The Tequilaria at Charlotte NC gets my vote. I went into the Red carpet club or whatever it was, had my one free beer, and declined the offer to give $5 for every subsequent drink and went outside. Sat there, had a marvellous margueritta, followed by four more, and your right, had a frank and open chat with a gorgeous young lady, who was flying off in the opposite direction.
After 5 margueritta's I walked off to my LH flight to FRA and fell asleep before the meal service. Next thing I knew, they were waking me up, asking if I wanted breakfast, or the fillet I had ordered before going slumber !

So it wasnt actually a great bar just the company :D

Haven't been to the Esky bar, but the Long Bar in The Wing at HKG gets my vote.

I will cast a vote for The Lodge, in MSP. It is in the G concourse, just around the corner from the NWA WorldClub. Leinenkugel's on tap, mmmmm! :)

Yeah, that particular place seems to attract them. Many times I've walked out of the US club and in there and end up next to what my brother-in-law would call "serious talent."

By the way, I need my daily affirmation -- is it wrong that I have a matching set of 6 margarita shakers from that place? :eek:

Watch out. I've posted the story before, but once more for old times sake.

I was relocating from the SF bay area to NC. I went home every weekend and flew the US SFO-CLT redeye something like 10 Sunday nights in a row. There was a small bar by the gate and I got to know the barkeep and waitress a little as I slugged down a couple tall drafts to help me sleep.

One night, a stranger offered to buy me a drink while he belted down mutiple specials (2 for 1 manhattans or something like that). 3 hours later, I'm awoken by a FA who asks if I mind sharing my empty row. It's Mr Buymeabeer from the bar. He's been drinking on the plane and harrassing his seatmate. He kept getting up to go back to his original seat and returned to my row by the FA, and later the FO. Ultimately, he made quite a scene, kicked the FA and got in very hot water. He was calling his lawyer from the plane as we hit the runway in CLT and was escorted from the a/c by men in uniform.

Bottom line, the people you meet in airport bars are fellow travellers, but not necessarily nice ones. I keep to myself in airport bars.

That said, my favorite airport bars are the uncrowded ones where I can keep to myself.

"However airport bars can be a lot of fun for meeting complete strangers. "

I overheard a rocket scientist talking to a brain surgeon in Denver one day. No, really, I did. It was the day the MJ verdict came down. Surreal. :D

Yeah, we all know that if you'd left them, they'd just have gotten broken. So, you were actually doing them a favor. Feeling less guilty now? :D

Actually, they were the plastic ones that the use for their premium margaritas -- after the first couple, I remembered that we had an upcoming Jimmy Buffett party and thought they'd be the hit of the party. I found out otherwise when I had to explain that it really was the weather and not the tequila that caused me to be 11 hours late. ;)

Any airport bar where they serve decent beers, preferably local micro brews, for under $6.00.

BRU would probably be the best airport for that.

The Sofitel Hotel at Athens Airport has a great bar on the top floor. They have one of the few true Female Sommeliers around. And great view of planes taking off and landing.

(Well this is not technically INside the airport, but it's just out the door and down an elevator...)

I haven't imbibed there, but the bar at Figs LGA (downstairs in the main terminal building) looks quite inviting.

How about the long bar upstairs at the LX Business Lounge at ZRH?

Great contrast between depressing, third-world terminal and
cool bar: Martini Monkey, San Jose (CA) Terminal C.

Independence Brew Pub in PHL between Concourses B/C