Despite a claim by Paddy's pub in Cuzco in Peru,it remains that the world's highest Irish pub is the Wild Rover in La Paz, Bolivia. I visited there to relax away from the madness of La Paz!
Housed in the lofty Bolivian city of La Paz, you can find the Wild Rover Backpackers on 1476 Comercio Street. I wasn't actually staying there mind you, I chose to stay at the nearby Loki Hostel instead (it's literally round the corner). On the first floor of the Wild Rover backpackers is housed a cosy, friendly wee Irish Pub, also of course known as the Wild Rover. At an elevation of well over 3,000 metres above sea level, this little enclave away from the monstrocity of La Paz had the nice honour of being the world's highest Irish Pub. So I just had to pop in!
You can also book your tours all over Bolivia from the Wild Rover - I sorted some of my buses and Salar tour from there. But I missed a few things out in order to squeeze in my visits to the world's highest football stadium and the world's highest Irish Pub! A travelling Northern Irishman has priorities you know!
As a Northern Irishman it was nice to see a few Northern Irish mentions in the pub, Geordie Best made it onto the wall here in the world's highest Irish Bar. Amazing to see him feature there and it made me feel at home for a while!
Even-ing things up I guess. Most Irish pubs only have the Irish Tricolour, and politics aside, I always carry my Northern Ireland flag! The proudness of being Northern Irish exists on the island as well you know. This was a very happy moment, but not the best moment in the pub...
Once inside the bar I go to order my beer only to be surprised to hear a Northern Irish accent behind the bar - it's a guy from Carryduff called Grant! Amazing!
Grant serves me then comes to this side of the bar to join me for a beer and a chat.It's all a bit surreal! We talk about Tayto, Milky Ways, Gaelic football and Glentoran FC. Grant even puts on his County Down gaelic top!
I also met a girl from Dublin in there - a Liverpool fan and we were sat watching a live European match between Liverpool and Utrecht!
I got a few flag photos with the Northern Ireland flag against the Irish Tricolour and it remains the only photo I have in South America of another person from Northern Ireland holding that flag.
The likes of Ash and Van Morrison came on the dukebox as Grant connected up his iPod to the speakers in the pub! I then spoke to the manager Jack about maybe working there on my travels, but alas I was headed to Peru too soon and wasn't able to add a fourth continent to my "worked in an Irish pub" list.
At night the Wild Rover really does get wild!! It's a party pub and all sorts of things go on - fancy dress, necking drinks, cocktails and nudity. Forget how high an altitude you are - enjoy the party!
Cheers and Slainte with Grant, the sublime experience of having a Bolivian beer at some 3,660 metres above sea level. Amazing. It wasn't a Guinness - a Pacena would have to do...
.
The pub itself may appear hidden at first and please note it is open to the public - you can head straight in and don't need to be staying there.
Situated on a random street and sinking deep into Bolivian mountains is where you find the Wild Rover and I have been to an Irish pub in 6 out of the 7 continents (didn't find on eon my trip to Antarctica).
My wee trip there was incredible. Loved every minute of it and would dearly love to go back. A big thanks to Granty too for being an excellent barman, a great host and good craic!
In Ireland the phrase "Top o the morning to you" is used. Here in La Paz it was more like "top of the world to you!"
Housed in the lofty Bolivian city of La Paz, you can find the Wild Rover Backpackers on 1476 Comercio Street. I wasn't actually staying there mind you, I chose to stay at the nearby Loki Hostel instead (it's literally round the corner). On the first floor of the Wild Rover backpackers is housed a cosy, friendly wee Irish Pub, also of course known as the Wild Rover. At an elevation of well over 3,000 metres above sea level, this little enclave away from the monstrocity of La Paz had the nice honour of being the world's highest Irish Pub. So I just had to pop in!
You can also book your tours all over Bolivia from the Wild Rover - I sorted some of my buses and Salar tour from there. But I missed a few things out in order to squeeze in my visits to the world's highest football stadium and the world's highest Irish Pub! A travelling Northern Irishman has priorities you know!
As a Northern Irishman it was nice to see a few Northern Irish mentions in the pub, Geordie Best made it onto the wall here in the world's highest Irish Bar. Amazing to see him feature there and it made me feel at home for a while!
Even-ing things up I guess. Most Irish pubs only have the Irish Tricolour, and politics aside, I always carry my Northern Ireland flag! The proudness of being Northern Irish exists on the island as well you know. This was a very happy moment, but not the best moment in the pub...
Once inside the bar I go to order my beer only to be surprised to hear a Northern Irish accent behind the bar - it's a guy from Carryduff called Grant! Amazing!
Grant serves me then comes to this side of the bar to join me for a beer and a chat.It's all a bit surreal! We talk about Tayto, Milky Ways, Gaelic football and Glentoran FC. Grant even puts on his County Down gaelic top!
I also met a girl from Dublin in there - a Liverpool fan and we were sat watching a live European match between Liverpool and Utrecht!
I got a few flag photos with the Northern Ireland flag against the Irish Tricolour and it remains the only photo I have in South America of another person from Northern Ireland holding that flag.
The likes of Ash and Van Morrison came on the dukebox as Grant connected up his iPod to the speakers in the pub! I then spoke to the manager Jack about maybe working there on my travels, but alas I was headed to Peru too soon and wasn't able to add a fourth continent to my "worked in an Irish pub" list.
At night the Wild Rover really does get wild!! It's a party pub and all sorts of things go on - fancy dress, necking drinks, cocktails and nudity. Forget how high an altitude you are - enjoy the party!
Cheers and Slainte with Grant, the sublime experience of having a Bolivian beer at some 3,660 metres above sea level. Amazing. It wasn't a Guinness - a Pacena would have to do...
.
The pub itself may appear hidden at first and please note it is open to the public - you can head straight in and don't need to be staying there.
Situated on a random street and sinking deep into Bolivian mountains is where you find the Wild Rover and I have been to an Irish pub in 6 out of the 7 continents (didn't find on eon my trip to Antarctica).
My wee trip there was incredible. Loved every minute of it and would dearly love to go back. A big thanks to Granty too for being an excellent barman, a great host and good craic!
In Ireland the phrase "Top o the morning to you" is used. Here in La Paz it was more like "top of the world to you!"
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