This post originally appeared on The Portalist. It has been republished here with permission.
Planning a birthday party or bachelorette night? These 10 taverns, pubs, bars, inns, and other watering holes from fantasy fiction can’t be beat. Sure, the barkeep might not agree to charge your phone, and Uber drivers might be few and far between, but that’s all part of the fun. Join us in celebrating these 10 fantasy establishments that have us saying ”they come in pints!”
Inn of the Last Home, from Dragonlance
(image: Dragonlance)
If you’re ever in Solace, make sure to pay a visit to Inn of the Last Home, a beloved institution known for its food and for regularly hosting The Heroes of the Lane. The inn has had many different owners in the hundreds of years since it was built by Kale the Strong in the branches of a vallenwood tree. During the War of the Lance, the inn was lowered to the ground and dragonarmies burnt the tree in which the inn sat. Following the war, the inn’s then-owner Otik planted a new valennwood tree to house the inn for future generations. To this day, its distinctive appearance and hearty food and drink continue to provide welcome hospitality for weary travelers.
Best Dish: Spiced potatoes
Best Drink: Dark ale
The Leaky Cauldron, from Harry Potter
(image: Warner Bros.)
The Leaky Cauldron at 1 Diagon Alley on Charing Cross Road is the oldest pub in London, a perfect place for witches and wizards to quench their thirst and relax after a day of shopping. Visitors with an interest in history will be particularly delighted by the storied establishment; built by Daisy Dodderidge in the 1500s, the inn, which initially welcomed Muggle patrons, has served as an important social gathering place throughout the most trying periods in magical history.
Nestled between a Muggle bookshop and a record store, the bar itself has a dive-y feel to it, but the overnight lodgings are surprisingly comfortable.
Best Dish: Soup, soup soup
Best Drink: Exploding lemonade
The Green Dragon Inn, from Lord of the Rings
(image: Matt Chan/Flickr)
Located in the Shire village of Bywater, The Green Dragon Inn was a favorite watering hole of Frodo Baggins and his friends before embarking on their quest. According to Merry and Pippin, “the only brew for the brave and true … Comes from the Green Dragon!”
Best Dish: Beef and ale pie
Best Drink: Beer. So brown.
The Silver Eel Tavern, from the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories
In the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories by Fritz Leiber, the barbarian Fafhrd and his nimble-fingered companion Gray Mouser frequently relax at the Silver Eel Tavern in the corrupt city of Lankhmar. It’s not an establishment for the faint of heart, certainly—but if you chance a visit, you’re bound to come away with a story or two.
The Eolian, from The Kingkiller Chronicle
The Eolian tavern in Imre plays a pivotal role in Patrick Rothfuss’ The Kingkiller Chronicle. Its owners Deoch and Stanchion host nightly performances in which local performers pay for an opportunity to show off their skills in a bid to earn their ‘talent pipes’ and hopefully secure a patron. The tavern is hugely impactful on the hero Kvothe’s development as a musician, and on his relationship with Danna.
Best drinks: Cinnamon mead, scutten
The Old Phoenix, from A Midsummer Tempest
Poul Anderson’s Shakespeare-inspired A Midsummer Tempest features a magical tavern known as The Old Phoenix, staffed and patronized solely by beings who are touched by magic in some way. The tavern moves in the time and space between parallel universes, and offers free, one-night lodging to weary travelers who can find their way to its door. The accommodations are reliably excellent, but the true draw is the opportunity to converse with guests from varying periods of history (provided you share a language in common, of course).
Best Dish: Roast beef
Best Drink: Dark beer
The Tavern, from Beauty and the Beast
Gaston, peacocking in front of a painting of Gaston. (image: Disney)
Some might call this pub provincial, but it boasts live entertainment that you won’t find anywhere else—patrons can expect to enjoy improvised musical numbers dedicated to Gaston, a local chauvinist. Special mention must also be made of the tavern’s decorating scheme, which centers heavily around antlers and aggrandizing Gaston murals.
Best Dish: Eggs?
Best Drink: Beer.
Lodging: Maybe, but good luck sleeping surrounded by all that Gaston imagery.
The Three Broomsticks, from Harry Potter
(image: Harry Potter Fanzone)
The Three Broomsticks in the wizarding village of Hogsmeade has been a popular hangout for Hogwarts students for centuries. Students as young as 13-14 can visit the welcoming pub and enjoy the hospitality of Madam Rosmerta. Like most establishments in the wizarding world, a visit to The Three Broomsticks is not without danger; but it’s certainly a more reputable establishment than The Hog’s Head Inn, another Hogsmeade bar frequented by Harry and his friends.
Best drinks: Butterbeer, firewhiskey
Merlotte’s (aka Bellefleur’s Bar and Grill), from True Blood
Merlotte’s chef Lafayette. (image: HBO)
Should you find yourself in Bon Temps, Louisiana, there’s no better place to grab a burger and a beer, or perhaps some TruBlood, than Bellefleur’s Bar and Grill (formerly Merlotte’s). The bar is always full of excitement, whether that means Stackhouse family drama or a rampaging fire demon. However, there’s rarely any dancing at this establishment—those looking to cut a rug (or drink some vamp blood) should instead check out the vampire bar Fangtasia in neighboring Shreveport.
Best Dish: Hamburger
The Traveller’s Rest, from The Dark Tower series
The Traveller’s Rest, depicted in The Dark Tower comics. (image: Marvel Comics)
The Traveller’s Rest in Mejis is a decidedly unfriendly establishment, with a clientele that’s more than a little gloomy. But it’s also the sight of many legendary showdowns, including the notorious altercation between a band of gunslingers from Gilead and the Big Coffin Hunter bandits. If you want to be able to say you were there ‘when’, get your butt to The Traveller’s Rest and wait for the drama to start.
Best drink: Graf
(featured image: Disney)
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