Ah the joy of writing a top 10 list. Done well and one uses all one’s experience to guide potential guests to drinking experiences that will long live in their mind. Done badly and one runs the risk of alienating friends and colleagues and opening yourself up to ridicule and criticism.

Historically hotel bars have been a bit of a curate’s egg. In the early cocktail movement they were very much the cradle of hospitality and mixology but then corporate chains and mini bars removed the soul from most. In recent years, though, there has been a distinct and welcome rebirth that has seen them once more become über boites and temples to both fine living and impeccable hospitality.

With that in mind I hereby set out my top 10 hotel bars but add the following criteria and caveats. This is not a ranked list but instead a list of 10 bars in 10 cocktail-friendly cities that will provide a truly unique and memorable experience. The bartenders are not just highly proficient but also personable and deeply connected in their cities and bartending communities to provide you with options should you go and disagree with my choices. 

Black Angel’s, Prague, Czech Republic

Tucked away in the basement lives a somewhat Gothic take on the modern cocktail movement that both belies and emphasises the slightly louche Prague Bar scene. Many of the world’s greatest bartenders have their roots in the former Czechoslovakia but are now transplanted – but Black Angel’s shows what great homegrown talent remains. The menu runs the gamut from ultra-classic to molecular mixology and the bartenders have never given me a bad drink nor anything less than 100% satisfaction.

Nomad, New York, US

The hotel is run by the ultra-hip Ace Group and the bar by the team behind Eleven Madison Park, so this is the king of the competitive NYC hotel bar scene. With the busy main bar and its dramatic backbar and the quieter Library (below) with its delightful cocktail trolley (think bottle service done right), the bar is easy on the eye (like most of the patrons). This is a destination you will have difficulty leaving – with awesome food and well drilled staff this spot is nothing short of brilliant.

Clyde Common, Portland, US

The Pacific North-West is pretty much ground zero in terms of American ‘craft’ culture. From craft beers to craft coffee to craft wine, plus cutting-edge creativity such as, Nike this city is taking off big time and it is epitomised by the bar/restaurant in the Ace Hotel. Home to innovator extraordinaire Jeffrey Morgenthaler, this unassuming, busy bar is cranking out craft everything with passion, precision and personable people aplenty. Several a la moment trends started here and expect many more in the future.

Regent Cocktail Club, Miami, US

For a long time the question “what is the best bar in Miami?” would yield hesitation and often the answer “there isn’t one”. Now the staff behind the Florida Room and the Shore Club have taken over the Regent and Gale Hotels and any of the three onsite bars would challenge for the crown of best bar. The Dolce restaurant bar is impeccable, the Regent Cocktail Club is a classical delight and the Rec Room below the hotel is sleazy yet tasteful and a whole heap of fun, even if clubbing is not your thing. Great bartenders mixing great drinks with a smile is a sea change for this slightly toxic town.

Ozone, Kowloon, Hong Kong

One traditional advantage of hotel bars is prime location and often their bars have awesome views. So when you add the world’s tallest bar to one of the world’s great skylines you have an irresistible combination. At a lofty 425m the view is safe for those who suffer from vertigo as it’s almost like being on a plane and not the top of a building. Being a Ritz Carlton means the drinks are adequately prepared but it’s the view of Hong Kong (especially at sunset and also at 8pm when the architectural lightshow starts) that your breath will be taken away (along with your ears popping in the lift on the way up).

Artesian, London, UK

Take a classically designed bar and then turn it over to some of the most bonkers bartenders in the world and you have an almost perfect confluence of style and fashion. Bartenders Alex Kratena and Simone Caporale have taken this bar to exalted heights but still are grounded in their desire not just to make great drinks but to make you feel great about you drinks. But forget the stiff upper lip and explore the cocktail list and its ‘experiential’ cocktails. Expect madness and smiles from everyone in the place.

Widder Bar, Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich may be known for its gnomes but this bar is a top-shelf wonder. Perhaps the most discerningly collected back bar in the world – if you have even just heard of it then it’s probably here and if you haven’t heard of it then it’s worth trying. Manager Markus Blattner is a man on a mission to find the perfect drink for each guest and he succeeds. It’s hard to be neutral about this vault of liquid gold… and silver and platinum.

Sable, Chicago, US

If your definition of a great bar is like mine – great bartenders with an excellent back bar and an almost spooky sense of precognition of the drink you want – then this is a must-visit spot. Bar manager Mike Ryan may have ludicrous hair but he has built a back bar from heaven and a team that knows how to use it. Chicago is oft quoted as the home of new restaurant concepts but this highlights the fact the bar scene is far from shabby. Sable’s mini Hi-Life bottles to sip from when choosing a ‘real’ drink are a thing of beauty and always gratefully received.

Eau de Vie, Sydney, Australia

Those who have visited Down Under will surely tell you that Australia has one of the most creative cocktail scenes on the planet. Until a few years ago it was primarily based in Melbourne due to archaic licensing laws. But tucked away behind the Kirkton Hotel is a bar that shows simply why Australia is so highly regarded by those who know. Classical yet whimsical, serious but fun, individual yet collaborative, this space is typically Australian yet would not look out of place in London, New York or Paris.

Ohla Boutique Bar, Barcelona, Spain

As a gin fan I have long been a fan of Spanish bars and bartenders. Madrid may be funkier but Barcelona is where the great stuff happens and Ohla is all that. Spanish bar legend Giuseppe Santamaria was aided by multi-lingual and massively talented Massimo La Rocca in setting up this delightful and comfortable space. The drinks on the menu are excellent but feel free to put yourself in the bartenders’ talented hands and prepare to be amazed and wowed by their passion and expertise.