Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
If you ask us, a good hotel bar has a bartender who knows the most popular classic cocktails. A great hotel bar kicks it up a notch with original cocktails, beautiful drink presentation, an appealing ambience and great bar snacks — bonus points for a great view and excellent service. The best hotel bars have all this plus a certain je ne sais quoi that makes walking into them feel like a special occasion.
From an old-school bar in New York City to a modern bar atop one of Tokyo’s best hotels, these superlative bars around the world deliver on all that and more.
Bemelmans Bar, the Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel, New York City
ROSEWOOD HOTELSIt would be hard to find a more classic old-school hotel bar than Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle. A New York institution on the Upper East Side, this intimate bar is a fabulous spot for people-watching, drawing the neighborhood’s socialites and visiting celebrities.
It’s named for Ludwig Bemelmans, the author of the Madeline children’s books; he created the bar’s whimsical murals in exchange for room and board at the hotel for a year and a half. A pianist plays in the evenings starting at 5:30 p.m.
Cielo Bar, Hotel de la Ville, Rome
HOTEL DE LA VILLE, A ROCCO FOTTE HOTEL/FACEBOOKA member of Rocco Forte Hotels, Hotel de la Ville benefits from a privileged position on the prestigious Via Sistina atop the Spanish Steps, so you can imagine how incredible the views are from the rooftop Cielo Bar.
The recent addition of a large awning covering the terrace protects guests from the sun and rain. The bartenders create themed menus with original cocktails in addition to serving the classics alongside tasty snacks.
Bar Hemingway, the Ritz Paris
RITZ PARISErnest Hemingway certainly liked a good, stiff drink and was a regular here from the 1920s on — as were F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Hemingway even marched into the Ritz Bar on Aug. 25, 1944, with a group of resistance fighters and declared he was liberating it from the Nazis.
Inside, you’ll find Hemingway’s ephemera, including photographs, covers of magazines on which he appeared, letters and even a typewriter. Bar Hemingway is the birthplace of the Serendipity (calvados, apple juice, sugar syrup, Champagne and mint), but if you want Hemingway’s favorite, ask for a dry martini.
Bar Longhi, Gritti Palace, Venice
GRITTI PALACE/MARRIOTTThe Gritti Palace, a member of Marriott’s Luxury Collection, is one of the most legendary hotels in Venice. So, it’s no wonder the Bar Longhi is a magnet for a sophisticated international crowd. Inside, the decor is pure Venetian opulence, featuring Fortuny fabrics, Murano chandeliers and paintings by the bar’s namesake Piero Longhi. On the menu, you’ll find classics like martinis and Aperol spritzes.
The Connaught Bar, Connaught Hotel, LONDON
THE CONNAUGHT/FACEBOOKThe Connaught Bar consistently wins accolades, including a ranking as the fifth best in the world on the World’s 50 Best Bars list. Inspired by 1920s English and Irish Cubist art, the interiors exude timeless elegance.
The bar is known for its Martini Trolley as well as wildly inventive cocktails; interesting drink ingredients include miso caramel, Amalfi lemon leaves cordial and passion fruit foam. This is one bar where it would be a sin to order wine or beer.
The Long Bar, Raffles Singapore
RAFFLES HOTEL SINGAPORE/FACEBOOKThe historic Raffles Singapore reopened in 2020 after a two-year renovation that preserved the property’s 19th-century colonial style while updating it for the modern traveler. Naturally, the Long Bar remains one of the hotel’s biggest draws.
The Singapore sling was invented here in 1915, and it’s still the must-order specialty. In keeping with the original relaxed atmosphere, the bar encourages guests to toss their empty peanut shells on the floor.
The Main Bar, Royal Mansour Marrakech
ROYAL MANSOUR MARRAKECH/FACEBOOKCreated by King Mohammed IV, the Royal Mansour Marrakech is the most luxurious hotel in Marrakech, and it’s a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. The country’s most-skilled artisans were tapped to craft the interiors, including the hand-sculpted silver ceiling and walls lined with rose gold leaves in the Main Bar.
The spectacular setting will make you want to dress up and sip Champagne or perhaps a classic cocktail paired with elevated bar snacks.
The Bamboo Bar, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
MANDARIN ORIENTAL BANGKOK/FACEBOOKOriginally opened in 1879 as the Oriental Hotel, the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is home to a variety of restaurants and bars. This includes the Author’s Lounge and the Bamboo Bar, which claims the title of Bangkok’s first jazz bar. Thanks to a recent renovation, it’s still one of the city’s best cocktail bars, serving beautifully presented libations in a sultry space featuring wicker chairs and cushions upholstered in tiger prints.
The American Bar, Gleneagles, Scotland
NICKY KELVIN/THE POINTS GUYTucked away inside Gleneagles — a historic member of the Leading Hotels of the World in the Scottish countryside — the American Bar seduces with its art deco flair. 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.
It’s the perfect place for a Champagne cocktail or an original creation like the Kiwi made with Johnny Walker Gold Label whisky, kiwi cordial and bergamot.
Blaue Bar, Hotel Sacher, VIENNA
SACHERA member of the Leading Hotels of the World, the Hotel Sacher Vienna is Vienna’s undisputed grande dame and the birthplace of the famous Sacher torte. The chocolate and apricot cake is served with tea and coffee in the hotel’s Blaue Bar, an intimate room decked out in blue.
Of course, you can also get something stronger, like one of the bar’s eight Negroni variations or a drink named for the hotel’s former owner, Anna Sacher.
English Bar, Country Club Lima Hotel, PERU
COUNTRY CLUB LIMA HOTEL/FACEBOOKLima is one of the world’s most exciting food cities and the Country Club Lima Hotel is one of the city’s best places to stay. A historic member of the Leading Hotels of the World, it exudes sophistication and glamor, especially at the wood-paneled English Bar. Sidle up to the bar and order a Pisco sour — this is no doubt one of the best places in the world to try one.
New York Bar, Park Hyatt Tokyo
HYATTIt may seem odd to visit New York while in Tokyo, but the Park Hyatt Tokyo’s New York Bar on the 52nd floor is one of the hotel’s highlights. You’ll especially enjoy it if you’re in the market for a classic and intimate atmosphere.
The views of the Tokyo skyline are nothing short of stunning, and the evening jazz performances make the ambience even more inviting. If it looks familiar, you probably remember it from the movie “Lost in Translation.”
Positivo Sand Bar, Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Puerto Rico
NICK ELLIS/THE POINTS GUY
Most of the tables at Positivo Sand Bar at Dorado Beach are directly in the sand (as you might have already guessed from the bar’s name). It gives off lively Caribbean vibes, and the ambient lounge music sets the tone for a blissed-out sunset cocktail experience. Bury those toes in the sand while you sip a mojito and admire the crashing waves.
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