Best hotels around the world for cocktail connoisseurs

Some hotels take their cocktails very seriously, and if you enjoy a good tipple now and again, we’re showing you where to get one that’s sure to be as memorable as it is tasty. Cheers!

As if you needed an excuse to head to the South of France. But if you need an extra push, check out the Eden-Roc Champagne Lounge at legendary Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes. The just-launched mecca for Champagne enthusiasts boasts 360-degree views over the water, plush seating and sleek lines throughout, but it’s the selection of bubbly that sets it apart. Guests can enjoy top Champagne vintages from 14 different Champagne houses and choose from six different blanc and rose Champagnes available by the glass, as well as half-bottles of rare vintages.

Bourbon is hot right now and if you’re a fan, then you’ll love Bourbon Bar at the InterContinental Atlanta, which features a well-cultivated selection of American distillers, focusing on small-batch producers and stocked with select bourbons only available at Bourbon Bar. Head mixologist Clay Livingston was most recently named the 2012 “Most Imaginative Bartender in Atlanta” by GQ magazine, Bombay Sapphire and the United States Bartender’s Guild, so you know you’re in good hands.

Le Bar du Bristol at Le Bristol in Paris opened in September 2012 and is the epitome of old world charm. The laid-back yet elegant bar features designs reminiscent of a plush English club, with a wooden floor made of Versailles oak, 100-year-old wood paneling and a 19th-century fireplace made of Siennese marble. Head bartender Maxime Hoerth mixes up memorable drinks like the Bristol Old Fashioned N° 1, the first in a series of variations on the much-loved Old-Fashioned cocktail, featuring undertones of coffee and maple syrup.

HMF at the chic Breakers Palm Beach was named for resort founder Henry Morrison Flagler and debuted as a modern ode to the cocktail clubs of the ’50s and ’60s. Signature cocktails, a spectrum of craft beers and its award-winning wine list (40-plus pages) all make this spot a must for cocktail-lovers. The best part: All of HMF’s signature cocktails feature homemade ingredients, mixers and sodas.

Stylish Hotel Arts Barcelona is not only an ideal spot to rest your head, it’s the perfect place for a drink. The lobby lounge, Frank’s, boasts a varied cocktail menu that doesn’t disappoint. The well-curated cocktail list includes classic combinations, as well as more exotic recipes, and even a few ice cream-based cocktails. With several on-site restaurants, including Cafe Veranda (which has a cocktail bar as part of the brunch service), Enoteca, Arola, and Marina, guests can dine and sip at four of Barcelona’s top destinations — without even leaving the hotel.

Voted Victoria’s best hotel bar, Canada’s best hotel bar and one of the top 10 hotel bars in the world, according to Tales of the Cocktail, Clive’s Classic Lounge at the Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites in British Columbia is the place to go for classic cocktails with a twist. All expertly made cocktails are crafted with fresh-squeezed juices, the garnishes and most syrups are made in-house, recipes are creative and immense care is taken with every drink.

London’s Lanesborough should be on every cocktail-lover’s radar. The property’s Library Bar is where guests can enjoy its renowned Liquid History Collection, featuring some of the world’s oldest and rarest Grande Champagne cognacs. The Liquid History Collection also features an assortment of vintage whiskeys and armagnacs, as well as a collection of aged Cuban cigars not available in the U.S. The bar itself offers a refined, quiet and stylish spot to unwind at any time of day.

Portland, Oregon, is a hot spot when it comes to the modern craft cocktail scene, making the city’s Hotel deLuxe the perfect escape for cocktail connoisseurs. The property is home to one of the city’s most acclaimed bars, the Driftwood Room, which has been mixing and serving drinks since the 1950s. The Driftwood Room is particularly well known for Champagne cocktails and Manhattans, which guests can learn to make themselves. The hotel also offers a cocktail-making class with its expert bartenders.

If you find yourself in Bangkok (currently the world’s top tourist destination), we suggest making a stop at Distil at luxury hotel Lebua, where mixologist Ronald Ramirez recently created five new must-try cocktails with an emphasis on flavored ice. Freezing flavors in the water (anything from chili to rose petals) at -1.9 degrees Celsius, these ice cocktails turn getting a drink into a unique experience. As the ice melts it influences the flavor of the drink, subtly changing it as you sip. Each ice cocktail is mixed with premium ingredients and makes use of an extraordinary mixing method.

At Parlour Lane Roasters at QT Sydney, fans of the classic Italian cocktail the negroni can enjoy an exclusive curated menu of specialty negroni cocktails, a first for a hotel bar on the continent. The negroni is composed of gin, sweet vermouth, Campari and orange, but at Parlour Lane Roasters it gets a few fun twists. The must-try negroni menu is available for sampling during aperitivo hour and in the late-night Gilt Lounge. For a little extra effervescence, all of the cocktails on the QT Sydney negroni menu can be enjoyed carbonated, using the bar’s Perlini carbonated shakers.

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