Some of the finest moments in travel happen after the itinerary has finished.
After the museums have closed.
After dinner plates have been cleared away.
After the sun has disappeared below the horizon.
They happen in hotel bars.
Not because of what you’re drinking, although that certainly helps.
But because great hotel bars have an extraordinary ability to capture the soul of a destination.
Over the years, I’ve found myself lingering in remarkable bars around the world. Some overlook famous skylines. Others are hidden above ancient streets. A few sit quietly beside the sea.
These are the ones that remain firmly lodged in my memory.
Barcelona understands rooftops.
The rooftop at Hotel Sir Victor perfectly captures the city’s effortless confidence.
As the evening light fades across the rooftops of the Eixample district and the silhouette of Gaudí’s architecture emerges in the distance, the atmosphere feels unmistakably Catalan.
Stylish without becoming pretentious.
Relaxed without losing sophistication.
A chilled glass of Albariño and a warm Barcelona evening is a difficult combination to improve upon.
Les Ambassadeurs, Hôtel de Crillon, Paris
Some hotel bars feel important.
Les Ambassadeurs feels timeless.
Set within the magnificent Hôtel de Crillon overlooking Place de la Concorde, the room carries centuries of history with remarkable ease.
The chandeliers sparkle.
The service is flawless.
The atmosphere feels distinctly Parisian.
This is not a bar for rushing.
It’s a place to settle into a comfortable chair, order something exceptional and allow the evening to unfold at its own pace.
MK Rooftop, Marrakech
Marrakech reveals a different personality after sunset.
As the call to prayer fades and the city’s rooftops glow beneath the evening sky, MK Rooftop provides one of the most captivating perspectives in the city.
The Atlas Mountains stand quietly in the distance while the medina buzzes below.
There is an intoxicating energy to Marrakech, and nowhere captures it quite like a rooftop at dusk.
This is a place for lingering over conversation while the city slowly transforms beneath you.
The Connaught Bar, London
There are cocktail bars.
And then there is The Connaught Bar.
Few venues anywhere in the world manage to combine luxury and comfort quite so effortlessly.
The room itself is elegant without feeling intimidating.
The service is among the finest I’ve experienced.
Every detail feels considered.
The result is a bar that has become a destination in its own right.
London has no shortage of exceptional places to drink.
The Connaught remains one of its finest.
American Bar, The Savoy, London
Some places become legends for a reason.
The American Bar at The Savoy has welcomed royalty, actors, musicians and travellers for generations.
Yet despite its history, it never feels trapped by it.
There is a confidence here that only comes with age.
The sort of confidence that doesn’t need to announce itself.
The room exudes timeless elegance.
The cocktails are exceptional.
And the atmosphere feels wonderfully unchanged by passing trends.
If hotel bars were judged solely on style, few could rival it.
Not every memorable hotel bar needs glamour.
Some succeed because of simplicity.
The terrace at Hotel Riviera in Ciutadella offers something increasingly rare.
Authenticity.
As the evening settles over Menorca’s historic harbour and the boats gently rock below, there is a wonderful sense of calm.
The wine tastes better.
The conversations last longer.
The pace slows naturally.
It’s the sort of place that reminds you why you travel in the first place.
More Than A Drink
Looking back, I rarely remember exactly what was in my glass.
What I remember are the moments surrounding it.
A rooftop sunset in Barcelona.
A grand Parisian salon.
The rooftops of Marrakech.
The timeless glamour of London.
A quiet harbour evening in Menorca.
The finest hotel bars are never really about cocktails or wine.
They’re about atmosphere.
They’re about place.
They’re about creating moments that stay with you long after the bill has been settled and the journey has continued.
And perhaps that’s why I keep seeking them out.
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