camp ground just north of Tulameen, but I recommend a reservation!  The people were so friendly and told us a lot about the history not only of the Hotel/ bar but of the town!  If you like old bars steeped with history and character this is your place.  If you want fancy prim and proper, this isn't your place.  I really enjoyed it here!
Summer 2013 CLOSED   Re opened new owners and called the Coalmont Hotel

Original Joe's Restaurant and Bar (Cloverdale)

Original Joe's (Cloverdale)  139-17455 Hwy 10, Cloverdale, B.C. Canada  Phone
778-574-4446   www.originaljoes.ca  It has a great location right on the North West corner of Hwy #10 and Hwy #15 in Cloverdale, B.C..  Excellent for travelers from U.S.A. heading to Whistler or where ever.  It is about 7 miles straight north of the PAC Highway border crossing and on the way to Hwy #1.  They have 16 different types of beer on tap including 5 of the Original Joe's beer.  They also have numerous canned and bottled beer as well.  Thursday is a great day to go as it is 1/2 price on all bottles of wine.  They have daily food and drink specials.  There is a catch to this place.....they allow children.  When we were there any one who came in with young children were all seated along the north wall so they didn't bother the rest of the patrons.  There is a nice sidewalk patio that faces west and runs the whole front of the bar.   2 large roll up garage doors can be opened up from the inside area to the patio. They have a nice sit up bar that seats 11 people.  Along the walls they have booths and the rest is high bar chairs and tables.  Several of the tables seat 6 easily.  The food was very good.  I had the Hawaiian burger that had peppered bacon, pineapple and terriaki sauce with lettuce, tomato on it.  It also comes with your choice of 2 side dishes, I had the coleslaw and the french fires which also come with gravy.  Other sides include salad, yam fries and a couple of other things but I can't remember.  The burger, fries and coleslaw was all very good.  There is a lot of food on your plate.  My assistant the "Blogger Babe", had the fish tacos which she said were very good and she gave them an 8 out of 10!!  There was no shortage of servers all of whom were were very friendly and helpful!  With 6 flat screen TVs you won't miss any sports either!  The washrooms are very modern and clean, they should be as they have only been open for 6 weeks!  I really enjoyed my visit here and for sure I will be back.  It is located in a small mall with a Chocolate shop, Staples, M&M meats, Vera's Burgers, Starbucks, Rexall Drugs and a few more opening up.

Toby's Tavern (Coupeville, Washington)

Toby's Tavern, 8 Front Street, Coupeville, Washington, USA Ph# 360-678-4222  www.tobysuds.com  This was another fantastic fine, and thanks goes out to my good friend Dean Sr. for this one!!  It is located right on the water in down town Coupeville, Washington.  It is on Whidbey Island which is also home to the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Here is from Toby's website:
"The building is on the shore of tranquil Penn Cove, waters known for its abundant crop of Mussels. Originally a mercantile built in approximately 1890, the structure has housed many businesses. Following prohibition, it became a beer parlor and has been a Tavern/restaurant since the early sixties.
The back bar was originally brought around the horn and placed in the Fort Warden officers club in about 1900. It then moved to Fort Casey and then eventually to the Central Hotel in Coupeville. When the Hotel suffered a serious fire, the back bar was then moved to its current location at Toby's."
Toby's opened up in 1938.  The Front street is full of shops and places to eat all of the buildings are from around the late 1800's early 1900's.
They have beautiful ornate sit up bar that is full of history.  The sit up bar was full for the 1 1/2 hours that we were there.  I would say it sits around 15 people or so on backless stools!
The food here is awesome! We were there with a bunch of friends and ordered the 2 pounds of steamed Mussels. which came with wonderful fresh toasted bread.  These were probably the best mussels that I have ever eaten.  One of our friends ordered the Ruben sandwich, which came on fresh dark rye bread and lots for french fries.  Other friends had the fish and chips which were also very good.  The service was fantastic and the girls were running all the time keeping every one happy!
There is a good variety of beer on tap, as well as a decent wine list.  It is great sitting here, looking out at the water and watching all of the boats passing by. 
They have one pool table, but no one was using it when we were there.  This place was packed the entire time we were there.  There are all kinds of things on the walls from a moose head, buffalo head, a 5 person rowing shell from the 1950's from the University of Washington.  Just come in and check it all out.
You have to go to Coupeville as it is so beautiful here, great shopping and of course you have to go to Toby's Tavern!  It is a definite two thumbs up for sure!

April 2018.  Bach again.  Once a gain we shared the pound of mussels and they were awesome.  They came with 3 slices of garlic toast.  We shared an order of fish and chi[s.  The fish was very good, nice and meaty!! the fries were good to as can the creamy coleslaw.  Everything else it side is the same.  Love it here!!!

August 30, 2022

Back again and still awesome. Always worth going too! This time my wife and I shared the 2 pounds of steamed Penn Cove Mussels with garlic bread. They were fantastic!! The view is amazing and service is fast and friendly. You have to try Toby's out you will love it!!

Overflow Bar (Sedro Woolley, Washington)

Overflow Bar, 109 Ferry Street Sedro Wolley, Washington, USA.  A small little local bar that was once a Livery then an automotive shop and finally a bar.  The sit up bar seats 12 people and there are 2 pool tables in the middle of the bar.  There are smaller tables around the edges and a large round table towards the back.  Pool on suynday's is free and there are food and drink specials through out the week.  Out back they have a fenced in patio area and is mosly filled up by smokers.  There is no smoking in the bar.  The entire bar isn't that big, probablyt not much bigger than some one's basement rec room.  There was only one bartender/ waitress, but she worked hard and efficient to keep everyone happy.  The first bartender was replaced by Stephanie the bar manager and she too was great.  If only everyone worked that hard and maintained a smile on their face as these girls did!  People were very friendly and one person in particualr was great and that was "Big Mike".  He was very friendly and it was enjoyable to sit and talk to him.  Big Mike told us that this bar is a good local bar and the prices are better then some of the more fancier bars around.  I didn't try any of the food so I can't tell  you about the food.  We had a great time here having a drink, playing some pool and visiting with every one!!   There is no reason why I would't come back here, I had a great time!