Top 10 international hotel bars
Some of the world’s best bars are nestled within stylish hotels brimming with luxury, but these are the 10 best international hotel bars selected by Tales of the Cocktail.
These are the top 10 international hotel bars as identified by Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited AwardsFrom relaxed and quaint tiki hangouts, to debonaire drinking dens, there’s a host of excellent hotel bars scattered across the globe, from Victoria to Zurich.
Weary travellers with cash to spend will often seek a venue to receive exalted service and exceptional cocktails, of which there is no shortage in international high-end hotel bars.
But, with such a broad selection to choose from, which are the world’s very best hotel bars?
Click through the following pages to see our list of the top 10 international hotel bars, as identified by Tales of the Cocktail’s shortlist for the Best International Hotel Bar Spirited Award.
If you think an exceptional hotel bar should have received a spot this list, let us know by leaving a comment below.
Artesian at The Langham, London
This year, for the second time running, the Artesian Bar at London’s The Langham Hotel won Drinks International‘s title of World’s Best Bar, and it’s not difficult to see why.
Under the expert direction of head bartender Alex Kratena (pictured), the team at the Artesian offer visitors a place of luxury, elegance, impeccable service and, of course, an array of exquisite drinks.
As well as showcasing the city’s largest collection of rums and an extensive Champagne list, the Artesian has created an innovative way for customers to select their cocktails – a menu called the Butterfly Wheel which allows mixes to be selected by flavours and mood.
The Artesian’s bartender Simone Carporale has also been nominated for the Best International Bartender of the Year Spirited Award.
For more information, click here.
Bar at Home Hotel, Buenos Aires
Nestled in the heart of boutique venue Home Hotel is its simply named ‘Bar’, where understated sophistication and comfort come hand in hand.
Created by British record producer Tom Rixton and his Argentine wife PR director Patricia O-Shea, Home House was designed to offer the comforts of home, along with the luxuries of a modern hotel.
Its Bar serves an array of fresh and immaculately crafted cocktails such as the Scarlet The Tart (vodka, cassis liqueur, lime, cardamom and pear juice) and Satori GG (sake, ginger ale, crushed grapes Whit Blond sugar and ginger)
For more information, click here.
Beaufort Bar at The Savoy Hotel, London
This art deco hotel bar is famed for its unashamedly hedonistic glamour, making it one of the most popular high-end hotel bars in London.
With jet black and gold interior evoking images of old-world sophistication, it’s easy to transport yourself to the days when the bar was used as a cabaret stage, hosting luminaries such as Carol Gibbons, the Savoy Orpheans and George Gershwin.
Based in London’s iconic Savoy Hotel, the Beaufort Bar has been a pioneer of cocktail experimentation since 1889, inventing some of the most famous mixes in mixology history.
For more information, click here.
Black Angel’s Bar at Hotel U Prince, Prague
One of the most famous bars in the Czech Republic, Black Angel’s Bar has no shortage of style.
Based in the 2nd basement of Hotel U Prince, This speakeasy-style bar gives a decadent edge to its inspirational rough and ready saloon bars of the Prohibition era.
Somewhat of an exclusive location, the bar has a strict “no videos, no pictures” rule.
For more information, click here.
Clive’s Classic Lounge at Chateau Victoria Hotel, Victoria
Clive’s Classic Lounge was established in 2008 after a major renovation project that took place in the Chateau Victoria Hotel, and has been captivating cocktail fans ever since.
“This is not the first time Clive’s has found its name on a Tales of the Cocktail’s top 10 list, it is however the first time receiving this recognition under the direction of the new Clive’s bar team – all of us are honoured and proud to be considered for this award,” said Jayce Kadyshuk, bar manager of Clives Classic Lounge.
The Canadian bar’s extensive cocktail list includes various tiki cocktails, signature cocktails, “refresher” cocktails, as well as a number of cocktail recipes from around the world.
For more information, click here.
Connaught Bar at the Connaught, London
The lavish London surroundings of Mayfair has a host of breathtaking bars to choose from, but the Connaught Bar stands out from the rest with its convivial, sophisticated atmosphere and cocktails which fuse the traditional and modern.
Decor of the bar is Inspired by English cubist and Irish 1920s art, with textured walls shimmering in platinum silver leaf overlaid with dusty pink, pistachio and lilac.
With meticulous attention to detail, staff at the bar create simultaneously classic and innovative cocktails, using exclusive vintages and limited edition champagnes, spirits and liqueurs.
Rusty Cervan, senior mixologist at the bar, demonstrated his superior cocktail-making skills during the Bols Around the World 2013 competition, of which he was crowned victor.
For more information, click here.
Ohla Boutique Bar at Ohla Hotel, Barcelona
In the centre of Barcelona sits the beautiful five-star Ohla Hotel, where its boutique bar has has quickly become a popular meeting point for trendy locals and jet-setting travellers,
A venue where the contemporary and baroque meld into one another, Ohla Boutique Bar serves an array of classic cocktails with a contemporary edge.
Drinks created at the bar can also be enjoyed on the roof of the hotel, where some of the most spectacular views of the Barcelona cityscape can be enjoyed.
For more information, click here.
Punch Room at The London Edition, London
The London Edition Hotel opened last year amid massive buzz. Famed chefs Jason Atherton and Gareth Evans – who also run The Blind Pig – have been busy creating an awe-inspiring space with drinks, food and service to match.
Add to this the intriguingly elusive, reservations only Punch Room – a fumed-oak paneled den inspired by the comfort of manor house libraries and nineteenth-century London’s private clubs sporting vintage leather chairs and beautiful punch bowls.
As the name of the bar suggests, punch is the signature serve. Serving two-eight people, guests can order one of eight carefully crafted specialty punches including the gin infused Edition Punch with jasmine tea and oak moss.
For more information, click here.
Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London, London
The beautifully-designed Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London takes inspiration from the classic British drawing rooms and the sophisticated gentleman’s clubs, featuring a roaring fire, collection of cosy velvet armchairs and shelves filled with over 1,000 antique books hand-picked by a Portobello antique dealer.
The bar is named after Gerald Scarfe, a renowned British artist and caricaturist has lent his name and artistic vision to Scarfes Bar.
Here, bartenders serve an array of specially-curated cocktails, some of which are poured from a stunning silver urn that takes centre stage on the long wooden bar.
For more information, click here.
Widder Bar at the Widder Hotel, Zurich
Last but not least of the top 10 finalists for the Best International Hotel Bar Spirited Award is Zurich’s famed jazz haunt the Widder Bar, at the Widder Hotel.
Music lovers fro across the globe have long been frequenting the Widder Bar to indulge their passion for jazz, long before the Widder Hotel even opened.
The bar also boasts a “library of spirits” of over 1,000 different bottles, 500 different categories, and 250 variations of malt whisky alone.
For more information, click here.
