As any publican will tell you, the secret of a good pub lies in keeping the regulars happy.
With this pearl of wisdom in mind, the profusion of style bars springing up might suggest that what we Scots want most in a watering hole is the kind of light, airy space more common in New York than New Lanark.
In truth, this is exactly what we want. There are times when we crave nothing more than to dress up and hit the town for cocktails and the chance to pose - and on these occasions a style bar is where we head.
But sometimes we want a less flashy and pretentious bar - somewhere we can relax, let our hair down and have a laugh and a drunken dance.
Lava, on Aberdeen's Belmont Street, is such a place. In the dungeony- depths of vodka bar Siberia, Lava is the chalk to stylish Siberia's cheese - or perhaps that should be the other way around.
Both bars share the same ownership - people who obviously believe in catering to their clientele, and who understand that in their case this means catering for customers who vary greatly in terms of age, profession and what they want from their evening entertainment.
Housed in the same granite building, access to Lava is gained by entering the door along from Siberia, from which you descend the dark stairs to reach the top floor of Lava. Located on this upper level, you will find the main bar, the Lava lounge and a chill out room, while downstairs there is another bar, the dance floor and a stage.
Lava plays host to live bands six nights a week, and there is ample opportunity on the ground floor to have a dance, if you happen to like what you hear.
Alternatively, if you prefer a less frantic musical experience, the seating area is in the upstairs lounge, well away from the more enthusiastic revellers and pleasingly close to the largest of the two bars.
A word of warning - once inside Lava, don't head to the bar for a Cosmopolitan. All that's on offer here is the usual mix of lager, vodka and alcopops - you get the picture.
The decor is dark - all black and red - presumably to give the impression of being in the depths of a volcano. The real spook factor comes from the fact that, in bygone days, the area directly beneath the dancefloor once housed a series of vaults to store the bodies of smallpox victims.
All in all, Lava was a refreshing change. Even without a food menu, the proximity to Siberia means this is no problem, and if you're in the mood for some music, and a more relaxed evening than your nearby style bar offers, you could do worse than popping down for a pint.
Drinks: Pint of lager, £2.20; glass of wine, £2.10; spirit and mixer, £2.30
Open: Sunday-Thursday, noon-midnight; Friday and Saturday, noon-2am
Rating: ***
Details
01224 648000
Housed in the same granite building, access to Lava is gained by entering the door along from Siberia, from which you descend the dark stairs to reach the top floor of Lava. Located on this upper level, you will find the main bar, the Lava lounge and a chill out room, while downstairs there is another bar, the dance floor and a stage.
Lava plays host to live bands six nights a week, and there is ample opportunity on the ground floor to have a dance, if you happen to like what you hear.
Alternatively, if you prefer a less frantic musical experience, the seating area is in the upstairs lounge, well away from the more enthusiastic revellers and pleasingly close to the largest of the two bars.
A word of warning - once inside Lava, don't head to the bar for a Cosmopolitan. All that's on offer here is the usual mix of lager, vodka and alcopops - you get the picture.
The decor is dark - all black and red - presumably to give the impression of being in the depths of a volcano. The real spook factor comes from the fact that, in bygone days, the area directly beneath the dancefloor once housed a series of vaults to store the bodies of smallpox victims.
All in all, Lava was a refreshing change. Even without a food menu, the proximity to Siberia means this is no problem, and if you're in the mood for some music, and a more relaxed evening than your nearby style bar offers, you could do worse than popping down for a pint.
Drinks: Pint of lager, £2.20; glass of wine, £2.10; spirit and mixer, £2.30
