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Best bar in the world is not where you'd expect it
Lonely Planet and Singha beer released the results of their "best bar in the world" contest. The winner is a small corner bar in the heart of Rotterdam called "De Witte Aap" (the white monkey).
I am at a total loss how this bar was able to reach the top spot - I have been there, and while it isn't a bad bar, it's miles away from being the best bar in the world.
In fact, there really isn't anything special about this bar. They do offer regular live entertainment and the same assortment of beer and snacks that you'll find at most decent Dutch bars, but compared to some of the amazing other bars around the world, De Witte Aap is nothing special.
When you check out the list of other bars that made the Lonely Planet lineup, you'll understand why I'm surprised they made a fairly basic bar in Rotterdam their top pick. Oddly enough, De Witte Aap never appears on any other "best bars of Rotterdam" lineup.
Filed under: Food and Drink, Europe, Netherlands
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Spyretos Jul 3rd 2009 9:03AM
Whom are we kidding here? The place is the worst bar I have ever been in my life.
Sorry to tell you this folks, but I am an expat in Rotterdam two years now and the place is the worst choice a person can make. I have only visited it during late hours midweek simply because there is no other place to go to!!
I am not aware of the criteria based on which this contest has taken place, however I strongly believe that the contest is rigged-it just cannot be that this is the best bar in the world...in fact, if I was to vote, I would vote it as the worst bar in the world.
Let us take things from the beginning:
Service: You wait for a long time to get a glass of beer from Bartenders who do not seem to care that much for the customer.
Music: I-pod connected to the stereo with the shuffle on and music of all kinds without natural consequence and many times the downloaded mp3s are of poor quality.
People: Low class rotterdamers without any sense of attitude
Bathroom: I could find a cleaner bathroom in Cambodia!
Sorry guys but please do not believe what they tell you. I have been around Bars in the world and I think that I can tell the lemons from the peaches and here we have to do with a classic case of a lemon...
Lisboa Jul 4th 2009 5:58PM
I completely agree with the above reply. Although Witte Aap is not that bad that it would be 'worst bar in the world', it really is nothing special. I live in Rotterdam and have been there many times, and it's just a small place with random music and the usual drinks. Not good for sitting down, not good enough for a great night out. I feel it's (might be) rigged as well.