Kiwi Curated
Hotel Bars Keep Getting Cooler
by Darren DunneHotel bars are much more than convenient watering holes for overnight guests. The Raffles Hotel Singapore’s Long Bar, for instance, birthed the iconic Singapore Sling back in 1915. Thanks to innovative cocktail programs and prime locations, hotel bars are becoming destinations in their own right. Let’s toast to a few of the coolest.
Hotel Bars Keep Getting Cooler
Ayana Resort & Spa, Indonesia
Ayana Resort’s Rock Bar is perched atop a limestone cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean. To get here, guests descend more than 100 steps, or take a cable car down the cliff. The journey proves worth it, with the minimalist layout allowing the coastal and sunset views to take center stage. The drinks menu is features creative cocktails, and DJs keep the vibe up tempo.
Hotel Bars Keep Getting Cooler
The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
Thanks to its alluring combo of good looks and eclectic cocktails, The MO Bar has quickly established itself as one of Hong Kong’s premier dining and drinking destinations. This sophisticated nightspot sways to the beat of a DJ seven nights a week, and the dress code is strictly elegant. Each weekend, brunch and afternoon tea are also a big draw.
Hotel Bars Keep Getting Cooler
The Connaught, United Kingdom
Voted one of the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2017, The Connaught’s signature bar gives patrons plenty to love. The interiors, by the late David Collins, offer a unique mix of British cubism and 1920s-era Irish art. This motif is featured alongside textured walls which shimmer with platinum silver leaf detail. Meanwhie, their cocktail menu fuses tradition and innovation.
Hotel Bars Keep Getting Cooler
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, United States
An architectural wonder in the heart of Sin City, The Chandelier Lounge is styled to appear as an oversized crystal chandelier split into three individual tiers. The bottom tier transcends the notion of a classic casino bar, playing host to both a dance floor and a DJ booth. The middle tier offers a sophisticated sanctuary and a crafted cocktail experience. Atop the chandelier, an exclusive lounge offers a view over the bar below and an intimate environment for drinks.
Hotel Bars Keep Getting Cooler
Hotel Hassler, Rome
The rich woods, red leather upholstery and gilded mirrors of Hassler Bar give it the appearance of a refined gentlemen’s club, but it was Princess Diana who put it on the map as her watering hole of choice when visiting the Eternal City. Diana told owner and general manager Roberto Wirth she considered Hassler Bar’s Bellini the best in the world, although she was also reportedly partial to Hassler’s signature Veruschka, an invigorating mix of pomegranate juice and sparkling Italian wine.
Hotel Bars Keep Getting Cooler
Singita Ebony Lodge, South Africa
The bar at Singita Ebony Lodge strikes a decidedly different tone. What this rustic oasis lacks in modern accoutrements, it makes up for in wildlife-viewing opportunities and a dazzling canopy of stars. This open-air, thatch roof bar is fringed by terraced decks, where patrons can view a wondrous show of animals. Far from the nuisance of light pollution, the South African sky comes alive each night.
Ayana Resort & Spa, Indonesia
Ayana Resort’s Rock Bar is perched atop a limestone cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean. To get here, guests descend more than 100 steps, or take a cable car down the cliff. The journey proves worth it, with the minimalist layout allowing the coastal and sunset views to take center stage. The drinks menu is features creative cocktails, and DJs keep the vibe up tempo.
The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
Thanks to its alluring combo of good looks and eclectic cocktails, The MO Bar has quickly established itself as one of Hong Kong’s premier dining and drinking destinations. This sophisticated nightspot sways to the beat of a DJ seven nights a week, and the dress code is strictly elegant. Each weekend, brunch and afternoon tea are also a big draw.
The Connaught, United Kingdom
Voted one of the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2017, The Connaught’s signature bar gives patrons plenty to love. The interiors, by the late David Collins, offer a unique mix of British cubism and 1920s-era Irish art. This motif is featured alongside textured walls which shimmer with platinum silver leaf detail. Meanwhie, their cocktail menu fuses tradition and innovation.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, United States
An architectural wonder in the heart of Sin City, The Chandelier Lounge is styled to appear as an oversized crystal chandelier split into three individual tiers. The bottom tier transcends the notion of a classic casino bar, playing host to both a dance floor and a DJ booth. The middle tier offers a sophisticated sanctuary and a crafted cocktail experience. Atop the chandelier, an exclusive lounge offers a view over the bar below and an intimate environment for drinks.
Hotel Hassler, Rome
The rich woods, red leather upholstery and gilded mirrors of Hassler Bar give it the appearance of a refined gentlemen’s club, but it was Princess Diana who put it on the map as her watering hole of choice when visiting the Eternal City. Diana told owner and general manager Roberto Wirth she considered Hassler Bar’s Bellini the best in the world, although she was also reportedly partial to Hassler’s signature Veruschka, an invigorating mix of pomegranate juice and sparkling Italian wine.
Singita Ebony Lodge, South Africa
The bar at Singita Ebony Lodge strikes a decidedly different tone. What this rustic oasis lacks in modern accoutrements, it makes up for in wildlife-viewing opportunities and a dazzling canopy of stars. This open-air, thatch roof bar is fringed by terraced decks, where patrons can view a wondrous show of animals. Far from the nuisance of light pollution, the South African sky comes alive each night.