Been out having a couple of drinks while I have been in Basel but the scenario always seems to be the same in the few places I have visited. Very immature young people - some look like they are not even legal drinking age - to early early twenties just there to get drunk... not quite my crowd. No doubt I have gone to the wrong places, so my question is actually quite simple: 'where do I go to meet normal grown up people 30-50 in Basel'? Just to have a quiet drink and a chat - perhaps to meet future friends.... any of those places around you can recommend?

Actually most young people have other things to do than getting drunk so, as you might expect, it does seem as if you are all collecting at the same trough.

Perhaps you misread my post or I need to define what the difference is between getting dunk and having a few drinks. I don't go out to get blind drunk so I can't see straight or walk straight. I like to go out and have 2-3, hell sometimes even 4 pints of beer. I enjoy talking to people without the sound of massive techno tunes making it impossible. I like not to have drinks poored all over me by hammered youngsters.... so no we are not collecting at the same through... Sorry if I offended you though....

No, what I meant was that there are plenty of places where you can have a few drinks without all this clubbing and partying mode. That's all. No offence meant either.

I am sure there are.... that's why I asked for some recommendations. I would probably end up finding some place eventually but thought it might be easier to ask you guys

The crowd is really young in Switzerland and there is not much between "kindergarten", expensive hotel bars and the awful 30+ clubs. Live in Zurich so I cannot give you any recommendations but ask around at work and you might be lucky or check out http://basel.usgang.ch/ and the lounge offers they have listed. Good Luck! was out in Basel once and it was a disaster

Hi i have been here for nearly two years now, started off by going to Paddys but this gets really busy at the weekends, nice to go during the week though as its fairly quiet and some special offers on the food i.e. 2 for 1 on Mondays, and first drink free with a meal on a Tuesday. I made a load of new friends there but the busy weekends put me off, I then migrated to Pickwicks which is a lot calmer than Paddys, bar staff are all cool and you can just pitch up, grab a pint and strike up a conversation with pretty much anyone there.
Hope this helps.

I can tell you, a few guys and I go to these pubs once in a while and they are great. At least one makes their own beer

http://goo.gl/maps/ETMG

Also, Fischerstube takes lunch checks thank you very much!!! Nothing like drinking after work, having some good food bar style, and only paying 50%

Buakaw, what sort of interests do you have? It might be easier to point you in the direction of places that have the activities that you like. finding people to socialise with will then be easier through common interests.

Hi Buakaw..
Normal is relative, and usually bores me, but if you want to meet up with some decent people, one of our members, Adrian, often organises events in the Events Calender.

This German learning group may be also something to try out.

If you're good at German, help the others.

Or.... be the Alpha - organise a drinks event yourself, meeting at Paddy O'Reillies or somewhere else with a bit of life.

Thanks for your advice. I know it is hard to define normal - what is normal for one person might be abnormal for the next.

I like to listen to some good music and I love live music. Mainly old school rock like Rainbow, Queen, Boston.....

My interests are martial arts, mountain biking and traveling.... my family is up there at the top though...

I've tried both Pickwicks and the other pub but only on weekends, so perhaps have to check them out during the week.

I will most definitely try to organize something myself

In Singapore and Thailand I used to go to the Internations events. I don't know if any of you are part of it but it was really nice out there. www.internations.org .... perhaps it could inspire others too

You can join us next week, Dinner, Drinks, Fun and Sun! (Basel) maybe meet some new people and make plans with them!

Most places on the weekend seem to be crowded and loud. I like to have a few drinks now and then during the week days. Mid afternoons and I enjoy Mr.Pickwicks. There are a few other places I have gone but I do not remember the names of them. They are pretty close to Mr.Pickwicks.

I like the little hole in the wall places without the techno music and younger crowd. Unless the wife comes out with me then I enjoy the bigger crowds as I like to people watch and make drunken fools out of themselves!

Try Mr.Pickwicks. I enjoy it.

Hi Buakaw

There's a few places I can recommend:

• Carambolage Bar http://sommerresidenz.ch

• Café Salon http://www.cafesalon.ch
• Agora Bar http://www.cafebaragora.org
• Hirscheneck "Hirschi" http://www.hirscheneck.ch
• Irrsinn Bar http://www.qype.ch/place/2085449-Irrsinn-Bar-Basel
• Grenzwert Bar http://www.grenzwert.ch
• Valentino's Place http://www.valentinosplace.ch
• Bar Alpenblick http://www.bar-alpenblick.ch
• Säli / Zum goldenen Fass http://www.goldenes-fass.ch
• Café Hammer http://www.cafehammer.ch

There's various folks frequenting these places, ranging from 20 - 60+ (if age is a criterion).


Cheers

Hi, welcome to Basel. If i am in the mood for some music i use denkmal.org to find interesting concerts. Also, I don't remember if they are doing concerts on the rhein this year or not but that was always a lot of fun to listen to various styles of music played from a flotilla on the river. I have also been a few times to the bird's eye jazz club right behind barfurserplatz.


But really it comes down to building up a social network either through work or the hard way by starting cold with people. I also met a few people through the migroklubschule taking random courses.

There is also the german pratice group meeting this evening at the AllBarOne really close to the patty's. Always welcome there

Pickwicks on Steinenvorstadt! Bar Rouge (maybe not on weekends). Jerry's, also on Steinenvorstadt. There is also this other Irish pub closer to SBB, if you walk from the Pyramids (behind Theater) up the hill towards the park by SBB. I think along the tram 2 line. I haven't been there myself but from what I've seen and heard, there is an older crowd there.

mcguiness - basel.. closed down?

Yes! That's the one. I haven't been past it in ages either though so maybe you're right, it might be closed... I did a quick Google search and found this http://mcguinnesspub.com/, doesn't seem to be a lot of life there either. Hmm.

i saw the website too, as you saw not a lot happening, but given the attitude from the owner thats not surprising