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I need a word which refers to restaurants, bars and clubs. Places were you usually talk with friends, date, or dance. I thought about "Spots" or "Places" but I'm not sure if people will associate them with travel.

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It wasn't me, but perhaps because it can be answered with a web search for synonyms. – Hugo Aug 22 '11 at 8:30
@Hugo I'm not looking for synonyms but for a category/word which includes many others (word choice). – janoChen Aug 22 '11 at 8:34

7 Answers

up vote 8 down vote accepted

One word you can use is venue:

the scene or locale of any action or event.

You often hear this word in the context of concerts, but it is any location where something could take place. Another option is hotspot, which refers to nightclubs and the like.

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I reckon venue is the most appropriate word here. – Thursagen Aug 22 '11 at 10:18
Venue is more a term for performers, that is, it tells a performer that such a place is one where they can perform. And even then, to call a restaurant that has live music, it is a venue only for the performers, not for the people looking for something to eat or be entertained. – Mitch Aug 22 '11 at 14:12
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"Venue" is just so broad, it could be referring to a public park or library, really anything. It's not limited to performances either, unless I am mistaken, but usually refers to the place an event is being held (could be a bake sale or meeting, anything). – Wesley Murch Aug 22 '11 at 16:30
up vote 5 down vote

Some suitable synonyms from a simple web search: hangout, joint, watering hole, nightspot, pub, dive, drinkery, venue.

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Wow, thanks but now I have so many options. I don't know what to choose. – janoChen Aug 22 '11 at 8:31
Well, what's your context? – Hugo Aug 22 '11 at 8:32
I'm building a forum for foreigners in Taiwan. I want a topics category for places were people can eat, drink, chat, and socialize (in other words, drinking and non-drinking places). – janoChen Aug 22 '11 at 8:38
I think "venue" is the best gerneral-purpose term for your needs, given your explanation. – Toby Aug 22 '11 at 13:16
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Nightspot and hangout seem to capture what you’re after much more specifically than the other suggestions. Venue, for instance, suggests a place that you hear/see performances, so it can also cover concert halls/arenas, and depending on context people might not expect it to include restaurants. – PLL Aug 22 '11 at 17:17
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You may use hangout.

a favorite place for spending time; also : a place frequented for entertainment or for socializing.

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Hangout is, in my opinion, an americanism. It would sound contrived if used here in Australia. – Richard A Aug 22 '11 at 22:47
up vote 1 down vote

Horeca is a business term which refers to a sector of the food service industry, to establishments which prepare and serve food and beverages. The term is a syllabic abbreviation of the words Hotel/Restaurant/Café.

it hails from Dutch and may be a bit obscure

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I'm not sure most users would recognize what that is. It also sounds like it would be pronounced like a certain pejorative term for women. – simchona♦ Aug 22 '11 at 12:12
I sounds like the combination of a pejorative term for women which starts with w and eureka. – janoChen Aug 22 '11 at 12:19
We use this all the time in Dutch. We will conquer the world and teach it to everyone! – Cerberus Aug 22 '11 at 14:23
up vote 1 down vote

Because the concept encompasses two things considered distinct, I don't think there is a single term for it. From my memory of such listings in newspapers and magazines, one is dining and the other is entertainment or possibly nightlife. I would label this concept:

Dining and Entertainment

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Something like this seems most appropriate judging by OP's comment on another answer: "I'm building a forum for foreigners in Taiwan. I want a topics category for places were people can eat, drink, chat, and socialize (in other words, drinking and non-drinking places)." – Wesley Murch Aug 22 '11 at 16:28
up vote 1 down vote

If you want something all encompassing perhaps referring to them as Establishments may work.

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up vote 1 down vote

A "catchall" term in this regard is "night life."

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