Drinking an evening cocktail in a stylish bar somewhere spectacular in the world is something few of us have managed over the last year.
However, as the world slowly, so slowly, reopens, we’ve looked for the finest nightlife options that we can all look forward to trying soon.
Whether you’re after spectacular sights, unique brews or captivating cocktails, these are the best places we can think of to kick back, relax and make new friends.
St. Regis Bar
Park City, UT, USA
For visitors who like a bar with a view, then the St Regis Deer Valley resort can most certainly oblige.
Whether you’ve been hiking or horseback riding in summer or skiing in winter, why not relax with a drink and a bite surrounded by beautiful mountains at this luxury resort.
Celebrate each day at sunset with The St. Regis champagne sabering ritual or Sip the signature 7452 Mary, an enticing blend of the famous Bloody Mary mix and Five Wives Vodka locally-distilled from Utah mountain spring water, served with a black salt rim and a wasabi-celery foam.
Le Bar Hurricane
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Enjoy a relaxed drink at Le Bar Hurricane at Hotel Sofitel Marara. The bar is named after the 1979 movie Hurricane, starring Mia Farrow, as filming took place nearby.
Le Hurricane Bar is a popular nightcap destination for holidaymakers and honeymooners alike, as it’s one of a handful of resort bars right on the edge of the stunning blue lagoon, creating a memorable setting with a relaxed, romantic feel.
Sierra Mar
Big Sur, CA, USA
High above the cliffs of Big Sur sits Post Ranch Inn. The resort’s bar and restaurant, Sierra Mar, blends rustic elegance with panoramic ocean views.
With no televisions anywhere in the resort, guests can relax and soak up the views 1,200ft above the Pacific Ocean.
Sierra Mar uses local boutique distilleries, artisan breweries, house-made juices, and locally foraged ingredients for its cocktails, and the resulting Sierra Mar Organic Margarita is a house speciality.
As well as the cocktails, it also has a Grand Award-winning wine cellar, with over 15,000 bottles and 3,200 selections for guests to enjoy.
Furansu
Ishikawa, Japan
Located in Kanazawa, Furansu is a cocktail bar run by three brothers who are half Japanese and half French.
The bar can be found on Kiguramachi Street near downtown Kanazawa, and is a cosy, foreigner-friendly place that provides a great spot for a drink with friends or family.
Selling premium spirits including Japanese whiskeys and French gins, this is a must-visit.
Matsumoto Brewery Taproom
Matsumoto, Japan
Matsumoto Brewery Taproom is located in the Nakamachi area of Japan, down a small alley, serving four original beers along with an occasional guest beer on draft, as well as an abundance of local beers.
With only a bar and one bar table on the first floor, and a large table on the second floor, the Tap Room is cosy and tight, making it easy to strike up a conversation with others in the room.
For those who want to bar hop, there is another Matsumoto Brewery Tap Room in the Media Garden building that has more seating and serves small plates.
Kane Tiki Bar & Grill
Marco Island, FL, USA
The Kane Tiki Bar and Grill, named after the Polynesian God of Creation and Growth, is located on Marco Island, on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.
The bar, which is part of the JW Marriott resort, boasts over 70 different brands of rum, hailing from Barbados to Brazil, with bartenders ready to whip up a cocktail, a mocktail, or just pour a chilled Florida craft beer.
Order a dish or two from the Indonesian inspired street-food menu and relax as the sun sets over the Gulf when bar guests are entertained each evening at the sunset celebration, which features fire dancers.
El Fenn
Marrakesh, Morocco
The roof terrace is El Fenn’s most popular spot, with close-up views of the iconic Koutoubia Mosque as well as the rooftops of Marrakesh, and a mass of daybeds and lounging areas to enjoy it all from. There’s also a team of mixologists on hand from midday until late if you’re in the mood for a drink.
Having unveiled its expanded premises in January 2021 El Fenn now offers a heated rooftop pool with panoramic views of the city, Koutoubia Mosque and the Atlas Mountains. Four new suites plus a second bar and private dining room have been added and the in-house spa and store expanded.
Poka Lola Social Club
Denver, CO, USA
Located in the new Dairy Block in Downtown Denver, Poka Lola Social Club at The Maven boutique hotel reinvents the everyman’s cocktail bar.
It stylishly combines art-deco elegance with turn-of-the-century American soda fountain culture. Speciality sodas using locally sourced seasonal ingredients are bottled on-site for use in crafted cocktails, which can be enjoyed in the bar or, weather allowing, the outdoor patio area.
Revival
Sacramento, CA, USA
The Sawyer, operated by Kimpton Hotels, is situated at the heart of downtown Sacramento in the renovated DoCo area. This boutique hotel is the home of Revival, located on the pool deck.
Revival offers a great cocktail menu, alongside an extensive wine menu featuring offerings from Sacramento – one of California’s oldest wine-producing regions, boasting over 200 wineries.
Start sampling the local goods with The Sawyer’s daily complimentary wine hour.
The Little Nell
Aspen, CO, USA
The Wine Bar at The Little Nell just opened in Aspen this winter season, replacing the après-ski bar Chair 9.
The Wine Bar has an art deco design, a DJ booth where only vinyl records are on rotation, and an innovative bar menu, all in a comfortable, lounge-style setting.
With dozens of wines by the glass and 16 wine enomatics on tap, you are bound to find something to suit your tastes from the hotel’s award-winning cellar.
If you prefer something a little more exclusive, The Krug Lounge is available for a private group experience, featuring a relaxed more relaxed area for a glass of champagne and a small plate, or a more formal area for a five-course meal with a personal sommelier.
