Location: Konventná 19, 811 03 Bratislava, Slovakia
Venue Type: Czech Hospoda / Corner Local / Pajzl
Year of Inscription: 2017 (Founder Member)
Map
Description
Gallery
| EBG Rating: | 7.9/10 |
| Choice/ Quality of Drinks | ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ |
| Style/ Décor | ❤️❤️❤️ |
| Atmosphere/ Character | ❤️❤️❤️❤️ |
| Amenities/ Events | ❤️❤️❤️ |
| Value For Money | ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ |
| Description | The appeal of pure, unfettered drinking, no B.S, or pretentions is something that grows on you the longer you spend time in Czechia or Slovakia. Backing this philosophy up is absolutely excellent, world class beer kept to strict and exacting standards that is so singularly enjoyable you can find yourself in many scuzzy and otherwise unappealing dive bars still with something to literally cling on to. This Bernard insignia pub typifies working class drinking, set with only a car park between it and the dual carriageway out of town. It’s easy to reach if you’re near the old town, 15 minutes walk, or 10 minutes if you’re based on the road up to the castle. The discount supermarket and sex shop next door certainly hammers home the location even further, yet there is a terrace area outside with some pleasant bench seating. The real welcome is the blackboard stand by the pub, boasting of nearly the full Bernard range from the simple 10 degrees desitka up to the bock-strength special beers. Walk inside and find a very simple cosy room with a dinky bar area. There is a TV in the corner and some ice hockey memorabilia dotted around the place. Don’t expect anything fancy otherwise, it’s a classic sporty local drinking hole. The staff don’t speak English but neither do they utter any objection or hostility when you order a beer – they know why you are here. The other patrons inside barely even turn around to acknowledge you in their haze of cigarette smoke and drunkenness, which might give you peace of mind if you sometimes dislike feeling like an intruder. The terrace is a bit more communal, and even if you aren’t involved in conversation there is a friendly feel to sit with the crowd. The pub crowd is an odd split between young couples who sit outside and typically grizzled old boozehounds who wander in and out, but this sort of works in its favour and I quite like places like this that throw different groups of people together. The Bernard is excellent, disappearing down the hatch with alarming ease. On both occasions I found myself dispatching several in short order, the combination of price and quality proving irresistible. It remains among the cheapest options in the city. While there are many humdrum aspects to the pub you could probably find in dozens of other Pivareny in the city, I couldn’t think of a better example of a comfortable, strongly-supported diverse working class venue, and the beer and value just tops it off. When compared to the central brewery with its glass, chrome and corporate feel, Bernard pri Lyceu provides a stark contrast but equally, a welcome reminder of the more homely and simple values of pub going. |
