19 must-visit bars in the greatest cities on Earth
But one thing's for sure – the once humble cocktail bar is now big business: glitzy award shows crown the scene's crème de la crème; while showman bartenders, combining DJ-glam with celebrity-chef skill, rise to become household names. Once a means to an end – a place to drink with friends or meet a date – bars around the world have become the preferred pit stop for decadent socialising and, for travellers, an essential part of experiencing a destination.
After all, few things capture the very soul of a city like its well-loved watering holes. Whether a slick parlour or tiki-themed dive, a great bar provides an instant connection to its home town – its locals, its inside jokes, its past and its cultural touchstones. It confirms or denies our expectations with merciless rapidity, laying its city bare in glorious microcosm.
Rome still has a soft spot for tradition, but there's modern artistry too; Barcelona may have its bohemian side, but it's no stranger to elegance either.
Here, our destination experts select the bars that best encapsulate the essence of their city, each one guaranteeing to offer authenticity, individuality and a rollicking good drinks list, whether it's your first time in town, or your twentieth. Sam Gilani
New York
Sip & Guzzle
The bibulous fanfare surrounding Sip & Guzzle since it set up shop in Greenwich Village in early 2024 has yet to quiet down. On any night of the week, cocktail aficionados clamour for stools, so they can sip (or guzzle) the bar's creative cocktails. It's really two bars in one: on the ground floor is Guzzle, a first-come, first-serve bar, while downstairs at reservations-only Sip, the lights dim, the volume decreases and cocktails become more complex, such as Drunken Grandma's Apple Pie, a bold mix of Calvados, baked apple, brown butter, and egg whites. David Farley
Rome
Chorus Café
Even if the chic Chorus Café bar and restaurant weren't set in a storied choir room once used by the Vatican, a quick chat with award-winning barman Massimo D'Addezio would leave no doubt you were in Rome. D'Addezio has that trademark Roman simpatia, serving up excellent cocktails and rapid-fire wit. Try his special concoction with vodka, passion fruit, lime juice and a splash of chilli pepper tincture. The ultra-stylish setting – with hushed lighting, soaring ceilings, Art Deco furnishings, Carrara marble and a modern bar designed like a communal table – makes this convivial spot a draw for locals and visitors alike. Rebecca Winke
Dubai
Barasti
Sooner or later, everyone who comes to Dubai finds themselves at Barasti. Dubbed the emirate's OG bar, it was one of the first structures in Dubai Marina. Grainy old photos show it standing alone on the shore in 1995, an emblem of the hedonistic future to come. Today, it's a sprawling beach club and open-air sports bar screening big league games, then spinning tunes until 3am. Special occasions are amped up by live bands, St Patrick's Day is great craic and women score with discounted deals every weekday. Sarah Hedley Hymers
Le Meridien Mina Syahi Beach Resort & Marina, Dubai Marina
Prague
House at the Golden Tiger
Prague has trendy cocktail spots and stylish wine bars galore these days, but at its heart the Czech capital remains one of the best places in Europe to enjoy a pivo. While the House at the Golden Tiger isn't exactly a secret, it's an incredible slice of local culture and tradition – a classic, wood-heavy beer hall set inside a fourteenth-century building that has hosted dissidents and intellectuals including Vaclav Havel and Bohumil Hrabal.
Just a few minutes' walk from Old Town Square, it has managed to maintain its lively local atmosphere. I'd advise arriving early to find a seat, ordering a beer in Czech, and enjoying it with a mustard-covered sausage while the ambience grows pleasantly raucous all around you. Paul Sullivan
Husova 17, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic
London
Amaro Bar
The team behind Amaro Bar cut their teeth in the capital's prestigious five-star hotels – and it shows. A model of quintessential modern London cocktail culture, this Kensington haunt combines classic and contemporary flavours with the aesthetics of a heritage stalwart and the unhurried warmth of a local. Their guava pisco sour may currently be one of London's best drinks, but it's Dec's Martini (served frozen with a hint of mezcal) that really captures the city's mercurial spirit. All are welcomed like old friends, and it's this balance of formal and fun that makes it such an all-round crowd pleaser. Sam Gilani
Melbourne
Caretakers Cottage
In a city where black is always the new black, this diminutive city boozer and its Gothic-revival, bluestone setting is a masterclass in Melbourneness. Once inside though, the locals' easy affability will be as equally evident as their raven-hued style. Close quarters mean you'll soon be chatting vintage vinyl rarities and drink picks. Guinness on tap or their gloriously glacial house martini? Maybe it's the William Morris wallpaper, but I'll unfailingly plump for the milk punch special: Victorian frisson on ice. Donna Wheeler
139-141 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria
Berlin
Schöneberg's Victoria Bar
New cocktail bars seem to open every month in Berlin, from experimental mixology labs to flamboyant, Weimar-inspired spots. But I like to take my visiting friends to Schöneberg's Victoria Bar – the kind of place with a diverse cast of regulars and experienced bartenders. Bag a table on the terrace if it's sunny, or pull up a seat at the handsome bar and admire the artwork on the walls, which includes works by Sarah Lucas, Marcel Dzama and Martin Kippenberger. Happy hour runs from 6-9pm, so start the evening with a Prince Charles 1995 – a Champagne cocktail with Cognac V.S.O.P., Giffard Abricot and Angostura. Paul Sullivan
Potsdamer Straße 102, 10785 Berlin
Dublin
Bar 1661
The chances of stumbling upon Bar 1661 accidentally are slim to none, but this Dublin 7 bar stands heads and shoulders above the rest. Though the (impeccable) cocktails are made with quirky components like miso butter, dehydrated chillies and bone marrow, there's zero pretentiousness – just well-worn bar stools, dark walls and chatty bartenders. The star ingredient is poitín, the once-banned Irish moonshine, so try that in their signature Belfast Coffee, where it's shaken with cold brew, cream and nutmeg. Nicola Brady
1 – 5 Green St, Dublin
Buenos Aires
Bar Británico
'Bar' and 'café' are used interchangeably in Buenos Aires, which has hundreds of local corner venues for soft and strong drinks. Many have Italian and Spanish connections, but Británico is one of the few surviving joints with ties to the British presence. These days it's open to all-comers, and is a place to come by day for good cortado or a bottle of beer and, in the evening, enjoy wine or vermouth and perhaps a meal. A few years ago, the bar was threatened with closure, but locals protested and it was mercifully saved. With chequerboard tiles, windows on the street, and calm lighting inside, it's a classic BA experience. Chris Moss
Brasil 399, San Telmo, Buenos Aires; 00 54 11 4361 2107
Copenhagen
La Banchina
The Danish capital isn't short of cool cocktail and craft beer joints, but nothing feels quite as quintessentially Copenhagen as laid-back La Banchina, a wine bar/café/restaurant on the Refshaleøen waterfront. Behind a small, blue-painted shack lies a large al fresco area where the sunny wooden dock is particularly popular (handy for taking dips in the harbour), though I prefer a quieter, shadier spot amid the raised beds. To drink? An organic, flower-topped spritz or bottle of natural wine, ideally enjoyed as the sun sets across the water. Suzanne King
Refshalevej 141, 1432 Copenhagen; 00 45 31 26 65 61
Los Angeles
The Spare Room at the Hollywood Roosevelt
Generally, hotel bars are rather sad places. But not so in Los Angeles. Here, many of the very best bars can be found in the city's upmarket hotels, from the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel to the Tower Bar at the Sunset Tower. But my favourite has to be The Spare Room at the Hollywood Roosevelt. Hidden away within the storied hotel, it has plenty of old-school Tinseltown charm, with dark wood panelling, sultry lighting and vintage bowling lanes. Go with friends and order one of their potent punch bowls. Luciana Bellini
7000 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles
Singapore
Jigger and Pony
This convivial, low-lit haunt was part of the wave of bars and restaurants that opened in the early 2010s and made the world sit up and take notice of Singapore as a competitive culinary destination. Though beginning as an independent spot, as its fortunes rose (it's currently number five on The World's 50 Best Bars), it moved into the more sultry confines of the Amara hotel, yet retains a welcoming, cosy ambience. The magazine-like menu features helpful photos of each creation – try the Smashing Sundae, a delicious, fruity take on a milk punch. Patrick Courtney
165 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088539
Cape Town
Planet Bar
Planet Bar is not exactly traditional, nor is it hip. It's the heart of the locally-loved 'Nellie' – the Mount Nelson, a pink confection of a hotel, with white trellised balconies and riotous flowerbeds, contemporary African art and antiques salvaged from the Union-Castle Line it once serviced. Charming waiters have been unruffling feathers here for more than a century, and deep, comfortable chairs house interesting, even famous, guests – local fashionistas, film directors and more. It has a well-rounded menu, but nothing beats its old fashioned. Pippa de Bruyn
76 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town
Edinburgh
Cafe Royal Edinburgh
The good folk of Edinburgh have been frequenting this little changed, outrageously ornate example of Victorian decorative excess just off Princes Street since the 1860s. It's always been the place for celebrations, commiserations or just gazing awestruck at acres of mahogany and gilded plasterwork, but there have never been social boundaries here, reflected in stained glass portrayals of Edinburgh trades and Royal Dalton tiles portraying its great inventors. Blend in with oysters and a glass of Champagne and feel the glow. Linda Macdonald
Barcelona
Caribbean Club
The trend for 'secret' cocktail bars hidden behind fridges and broom cupboards continues apace in Barcelona, but for me the original speakeasy is still the best. Caribbean Club, hidden behind a wooden door down an El Raval alley, calls itself a 'ronería' – a rum bar – and it stocks an enviable selection, though really you can order whatever you fancy. Styled as a cabin on an old-time cruise ship, it's a cosy bolthole just off La Rambla but a million nautical miles away. Sally Davies
Carrer de les Sitges, 5, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona; 34 933 02 21 82
Miami
Sweet Liberty
With its cocktail program by homegrown mixology vanguard, the late great John Lermayer, Sweet Liberty is a laidback neighbourhood spot in South Beach. It kicks up the energy late night with an eclectic lineup of DJs and live music, but there's always space to tuck away for a more relaxed night out.
A favourite amongst locals and visitors alike, the airy, high-ceilinged space is inviting with an industrial vibe softened by palm tree-patterned wallpaper. I'm partial to their piña colada, made with three different rums, coconut cream and Jamaican coffee, and I can't visit without an order of their addictive cauliflower nachos. Shayne Benowitz
237-B 20th Street, Miami Beach
Paris
Bar Joséphine at the Mandarin Oriental Lutetia
Paris has no shortage of slinky drinking spots, but the refined Bar Joséphine at Mandarin Oriental Lutetia is a favourite for a special treat. It feels quintessentially Parisian, thanks in part to its location in the historic heart of the Left Bank. Past patrons included Picasso, Cocteau and legendary cabaret star Josephine Baker, after whom it is named – and today it continues to attract a glitzy literary crowd.
The fabulously restored Art Nouveau setting, including an exquisite 1910 mural, helps set the tone. Crucially, the cocktails are simply top-notch. Maestro mixologist Angelo Forte presides over a menu blending classics and more daring contemporary creations. Hannah Meltzer
45 Boulevard Raspail, 75006 Paris
Mexico City
Zinco Jazz Club
Mexico City is, famously, massive, and downtown can feel a bit unfriendly after dark. But a jazz bar is almost always the kindest – as well as the coolest – place to go in a new town. Zinco is a dimly lit, sultry venue housed inside a former bank vault, dating to the 1930s.
Red drapes behind the stage and black décor make the ambience feel classy and opulent. It's a showcase for local as well as visiting jazz bands and has an impressively busy roster. There are small tables with food service, but I prefer to perch myself by the corner of the bar, enjoy a slow mojito or premium mezcal and a quesadilla. Chris Moss
Calle de Motolinia 20, Centro Histórico, Centro, Mexico City
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Secrets of the 'world's greatest hotel' after insane 8-year transformation but it remains steeped in nostalgia
The infamous New York City hotel, the Waldorf Astoria, has reopened its doors after a massive eight-year renovation gave the nostalgic building a modern facelift - but the essence of old Park Avenue money hasn't disappeared. After eight years of renovations, delays, and ownership scandals, the iconic hotel is back, with many nods to its roots. The Waldorf Astoria has a long history of influencing culture, fashion, and architecture, donning a unique Art Deco style that put the hotel on the map. Conrad Hilton, the founder of the Hilton Hotels chain, once referred to the Waldorf Astoria as 'the greatest of them all'. The newest version of the hotel has significantly cut down on rooms from 1,400 to only 375, increasing the exclusivity and making it even more difficult to book a stay. The reduction has also made the rooms some of the largest in the city, starting at 570 square feet. The hotel's infamous Peacock Alley, which once connected the Waldorf and the Astoria before it became one building, has been restored to its original grandeur. The alley got its name from the promenade that guests would take to show off their wealth. Now that the building is one hotel, Peacock Alley has become the Waldorf Astoria's breathtaking lounge. The grand Waldorf clock is the star of the show in the center of the lounge. It was once commissioned by Queen Victoria for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Also featured prominently in Peacock Alley is a beautiful Steinway grand piano that once belonged to the famous American composer Cole Porter. Porter composed scores for several Broadway shows, including Kiss Me, Kate, and the 1965 film, High Society, which starred Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra. He lived in the Waldorf Astoria from 1934 until he died in 1964. The tribute to him goes beyond decoration, as the hotel plans to have a pianist play the instrument for guests in the lobby. Setting the scene The doors to the Waldorf Astoria have seen many celebrities and political figures, including Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, and even Queen Elizabeth II, walk through them. The hotel is steeped in history, with the Grand Ballroom being the first venue to host the Tony Awards. Monroe is said to have met former President John F. Kennedy at the awards ceremony. The Waldorf Astoria also introduced the world to the famous Waldorf salad, a classic fruit and nut salad created by the maitre d'hotel Oscar Tschirky in 1893. The hotel's kitchen is responsible for producing other staples like red velvet cake and eggs Benedict. Lemuel Benedict, a retired Wall Street stockbroker, is believed to have ordered the combination to cure his hangover, which inspired Tschirky to popularize the dish. The Waldorf Astoria was the first to offer 24-hour room service for its guests and was even the first to start hiring female chefs, starting in 1931, according to Culture Now. In addition to food, the Waldorf Astoria was famous for cocktails. One of the bartenders, Johnnie Solon, invented the Bronx Cocktail behind the hotel's bar. The cocktail is a mix of gin, orange juice, and a dash of vermouth. History riddled with drama The hotel's story begins in 1897 when cousins William Waldorf Astor and John Jacob Astor IV built two separate hotels on Fifth Avenue. The cousins turned their mansions into hotels during a bitter feud to one-up each other. A cruel twist came in 1929 when they were forced to demolish their hotels for construction of the Empire State Building. They then made a deal to combine the Waldorf and the Astoria into one hotel, moving the location to Park Avenue. The grand opening came two years later when the Waldorf Astoria debuted as a 47-story skyscraper with a coveted Grand Ballroom that saw Frank Sinatra perform and Albert Einstein speak. In 1977, Conrad Hilton achieved his dream of acquiring the property, but sold it to Chinese firm Anbang Insurance Group in 2014 for a whopping $1.95 billion in 2014. Over a decade later, the sale remains the most expensive hotel sale in history. In 2017, the insurance group began renovations. However, just two years later, the firm's chairman, Wu Xiaohui, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for fundraising fraud and embezzlement by the Chinese government. Anbang declared bankruptcy, and the Waldorf Astoria was acquired by another Chinese firm called Dajia Insurance Group. The legal woes further delayed the hotel's current renovations, and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 pushed it back even further. A new era With a rich history of scandal, art, culture, and wealth, the Waldorf Astoria has now entered a new era. The renovation was overseen by architects from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, one of the leading architecture firms in the country. The team told the New York Times that they spent years sifting through archival photos to create new designs that rang true to the hotel's origin. Chef Michael Anthony, who previously won a Michelin Star at New York's Gramercy Tavern, is spearheading the cuisine at the Waldorf Astoria's Lex Yard restaurant. The Waldorf Astoria has consistently been at the forefront of cocktail innovation, with drinks such as the Rob Roy cocktail and Bronx Cocktail originating there. Pictured a bartender makes a Rob Roy at the hotel on Wednesday The hotel also features a massive 30,000 square foot spa with a sprawling fitness center. The brand is staying true to its ballroom roots, reimagining the Grand Ballroom to accommodate new technology. The bordering rooms have undergone renovations to make them soundproof, so guests can still rent them out during events. A gaudy crystal chandelier that used to be the centerpiece of the ballroom has been removed and replaced with a modern lighting system. Frank Mahan, a principal architect with SOM, told the Times that the lighting of the ballroom, 'never quite worked the way it was intended'. The chandelier's harsh lighting damaged the paneling and metalwork of the ballroom, but now light comes through from coves in the ceiling. The hotel's third floor features a stunning hallway called the Silver Corridor, connecting the Grand Ballroom, the Astor Room, and the Basildon Room. The hallway's grandiose chandeliers light up the jaw-dropping murals on the ceiling, painted by Edward Emerson Simmons. Guests are also promised ultimate comfort in their rooms, which feature dressing areas and private bar areas. The Waldorf Astoria is officially open for guests and has rooms available starting at a whopping $1,500 a night.
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Bluey, ABBA, and Romans: Things to do in Gwent this weekend
The weekend fun kicks off for families on Saturday, July 26, as M Cwmbran's store hosts a meet and greet event with the popular character, Bluey. (Image: Supplied) Running from 9am to 5.30pm, visitors can play chef with the Bluey mascot, and participate in various other family-friendly activities at the store. The fun continues at Caldicot Castle with the Mamma Mia! Outdoor Cinema ExtrABBAganza event. (Image: Supplied) Fans of the hit musical and the Swedish pop group ABBA can sing along to the films Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, which will be screened outdoors. Aside from the films, there will be an ABBA disco, street food, and a bar on site. Visitors are encouraged to dress up and bring along picnics, although alcohol must be purchased on site. The gates open at 5pm and the films start at 6.30pm. Over at Usk, Cardiff's board game enthusiasts, Rules of Play, will be bringing their pop-up shop and games night to the Lines Taproom. (Image: Supplied) A multitude of games will be available for purchase, and visitors can book tables to play games. The event is set to be a fun evening of learning and playing new games. The Landmark Trust is opening the historic Grade-I listed house, Llwyn Celyn, in the Black Mountains, for the July public open days from Friday, July 25, to Sunday, July 27. The site is free to visit, allowing visitors to explore the historic site and learn about its history and the work of the Landmark Trust. Canines are welcome at Llwyn Celyn and there are two events taking place on the Saturday: poetry and creative writing with Clare E Potter, and writing for wellbeing. To register your interest, email engagement@ The weekend also has a historical highlight, with the 'Meet the Romans' event at Caerwent Roman Town. (Image: Supplied) Running on both Saturday and Sunday, from 10.30am to 3.30pm, visitors can meet Roman centurion Tiberius Claudius Paulinus and his lady, who will be conducting guided tours of the Roman town at 11.30am and 2.30pm. There will be a Silurian wise woman on site, who will be talking about Celtic-Romano herbs at her plant stall. This free event also includes craft activities for children and refreshments.
Times
2 days ago
- Times
The Crossbasket Castle hotel review: a regal stay with a twist
Crossbasket Castle has been putting on the ritz, adding 40 art deco-style bedrooms and a buzzing restaurant where there's live music every night of the week and full-on shows at the weekend. Guests at this grand pile, ten miles southeast of Glasgow near the town of East Kilbride, now have a choice of rooms: 17th-century grandeur in the castle or sleeker, Twenties-style digs in a new building. Whichever they pick, the welcome is warm, afternoon tea is an event and evenings positively fizz when Trocadero's opens for cocktails, dinner and dancing. A spa is set to open by the river next year. This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue Score 8/10The 40 new rooms, a short stroll from the castle, run from compact doubles to spacious suites with balconies looking out on the greenery of the 14-acre riverside estate. The style is art deco but subtle: furniture with brushed gold edges, plush scalloped headboards in shades of oyster, clam shell-shaped chairs and ottomans in light sage. Traditionalists might prefer one of the nine castle bedrooms, where rolltop baths, fireplaces and canopied beds provide a sense of place. • More great Scottish hotels Score 9/10Dinner in Trocadero's is a big draw. It's less about the food and more about the party atmosphere, which on weekends includes live jazz, dancers and cocktails. Week nights might be quieter, but there's still steak carved tableside, Josper-grilled lobster and a dessert trolley tottering with petits gâteaux. Next door is Foveran's, a light and airy restaurant, where breakfast is the full works — eggs benedict, omelettes and full fry-ups — and there's even a bloody mary station (as well as restorative fresh juices). Come here for afternoon tea (£39pp), which is also served in the castle's antique-filled Stewart Room. • The most beautiful places in Scotland Aside from exploring the great outdoors, that's your lot… for now. The new riverside spa with outdoor hydrotherapy pools and treatments focussed on artisanal Scottish products will open later in 2025. • Glasgow's top hotels Score 7/10In Scotland's Central Belt, Crossbasket Castle is easy to access from Glasgow and Edinburgh, the former just 20 minutes or so by car. It's a five-minute drive to Blantyre for the birthplace of the explorer David Livingstone, and two minutes from the East Kilbride Expressway, which puts Loch Lomond, the Falkirk Wheel or Stirling Castle within striking distance. Price B&B doubles from £195Restaurant mains from £18Family-friendly YAccessible YDog-friendly Y Helen Ochyra was a guest of Crossbasket Castle ( • Discover our full guide to Scotland
