What Makes a Bar Great

Everyone has had those nights where everything was just perfect, the bartenders were hot, the bar had a great unique atmosphere, drinks were cheap and you met plenty of fun new people! So why do you love some bars and hate others?

Atmosphere: Music and dancing is part of the fun in a bar. It is a commonly-held industry belief that changing the lighting and sound creates a better atmosphere for drinking. Play smooth jazz, almost everyone likes this, even if some people won't admit this. I've had many nights out ruined because of music choice. Find out what music fits for your bar, and choose not to play the standard Alcatech shuffle playlist, but choose a genre you like.

No loud music: I've been in places where everybody was just standing in corners, not talking, not having fun. We go out to talk to friends, and to meet new people. We don't like to shout over the music just because the DJ thinks he should crank up the volume all the way. It turns out that people drink more when loud or fast music is played. There have been studies that observed the effects of structural components of music such as volume, tempo, and tonality have with consumer behavior.

I've been to bars where they don't play music at all, and I've never had so many fun quick conversations with people I didn't know! Ask your guests if loud music is a problem if you don't know. A returning customer is much more valuable.

Clean bathrooms: A survey sponsored by Kimberly-Clark found that 77% of consumers consider a dirty restroom indicative of the overall level of cleanliness in an establishment. Signage is vital, too. Asking where the toilet is at the bar is not something women want to do, and nor should they have to.63 percent of the polled women avoided using the restroom, simply because it is not up to their standards of cleanliness.

There are even people who'll return to your bar just because they love your soap so much. People will have plenty of time to review your bar while they are in the bathroom, so hang a stylish mirror, choose design lighting that works, choose elegant fixtures, and buy a quality toilet.

Cheap drinks: Of course we don't expect to have a great night out for free, but spending 80 bucks on drinks and entrance isn't much fun, and fun is exactly why we go out. Going out has become a lot more expensive in the last years, and in the more classy establishments I keep seeing those aluminum 25 cl Heineken bottles, that costs as much as a regular bottle used to cost. This is one of the reasons bars in Eastern Bloc are so great, you'll have a great night out and you'll spend almost nothing!

Happy hour!: When there's at least a few people inside, and people see them having fun through the windows, it makes it much more attractive to go inside. So how do you get people inside in the less busy hours? Organize a happy hour of course. Remember a bar that feels empty  will most likely stay empty.

Themed bars: It is great to have a completely new and fun experience when going out. There are amazing bars such as Espit Chupitos in Barcelona, Spain, where the bartenders love to set the bar on fire and breathe flames! And there is Big Baobab Bar in South Africa, which is inside the hollow 155 ft circumference trunk of a 72 ft tall Baobab tree.

Bars like these create the opportunity to tell some cool and unique stories to your friends when you return home. Who doesn't know the famous ice bars in London, Paris, Sweden and Dubai? We love to go out in the most unusual bars and nightclubs in the world.

Entertainment: Good entertainment choices will fill a bar. Especially when it's still early in the evening, we like playing on pinball machines or slot machines. Karaoke will always draw a crowd from those who want to be stars and others who love to watch and laugh at the mistakes. We also love playing pool with our friends, or a competitive game of darts.

We feel at home: When we go to our favorite places, we should feel at home. A coffee bar or lounge should have a laidback atmosphere where you feel safe and where you can enjoy yourself. The staff should be really friendly, and know its regular guests. You should be able to dress pretty much however you want and fit right in any age range. One of the fun things of going out is meeting people you didn't know you like! In a brown café in Amsterdam you'll meet people much older or younger than you, and it doesn't feel like it matters.