Bernaccia

Formerly known as The Empress, this bar has changed name (and management) quite often, but its current incarnation, Bernaccia, has survived for well over two years and shows no signs of disappearing.

The Venue
Perched on the bank leading to Newcastle's famous Quayside, behind St Nicholas Cathedral and next door to the much-fancied gourmet restaurant Rockafellas, you won’t have any trouble finding this luxury drinking hole and live music bar.

The stage is set at the front of the bar, just inside the massive glass window, and this is the only part that can be clearly seen from the outside at night. As you enter, with the small platform to your left, the first thing you'll notice is one of the Bernaccia's best features - its glorious long wooden bar. Parts of this building are listed and cannot be removed, such as the bar and the glass mirrors on the opposite wall, but they give Bernaccia so much character it's impossible to imagine it without them.

Newer features, such as chandeliers and moody lighting, provide a warm ambience. The bar takes up the whole left side, but halfway down the room opens up to a slightly wider lounge area which is decked out with cool leather sofas.

Opposite the bar, separated from the lounge area by an old grand piano, are comfy chairs and tables with a cushioned bench running under the mirrors. There’s also ample standing/dancing room, which is handy at the weekend when DJs take to the decks and the bar stays open until 1am, or when bands perform.

The People
Staff are exceptionally friendly and helpful, from explaining cocktail ingredients to making sure you’re happy with your pint. As it’s located halfway between the Bigg Market and the Quayside the bar sees a mix of people, many using it as a stop-off point from one to the other. Others, mainly young professionals and students, stay longer to enjoy the relaxed ambience. At the weekend some bars can leave you feeling like cattle but even though it gets very busy here it never feels especially cramped.

The Drink
The beers on tap vary only slightly from the norm, with regulars Guinness and Carling squaring up against Coors, San Miguel, Grolsh and Caffrey's Cold. There's Strongbow on tap, a small range of the standard bottled beers and an excellent range of spirits (especially Martinis) and shooters which are worth trying even if you're not that adventurous.

The Last Word
Reasonably priced drinks, entertainment from live bands, DJs, chilled-out acoustic sessions and one of the friendliest atmospheres in the city make this bar one of the best contemporary drinking holes in the city.

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