Let's assume this is an old friend you haven't seen in a while. Just as on a first date, you need ambient distractions to take the pressure off of the conversation itself, at least at first.

Maybe your friend has become blandly annoying. Perhaps he or she is a felon.

If it's the former, a trip to Zeitgeist will elicit that right away, and cut the interaction mercifully short. Given a lucky coincidence, the beer garden will be bursting with the festive dregs of Santarchy, the Love Parade, or World Naked Bike Ride Day. If the latter, everyone will feel at ease. Mixed drinks served in pint glasses keep the chat flowing. On a warm and crowded night you are almost guaranteed to run into someone you know, which will make you seem hip and popular, offsetting your low standards for beverage service hygiene.

And, should the dreaded issue of staying over at your place for a few nights come into play, Zeit offers fabulous well-appointed rooms at rock bottom prices.