EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

El Liston & El Dorado , Il Palazzo Hotel , 3-13-1 Haruyoshi. Two of several high-tech bars in the basement of the whimsical Il Palazzo Hotel. El Liston is the more elegant, with warm coral tones, soft lighting and comfy chairs, while the main bar, El Dorado , by Italian designer, Aldo Rossi, is dominated by a magnificent, gilded icon of the hotel's distinctive facade. Not surprisingly, it's not cheap: there's a ¥500 cover charge and the lowliest beer is ¥600. Opening times vary.

Happy Cock , 9F, 2-1-51 Daimyo. It's elbowroom only at weekends in this large, laid-back bar opposite Capricciosa . Drinks are all ¥500 - buy your own beer from vending machines - and they do a range of foods, such as nachos, pizzas and Thai soup, with an all-you-can-eat-and-drink deal in the early evening (6-9pm; ¥2500). Tues-Thurs 6pm-2am, Fri & Sat 6pm-4am.

International Bar , 4F, 3 Tenjin. This ordinary little bar is a good place to network with local gaijin . No cover charge and inexpensive snacks. Look out for the English sign on the main street opposite Matsuya Ladies store, north of the main Tenjin crossroads. Bolero , in the basement of the same building, is a similarly relaxed, inexpensive place. Mon-Sat 7pm-1am.

Mandara Shot Bar , 3F Maria House, 1-8-26 Maizuru. It's worth paying the ¥500 cover charge to see inside this wonderful bar, fashioned on the theme of Kali, India's black goddess. Greeted by a statue of the Dance of Death, you lounge on floor cushions in a hushed cavern partitioned by thin muslin screens and lit by flickering candles. Drinks start at ¥500, and there's an eclectic food menu. Daily 7pm-3am, Fri & Sat till 5am.

Off Broadway , 2F, 3-2-13 Tenjin. They play everything from jazz to hip-hop in this dark, lively bar with regular reggae and Latin nights. Though there's no cover charge, you're expected to buy at least one drink, with prices starting at ¥400 for a beer; midweek, beer pitchers are half price until 10pm. They claim to serve the "best hamburgers in Kyushu", besides large portions of fries, buffalo wings and daily set meals. One street west of Oyafuki-dori. Daily 7.30pm-2am, Fri & Sat till 4am.

The Voodoo Lounge , 2F, Tenjin Centre Building, 3-2-13 Tenjin. Boogie the night away with the hip crowd or chill out while watching sports in this capacious bar. Live bands nightly. Daily 7pm-3am except Tuesday. ¥500 cover charge on Fri & Sat after 9pm. The cheapest beer is ¥400.