Dancing girls.

Dont forget about the crowd, as in what sort of people go there. Thats very important as well.

Atmosphere, Crowd, Location, Prices, and smiling bar staff..

...oh and if youre opening a bar ... then for the love of God DON'T put in the automated drinks measuring machines like at Halles des illes.... it makes the service fekking twice as long, and might well be profitable , but the fact it takes on average 30 minutes to get served there is driving people away.... (location and trendy crowd and good music still draw people there though)

Which reminds me that I need to have a word with a certain somebody...

For me:

Staff

Location

Atmosphere

Decor

Price

Concentration of handsome men, preferably in suits ;)

Good, efficient, hard working bar staff - how long it takes to get served

Entertainment - Sports on tv, pool, darts, bands, etc

Atmoshpere and layout of bar

Not that you get them here but whether or not there is a beer garden!

Ability to go to the toilet with retching.

Does the size of the bar matter?

Does the type of music playing matter?

There are small successful bars - Mulligans. There are big successful bars - Halles de L'Ile. Size doesn't matter. Type of music starts to matter when you have live bands or a DJ.

La terrasse (by bain des paquis) is extreemly successful on a sunny day... no music(that i remember) and tiny bar, but its location works, and the service is very fast (taking the crowd into account) and prices are good.... standing only or sitting on grass...

Mulligans works well in the winter because its cosy and the bands they had were good...

Da Vincis (which is bigger) doesnt work because it got its theme wrong (Irish bar with a name like that? and sofas? Nope fail sorry..., location- Fail, atmophere - fail due to it being empty more often than not....) If it wasnt for the efforts of a Glocals member promoting it it would be empty every night... and we all know that empty bars have bad beer on tap.... plus a big bar that is empty feels really very very empty....

7 Arts works well since the service is quick and very friendly, and the music and themed nights attract a crowd of regulars...its a small bar which fills up around 10 at night.

Clubhouse, good food, good sports, good service, good crowd, good bands... location is also good (for me anyway)

Halles des Illes.... banking crowd, good location, ok prices good music...Crap service... when its empty the service is still crap, and it feels very cold...

Lady Godiva, Great food, great sports, great events, quick friendly service, standard prices, good atmosphere, location is good for anyone living that side of town...if it was closer to me I would go much more often than I do.

Pickwicks I dont particularly like...too dark ... but many do like it, and its mostly full.

2nd Floor... Trendy but expensive but it has truely magnificent views...Quarinale...trendy expensive great music and very busy... but good service, and people go to be seen at both these places.

Cotton Pub...great music (DJ) and lively friendly service... but its not somewhere I would go on a sunny day... only after dark, or in the winter.

In the summer people like air... so thats why Terrasse and Halles des Illes do well... in the winter people like to be cosy and warm..

If you do food, make sure its good, if you have music, make it trendy, if you have bands, make sure theyre worth listening to, if you have outside space it will help in the summer...no one cares in the winter... 

Keep the toilets clean and fresh, the beer cold, and make people feel welcome

What make a woman volcanic?

I was thinking Icelandic girls, but that works too.

The lava =))

the lava....!

I guess its what the man does to her that makes her volcanic....

All this feedback is great, you have no idea how helpful!!!

Now, if I give you a little info about a bar, and some of the feedback it has had, tell me if you would go there...

Bar is small ( we say cosy)

Its in the Paquis

Its not one of those black and white, glass and mirrors decor type bars

A mix of clientele, but generally 20's and 30's

Drinks definitely not expensive

Music / occasional DJ

Snack food available on fridays or saturdays

Here is some of the feedback people have given:

Small is what this place is, but intimate is how to describe it. The staff are friendly and welcoming and talk to you like you are people and not just chf. Definitely had a laugh and will go back for the beer and the banter. Like a small piece of home landed in Geneva

****  is an awesome bartender, and should be cloned for world betterment - he serves up some mean drinks, the music is great and flexible. Great for small parties or pre-clubbing drinks (location right next to Java might interest some of you).

wow... great bar and people in it

Its like a little piece of home.............

Cleanest toilets in Geneva...  (seriously, people have said this)

Walked in a stranger, left as a friend............... 

So, would you give this bar a try??

How much of your commission would I get to go there?

If only I was getting paid.................... :-))

 free drinks are ok

I am sure I could sort out a good rate for glocals or a glocals night...... afterall, my husband runs the place!!!!!!

I would go as long as the bartender knows how to make a proper mojito - can't seem to find anywhere that actually does a decent one in Geneva :o(

As for all the other things, atmosphere and prices are pretty high on my list...

Cafe Cuba mojitos are quite good. It is next to Cafe Remor on Place du Cirque.

Parking - Is there parking available ?  Having said that, why do bars have parking lots when it's illegal to drink & drive ?

Music - for the love of music turn down the volume so people can talk without having to shout.

Toilettes - I was in your place not so long ago . . .  food was good.  A little boy yelled from the back "Mommy, mommy, can I lick the bowl ?"  to which his not so sober mother replied "Shut up and flush it".  Glad your toilettes are the cleanest in Geneva.  Keep them that way as it reflects on the kitchen.

Staff - everybody wants to recognised at "their" place.  How nice it is to be welomed with a big warm smile, a "hi" and a high-five.  Free drinks once in a while to regulars would be a bonus.

Air - now that smoking is banned, it seems most people wanna be outside where the air is fresh & breathable (BO is making a comback along with rabbies) and keep the place cool - a bar is not a sauna.  However, if you have some spare room dowstairs, you could install one and have sauna parties for small groups (I'll let the peanut gallery expand on this one).

And just so you get the right idea, here's as an example  . . . of  a perfect bar (ignore the groupies if you can).

Looks like it...

Sounds like it...

Feels like it...

And, surprise, it is : A commercial trap...

A post in the commercial section, in the Guides / Night life section or even an event organized at your husband's bar would have been a nicer approach...

 . . . thank goodness we didn't step in it !

lucky us!!

ok, what's the name of this place?

Are you buying the first round ? 

For your info, I was trying to get some helpful feedback. This is no way a commercial trap. We are trying to find out what people appreciate in a bar, in the hope we can make changes if needed, and attract more people. If you knew me, you would know I am not about being sneaky!!

Had this been an advert for an event or get together, it would have been posted in the commercial section.

Thanks for your feedback anyway....it was very helpful.

I would like to thank all of you who provided helpful, detailed and positive feedback. Its good to find out what is important to people, and how their preferences vary.

If you would like to visit our place, you will be very welcome. I would be happy to meet you guys and buy you a drink to say thanks. Let me know.

Cheers

T.

No doubt about that

Honi soit qui mal y pense!
Nix für ungut!

im still clueless as to the name of the bar.....

Hi Charlie, belated happy birthday...........

I have not mentioned the name of the bar, as I did not want anyone (poster boy!!!) to think it was a "commercial trap"............. hahahahaha

The bar is called Bar Zen

The name is wrong for a bar. It makes me think of Japanese takeway, not a place to have drinks. That's free advice.

ha ha, the first round is free

Her icy look???

Having been working in and around bars most of my adult life I am intrigued to see how Geneva compares to the London bars I am used to.