It’s one month and counting before the holiday festivities begin. What that means is that 1) you need to know the best places to meet up for a beverage, and 2) start training for the marathon of meet-ups on your social calendar.
Some hotel bars are just lobby lounges in disguise. Others, however, are the reason to stay in the hotel in the first place. From martini carts in London to jazz-soaked nights in New York, these iconic hotel bars are all about history, glamour, and unforgettable cocktails.
The Bar: King Cole Bar
The Hotel: The St. Regis New York
The Specialty Cocktail: Red Snapper
You might have heard of King Cole Bar at The St. Regis New York as the birthplace of the Bloody Mary. Bartender Fernand Petiot originally created the cocktail in Paris at Harry’s New York Bar in the 1920s. But, when he moved to the King Cole Bar in 1934, he refined the recipe and renamed it the Red Snapper. This suited the American patrons better. So while the original concept may have come out of Paris, the version we know today—with tomato juice, vodka, and spice—was perfected and popularized at the King Cole Bar.
The King Cole Bar oozes old-school glamour, anchored by its legendary Maxfield Parrish mural of Old King Cole that watches over the room. This place is all about timeless elegance and celebrity lore. It’s therefore no surprise that it’s a magnet for artists, icons, and cocktail aficionados.
The Bar: Bar Hemingway
The Hotel: Ritz Paris Hotel
The Specialty Cocktail: Serendipity
Besides being tucked inside the legendary Ritz Paris, Bar Hemingway has drawn luminaries for decades. Naturally, this includes its namesake, Ernest Hemingway, who famously “liberated” the hotel in 1944. Writers, royals, and rock stars have all stopped by for a nightcap, soaking in the bar’s intimate charm and storied past. With leather armchairs, vintage memorabilia, and signature cocktails like the Serendipity, it remains one of the most iconic watering holes in the world.
Bar Hemingway feels more like a writer’s den than a hotel bar. The size is cozy, and the walls are lined with literary relics. The bartenders, led by legendary Colin Field, craft cocktails with the precision of poets—making each drink a story in itself.
The Bar: The Long Bar
The Hotel: Raffles Singapore
The Specialty Cocktail: Singapore Sling
The Long Bar at Raffles Singapore isn’t just a place to grab a drink — it’s a living piece of cocktail history. As the birthplace of the Singapore Sling, created in 1915 by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon, it still serves the iconic pink concoction with its signature flourish. For decades, writers, royals, and wanderers have pulled up a rattan chair beneath the bar’s colonial-era fans, tossing peanut shells on the floor in true Long Bar tradition. Now, with Raffles undergoing a stylish rebirth, the hotel is reclaiming its spot as one of the coolest places to stay around the world. Fun fact: even Michael Jackson once visited the Long Bar during a trip to Singapore.
The Bar: The Connaught Bar
The Hotel: The Connaught Hotel, London
The Specialty Cocktail: Connaught Martini
The Connaught Bar was named the World’s Best Bar multiple times recently, including years when it was back to back. And for good reason. The Connaught Bar in London is a temple of cocktail artistry. Its legendary martini cart rolls tableside. This is where the bartenders craft the perfect pour, with custom bitters and precision flair. At the helm is Agostino Perrone, a world-renowned mixologist whose creations have earned the bar countless accolades. They turn every single drink into a performance.
The Bar: Bemelmans Bar
The Hotel: The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, NYC
The Specialty Cocktail: Old Cuban
Named for Ludwig Bemelmans, creator of the Madeline books, the bar’s walls are adorned with his whimsical frescoes of Parisian scenes. At Bemelmans Bar, every cocktail feel like a storybook escape. For decades, the late Bobby Short serenaded guests from the piano here, becoming such an icon that the city named the street outside after him. This is a pretty rare honor in Manhattan. With its velvet banquettes, live jazz, and martinis that whisper old-school cool, Bemelmans remains a sanctuary for the stylish and the storied.
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FAQs
Q: What is the address of King Cole Bar?
A: You can find King Cole Bar inside The St. Regis New York. The exact address is: 2 East 55th Street (between 5th & Madison Avenues), New York City, NY 10022, United States.
Q: What is The Connaught Bar famous for?
A: The Connaught Bar is famous for its tableside martini service and award-winning mixology led by Agostino Perrone.
Q: Do I need a reservation for the Bemelmans Bar?
A: You don’t have to make a reservation at Bemelmans Bar, but we recommend it. Especially during peak hours or when live music is scheduled.
