Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, updated regularly with new information and offers.
If you ask us, a good hotel bar has a bartender who knows the most popular classic cocktails. The hotel’s excellent bar takes it up a notch with unique cocktails, beautiful drink presentation, an inviting atmosphere, and great bar snacks — bonus points for great views and excellent service. The best hotel bars have all of this plus some je ne sais quoi that makes walking into the bar feel like a special occasion.
From an old school bar in New York City to a modern bar atop one of these Best hotel in TokyoThese superlative bars around the world offer all that and more.
Bemelmans Bar, Carlyle, Rosewood Hotel, New York City
It’s hard to find a more classic hotel bar than Bemelmans Bar at Carlyle. A New York institution on the Upper East Side, this intimate bar is a great spot for people-watching, attracting area celebrities, and visiting celebrities.
It is named after Ludwig Bemelmans, author of the children’s book Madeline; he created the bar’s bizarre murals in exchange for hotel room and board for a year and a half. A pianist plays in the evening starting at 5:30 p.m
Cielo Bar, Hotel de la Ville, Rome
As a member of Rocco Forte Hotel, Hotel de la Ville benefits from a privileged location on the prestigious Via Sistina at the top of the Spanish Steps, so you can imagine how amazing the views are from the rooftop Cielo Bar.
Recently, a large awning covering the rooftop terrace was added to protect guests from the sun and rain. Bartenders create themed menus with original cocktails in addition to serving classic dishes along with delicious snacks.
Bar Hemingway, Ritz Paris
Ernest Hemingway certainly liked a good, strong drink and visited here regularly from the 1920s onwards – as did F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Hemingway even entered the Ritz Bar on August 25, 1944 with a group of resistance fighters and announced he was liberating it from the Nazis.
Inside, you’ll find Hemingway ephemera, including photographs, magazine covers featuring him, letters and even a typewriter. Hemingway Bar is the birthplace of Serendipity (calvados, apple juice, sugar syrup, champagne and mint), but if you want Hemingway’s favorite, ask for a dry martini.
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Bar Longhi, Gritti Palace, Venice
The Gritti Palace, a member of Marriott’s Luxury Collection, is one of the most legendary hotels in Venice. So it’s no surprise that Bar Longhi is a magnet for a trendy international crowd. Inside, the decor is pure Venetian luxury, featuring Fortuny fabrics, Murano chandeliers and paintings bearing the bar’s namesake Piero Longhi. On the menu, you’ll find classics like martinis and Aperol.
Connaught Bar, Connaught Hotel, LONDON
The Connaught bar consistently wins numerous awards, including a ranking as the fifth best bar in the world on the list of the world’s 50 best bars. Inspired by British and Irish Cubist art of the 1920s, the interior exudes timeless elegance.
The bar is known for its Martini Trolley as well as its incredibly creative cocktails; Interesting drink ingredients include miso caramel, Amalfi lime leaf juice and passion fruit foam. This is a bar where ordering wine or beer would be a sin.
Long Bar, Raffles Singapore
History Singapore Lottery reopened in 2020 after a two-year renovation aimed at preserving the property’s 19th-century colonial style while updating it for modern travelers. Naturally, the Long Bar remains one of the hotel’s biggest attractions.
The Singapore baby carrier was invented here in 1915 and is still a must-order specialty. To maintain the original relaxed atmosphere, the bar encourages visitors to throw empty peanut shells on the floor.
Main bar, Royal Mansour Marrakech
Created by King Mohammed IV, Royal Mansour Marrakech is the most luxurious hotel in Marrakech and a member of Leading Hotels of the World. The country’s most skilled artisans were employed to craft the interior, including the hand-sculpted silver ceiling and walls lined with rose gold leaf in the Main Bar.
The breathtaking views will make you want to dress up and sip champagne or perhaps a classic cocktail paired with upscale bar snacks.
Bamboo Bar, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
First opened in 1879 as the Phuong Dong Hotel, Oriental Mandarin Bangkok is home to many restaurants and bars. This includes Author’s Lounge and Bamboo Bar, which is known as the first jazz bar in Bangkok. Thanks to a recent renovation, this remains one of the city’s best cocktail bars, serving up beautifully presented libations in a sultry space with wicker chairs and cushions tiger print wrap.
American Bar, Gleneagles, Scotland
Hide inside Gleneagles – a historic member of the Leading Hotels of the World in rural Scotland – the American Bar charms with art deco sophistication. Like the rest of the property, the bar evokes the bygone days of the Jazz Age with plush sofas, wood-paneled walls and heavy curtains.
This is the perfect place to enjoy a Champagne cocktail or a unique creation like the Kiwi made with Johnny Walker Gold Label whiskey, kiwi juice and bergamot.
Blaue Bar, Sacher Hotel, VIENNA
As a member of the World Leading Hotel Association, Hotel Sacher Vienna is the undisputed grande dame of Vienna and the birthplace of the famous Sacher torte. Chocolate and apricot cake is served with tea and coffee in the hotel’s Blaue Bar, an intimate room decorated in blue.
Of course, you can also enjoy something stronger, such as one of the bar’s eight Negroni variations or a drink named after the hotel’s former owner, Anna Sacher.
English Bar, Lima Hotel Country Club, PERU
Lima is one of the world’s most exciting culinary cities Lima Country Club Hotel is one of the city’s best places to stay. A historic member of Leading Hotels of the World, it exudes sophistication and charm, especially at the wood-paneled English Bar. Head to the bar and order a Pisco sour – this is definitely one of the best places in the world to try one.
New York Bar, Park Hyatt Tokyo
It might seem odd to visit New York while in Tokyo, but Park Hyatt Tokyo The New York Bar on the 52nd floor is one of the hotel’s highlights. You will especially enjoy it if you are looking for a classic and intimate atmosphere.
The views of the Tokyo skyline are nothing short of astonishing, and the evening jazz performances make the atmosphere even more inviting. If it looks familiar, you might remember it from the movie “Lost in Translation.”
Positivo Sands, Dorado Beach, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Puerto Rico
Most of the tables at Positivo Sand Bar are at Dorado Beach located right on the sand (as you might have guessed from the bar’s name). It has a vibrant Caribbean feel and ambient lounge music sets the tone for a fun sunset cocktail experience. Bury those toes in the sand while sipping a mojito and admiring the crashing waves.
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