See below our bucket list of the top 6 world’s best hotel cocktails from around the world:
THE GORING HOTEL LONDON
So close to Buckingham Palace you may hear a corgi yap and just the toss of a tote bag from Knightsbridge and Mayfair, London’s only five-star luxury hotel still run by the family who built it, the Gorings, has been a royalty favourite for four generations. The Jubilee Fizz and Coronation Cup were concocted by bar manager Tiago Mira, for the Queen’s 70 years of service.
Served in the beautiful Goring Cocktail Bar with a grand piano in the corner, the Jubilee Fizz is a champagne cocktail of Beirao, peach liqueurs and Ysabel Regina brandy infused with banana, topped with Bollinger Champagne and a regal flourish of gold leaf. The Coronation Cup’s piece de resistance is dubonnet – a favourite aperitif of the Queen. See thegoring.com
CIPRIANI, A BELMOND HOTEL – VENICE
Set on Giudecca Island, five-minutes by private launch from St Mark’s Square, the showstopper hotel was opened by Giuseppe Cipriani, who founded Harry’s Bar, in 1958. It has the city’s only Olympic-sized swimming pool, but it’s another watering hole, many come for. The Gabbiano Bar is where head barman, Walter Bolzonella has been mixing cocktails with panache for 40 years.
He’s created cocktails with George Clooney – the Buononotte and La Nina, for the star’s mother and mixed bellinis for presidents, stars and royalty. His 421 Venezia Mia pays homage to 1600 years of Venice history in a Murano glass. Think blackberry, citrus and aromatic spices, combined with maraschino, Select Aperitivo and prosecco. See belmond.com
GRAND HOTEL TREMEZZO LAKE COMO
Exuding Italian pizzazz, the historic hotel built in 1910 was one of the first hotels on Lake Como and is known for its soft primrose-yellow art nouveau exterior, orange awnings and glam decor.
Fancy a Negroni on the La Terrace as you dream of relocating or head to the chic T Bar where expert mixologists shake cocktails to the tinkle of a piano. Bartender Jeff Zanotti created the GHT Special with Gin Rivo – local gin, fresh lemon juice, orgeat, ananas juice, violet leaves and sage – shaken, not stirred. Watch polished wooden speed boats criss-cross the lake to flower festooned villas as you laze by the famous floating pool, cocktail in hand. See grandhoteltremezzo.com
HOTEL SACHER VIENNA AUSTRIA
The legendary Blaue Bar with its rich dark blue brocade walls, velvet seating and glittering chandeliers is the perfect place to sip a champagne cocktail with a side of the famous Original Sacher Torte – a decadent chocolate treat of rich chocolate cake with apricot jam and dark chocolate icing, served with unsweetened whipped cream. Developed in 1932 by a 16-year-old apprentice Franz Sacher, the recipe remains a closely guarded secret.
The Champagne Cocktail, an absolute classic, features Laurent Perrier bubbles, a dash of cognac, Grand Marnier, bitters and orange zest – classy. See sacher.com
THE RITZ PARIS
Soak up the atmosphere of Bar Hemingway with its light oak panelling and old worlde charm at the Ritz Paris in Place Vendome. Formerly the Petit Bar, Hemingway, a Nobel-prize winner, frequented the bar from 1925, and loved a classic cocktail and plenty of them. He once commented “If I die and go to heaven, I’d like it to resemble the bars at the Ritz.”
Legend attributes he helped create the Bloody Mary so his wife, Mary, wouldn’t detect alcohol on his return home. Sink into a honey-coloured tufted leather banquettes or a cosy armchair – it only seats 25, then reminisce of whose been there before you, as you sip a Raspberry Martini or a Serendipity with calvados, fresh mint, apple juice and champagne. See ritzparis.com
RAFFLES HOTEL SINGAPORE
Synonymous with Raffles Singapore, it’s where you down the cerise-coloured Singapore Sling and toss peanut shells on the Long Bar floor without eyebrows raised. It’s turned ecofriendly, using the more sustainable Ecospirits system saving thousands of glass bottles each year and the equivalent of 200g of CO2 emission per serving.
But move over Singapore Sling – the Million Dollar cocktail is giving it a nudge. Available at the elegant Writers Bar, it was concocted by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon, of Singapore Sling fame. It shot to fame in The Letter, a short story by Somerset Maugham, one of many scribes who resided at the hotel. It contains gin, pineapple, and sweet vermouth. See rafflessingapore.com
