The fashionable Mitte district has a number of classy options, and the huge windows at Newton Bar (Charlottenstrasse 57) offer the opportunity to see as well as be seen.

CNN: The story

This classic establishment lines the wall of the hotel facing Madison Avenue, which can be seen through stained glass windows behind the bar, and is a perfect place to sip an aperitif and watch hotel guests go about their business.

BBC: New York City's classic hotel bars

It was reported that at about 21:00 GMT, windows in the bar were smashed and fireworks thrown inside.

BBC: Police car petrol-bombed opposite MP Naomi Long's office

After browsing a site and making your selections, you click the eWallet icon in your Windows task bar, enter your PIN number, and drag your plastic of choice onto the site's order form.

CNN: Don't forget your eWallet when you shop online

They also maintain that ventilating the fire by smashing windows in order to clear smoke from the bar made the task of fighting the fire in the pub basement more dangerous.

BBC: Ewan Williamson

"I was serving behind the bar and I noticed a crowd came by the window with union jacks - within 10 seconds I head the windows starting to go in, " he said.

BBC: Police car petrol-bombed opposite MP Naomi Long's office

Aqua Shard occupies two separate wings linked in the middle by a dramatic atrium bar with floor-to-ceiling windows over three floors.

BBC: High-altitude dining in London

Your suite comes complete with a king-size bed, a wet bar for your pinot grigio, bathrooms with double marble vanities, sitting areas and windows that open up to the sweet wine country air.

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Hit the read link for the full testing procedures and more of those old school bar charts -- it should get you well prepped for the forthcoming flood of similar head-to-heads once WIndows 7 officially ships next week.

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