9 bars you must drink at before you die

Tired of your same old corner bar? Longing for a bit more adventure in your glass? Look no further than these nine epic places to have a drink before you die, or at some point in this lifetime. Yes, they’re that good, and here’s why.

RELATED: 10 international drinking rules every traveler should know

Floyd’s Pelican bar, off the shores of Jamaica, is accessible only by boat | Photo courtesy of  GettingStamped.com

1. Floyd’s Pelican Bar: St. Elizabeth, Jamaica

Located more than a quarter of a mile offshore, the Pelican Bar is a taproom over the water built of cobbled together sticks. The drink list is simple, but if you call ahead owner Floyd can get you anything you want, including dinner in his simple yet amazing little bar.
Drink of choice: Red Stripe, a local favorite, or rum punch with 126 proof Jamaican rum.

Enjoy a cocktail high above the chaotic streets of Bangkok at Sky Bar | Photo courtesy of GettingStamped.com

2. Sky Bar: Bangkok, Thailand

From a skyscraper rooftop, even the bustling city of Bangkok seems peaceful. Sky bars have grown immensely popular in the Thai capital since the Hangover 2 featured one and most nights visitors to Sky Bar can watch the Bangkok sun melt into oranges and reds.
Drink of choice: Thai cocktail culture is trending right now; try a Thai mojito with ingredients like Thai basil, lemongrass and chilies.

Catch a drink and the sunset from the over the water bar | Photo courtesy of GettingStamped.com

3. Over the Water Bar: Summer Island, Maldives

This bar hovers above the stunning turquoise water surrounding Summer Island in the Maldives. A deck runs along the edges of the bar and is the best place on the island for sunset. Inside, portions of the floor are glass-bottomed so you can watch the fish swim by while sipping drinks.
Drink of choice: The Maldivian Lady with a distinct blue color that nearly matches the turquoise water.

Enjoy a sundowner just up stream from the mighty Victoria Falls | Photo courtesy of GettingStamped.com

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4. Zambezi river cruise: Zimbabwe and Zambia

Nightly boats take to the water just in front of Victoria Falls for a sunset cruise in front of the 354-foot tall falls. Sip a sundowner as elephants and hippos graze along the small islands along the river. At sunset, it’s hard to take your eyes off the bright orange ball as it drifts toward the horizon.
Drink of choice: Mosi Lager, a Zambian beer named after the local word for the falls.

A maze of randomness with good drinks and live music in a one of a kind setting at a ruin bar | Photo courtesy of  GettingStamped.com

5. Ruin Bar: Budapest, Hungary

A visit to a ruin bar is like being at the crossroadsof a bizarre dream and the twisted reality of socialism-era Budapest. Sip drinks while wandering through rooms that go from looking like something out of your great grandmother’s house to a derelict warehouse decorated in complete and utter randomness. Budapest has a few ruin bars patterned after the success of Szimpla Kert the original. Another good one is called Instant which is more of a club than a pub.
Drink of choice: Pálinka a fruit brandy; try sour cherry, a local favorite.

Related: 3 perfect days in Budapest

Oktoberfest is a must on any beer related bucket list | Photo courtesy of GettingStamped.com

6. Oktoberfest: Munich, Germany

A pilgrimage site for devout beer lovers, the world’s largest beer festival should be high on your list of places to have a drink before you die. This three-week-long fest brings in over 6 million people annually from around the world. Although popular with visitors, after work and on weekends the festival fills up with local Bavarians who know how to drink beer and celebrate.
Drink of choice: An obvious choice is an Oktoberfest style beer in a liter glass (which may be your only choice in some tents, but that’s okay).

Have a glass of either light or dark at McSorley’s, the oldest bar in Manhattan | Photo courtesy of GettingStamped.com

7. McSorley’s Old Ale House: New York, NY

Although its claim as the oldest bar in New York is disputed (it is regarded as the oldest Irish pub), McSorley’s Old Ale House has been serving up beer in Manhattan since 1854. Everywhere you look you see interesting reminders of the past. Signs warning “Be Good or Be Gone” and 100-year-old wishbones hung by WWI soldiers that didn’t return are haunting. They just don’t make places like this anymore. Grab a glass of beer specially brewed according to McSorley’s recipes and take in this one-of-a-kind NYC taproom.
Drink of choice: Options are limited here, light or dark. Luckily both beers are pretty good.

Try one (or several) of the more than 2,000 beers at the Delirium Cafe | Photo courtesy of  GettingStamped.com

8. The Delirium Cafe: Brussels, Belgium

With more than 2,000 beers on offering, Delirium holds the record for the largest beer selection in the entire world. The 250+ page menu is, for all intents and purposes, the bible of beer. Within this massive multi-level complex there are evenseparate bars for different styles of beer.
Drink of choice: Of the more than 2,000 beers offered, the highest rated and most sought after is the Westvleteren 12 brewed by Trappist monks. However, it’s so rare that sometimes even this place doesn’t have it.

Floridita in Cuba is home to the daiquiri and hangout of Hemingway | Photo courtesy of GettingStamped.com

9. The Floridita: Havana, Cuba

This little place in the heart of Havana’s old town hastwo noteworthy reasons to have a drink here beforeyou die. First, they invented one of the most popular drinks in the world, the daiquiri. Second, this place was a favorite of Ernest Hemingway while he wrote, “For Whom the Bell Tolls.”
Drink of choice: The daiquiri was invented here, so you should probably get one. Or if you’re trying to channel Hemingway, go with the Papa Hemingway with double rum and no sugar.

Tagged: Caribbean, Europe, New York