Serena – Yakuza
The city of Kamurocho is filled with countless dive bars and holes in the wall where you can grab a drink. Out of all these locations, none are quite as welcoming as Serena, which becomes New Serena later in the series.
This bar is Kiryu’s home away from home, and functions as your base of operations in multiple Yakuza games.
The warm lighting makes the bar super inviting, and there’s a comforting feel about the place, not to mention the many fascinating patrons that grace the establishment.
Serena would be a great bar to relax and kick back a drink in, not to mention when you’re done there’s the buzzing nightlife of Kamurocho outside.
Afterlife – Mass Effect
Afterlife may not be the safest place to visit, but if you’re looking to live life on the dangerous side, this bar would be your best choice.
The neon-splashed nightclub is filled with the toughest mercenaries around, as supremely catchy techno music thumps in the background.
We can only imagine the number of exotic drinks available on Afterlife’s menu, just make sure to mind your manners as the ruler of Omega, Aria T’Loak, watches over everything.
The Hound Pits – Dishonored
Turns out bars make a pretty good hideout for heroes on the run, as this rustic pub serves as Corvo’s base of operations in Dishonored.
While the city of Dunwall is nightmarish in a lot of ways, The Hound Pits are a nice reprieve where you can kick back a nice pint. From the comfy leather booths to the rustic bar, everything about The Hound Pits is pretty charming.
As long as you ignore everything happening outside, this pub might make for a relaxing afternoon trip.
The Gates of Hell – Bayonetta
You know if someone like Bayonetta hangs out at a bar, it’s a pretty sweet place. The Gates of Hell is Rodin’s snazzy gothic bar, and it just so happens to double as a weapon shop as well; the best of both worlds.
As silky smooth piano Jazz plays in the background, the stoic Rodin himself works the bar, with a host of demonic drinks and tonics lined up behind the bar.
Of course, the biggest problem with The Gates of Hell would be actually getting there, and we’re not quite sure how. Jump through a demonic portal? Enter limbo? Who knows, honestly.
Hercules – GTA IV: Ballad of Gay Tony
Grand Theft Auto is no stranger to seedy night clubs or tucked-away bars, but the club at the center of the Ballad of Gay Tony definitely takes the cake.
Hercules is a gay club near the northern edge of Liberty City, and it’s where a large portion of events in The Ballad of Gay Tony take place.
Despite a nondescript storefront, Hercules seems like a pretty hopping club, decked out with a swanky dancing area and a furnished bar.
Whether you’re just coming for a drink or some dancing, Hercules would no doubt be one of the best places to go in Liberty City.
Milk Bar – Majora’s Mask
Yes yes, there’s no actual alcohol at the Milk Bar in Majora’s Mask, but does that even matter? This delightful hole in the wall is decked out with neon blue and purple lighting, and lets you grab a nice jug of milk at its bar; premium Lon-Lon milk no less.
While the drink is nice, the real star is the giant stage at the back of the building, perfect for plenty of eclectic entertainment. Who knows, if you’re lucky you might even see a Zora, Goron, Deku Scrub, and kid all play together.
7th Heaven – Final Fantasy VII
The slums of Midgar are a pretty terrible place to live, so a place like 7th Heaven is the perfect place to escape. Although a bit run down, this bar is homey in the best sense, with a little table and bar for patrons to sit.
There’s a gorgeous-looking pinball machine to play too, but be careful as you might end discovering a bit more to the bar.
Whether you’re there for a stiff drink, or to engage in a bit of eco-terrorist insurgency, 7th Heaven is your go-to place whenever you walk the streets of Midgar.
The Hive – Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Any Cyberpunk future is sure to be filled with neon-glazed bars and nightclubs, where you can get any number of futuristic drinks…. and other things.
Although The Hive in Deus Ex is a bit seedy, its fantastic design makes it one of the best nightclubs around.
The entire building is designed like a beehive, with corridors weaving in and out of multiple levels. There’s plenty of areas to sit and stand for a chat, or a huge central area to dance in.
The Hive is the kind of place you bring a group of friends for a night out, and its techno future aesthetic certainly separates it from the rest.
The Stray Sheep – Catherine
The Stray Sheep is that neighborhood bar, the usual place that Vincent and his friends go to hang out, have a drink, and talk over their midlife crises.
Everything about the Stray Sheep just looks so comfy and charming, from the massive leather-clad booths to the swanky bar tended by the enigmatic “Boss.”
Friendly and fascinating staff and patrons only help to make The Stray Sheep all the more interesting, and boy do we wish this was a place we could visit in real life.
Joeyray’s Bar – Starcraft 2
The term “hole in the wall” truly was created for places like Joeyray’s Bar, as that’s essentially what this tiny little establishment is.
The Mar Sara-located bar is a tiny little building with an almost western feel, with only a few stools at its bar and a glowing jukebox at the back, easily the centerpiece of the room.
Joeyray’s certainly isn’t our idea of a “happy” bar, but it’s the perfect kind of place you might go to drown your sorrows.
Club Escapade – Persona 3 and 4
Club Escapade has been visited by both the SEES members of Persona 3 and the Investigation Team of Persona 4, and it seems like the most happening place in all of Tatsumi Port Island.
While dancing certainly seems to be the focus in Escapade, there are plenty of comfy booths to kick back at with your friends and have a drink, just make sure everyone is of legal drinking age.
Escapade has style in spades, so if you want somewhere that has atmosphere, this would be our pick.
Cockatrice Inn – The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine
The fantasy world of The Witcher is filled with countless pubs and taverns to grab a drink at, many of which have a warm comforting feel, however, the Italy-inspired region of Toussaint definitely takes the cake.
Situated in the gorgeous countryside against a river, the Cockatrice Inn is the best place for weary travelers to rest their feet. Geralt can find information at the inn or simply grab a quick drink.
The inside of the inn is decorated rusticly, as candles and fireplaces illuminate its many tables and chairs.
Apart from drinking, you could also take the time to engage in a round of Gwent. If fantasy worlds were real, we’d no doubt spend a lot of time at the Cockatrice.
