When one thinks of glamourous hotel bars, London is the first city to come to mind. The direct pour martini by Alessandro Palazzi at Duke’s hotel, the martini served straight up with a smile by Maura Milia and co at The Connaught, the rock-star cocktail legacy left by Alex Kratena at Artesian bar at the Langham hotel, the stunning view from The Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard, and the savoirfaire of Salvatore Calabrese at the Donovan Bar at Browns. But hotel bar culture has progressively taken over the globe, with customers demanding exclusive and luxurious cocktail bar experiences from Rome to Singapore to Vancouver. Below I highlight some of my favorite luxury hotel bars around the world.
The Court at Palazzo Manfredi, Rome
Count Goffredo Manfredi is one of Rome’s best known public figures, having founded his first construction company in 1936, when he was just 18. In the 1950s, the Count played an important role in rebuilding the Italian economy after the second world war. Palazzo Manfredi, an exclusive luxury hotel, is one of the Count’s latest ventures, and overlooks the ancient gladiatorial school Ludus Magnus and the Roman colosseum.
The highlight of Palazzo Manfredi is the 120 square meter Grand view suite, which is only accessible via a private elevator, further adding to the exclusivity of the experience. Entering the suite, you will be in awe of the spectacular furnishings and furniture from both local and international artisans. Walk towards the spacious living area and the massive large floor-to-ceiling window to take in the spectacular view of the Colosseum. The Grand view suite also features a whirlpool bath and a large walk-in shower.
Palazzo Manfredi offers world class dining thanks to Michelin starred AROMA located on the top floor. The 28-seat restaurant offers picturesque outdoor terrace with an unparalleled Colosseum view. Roman-born Chef Di Iorio has been the head chef at Aroma since it opened in 2010, and he has developed a menu focusing on traditional Italian cooking.
On the ground level is The Court, the spectacular cocktail lounge that can be enjoyed both before and after dinner. Spearheading the project is bar manager Matteo Zed, one of the biggest names in the Italian bartending scene. Matteo together with assistant bar manager Martina Proietti and head bartender Federica Marcaccini, have developed an elegant list of signature cocktails inspired by the best ingredients of Italy and beyond.
The most iconic cocktail on the menu is The Court’s transparent Espresso Martini called Expression Martini 2.0. The bold yet smooth rotovap-enabled drink is prepared by throwing vodka, simple syrup, a redistilled preparation where 1 L of espresso is combined with 500 ml of Frangelico hazelnut liqueur, 500 ml of Caffè Borghetti coffee liqueur and 500 ml of fresh cream in a rotovap at 30 C. The cocktail is served in an elegant Nick and Nora glass and garnished with a coffee bean and edible golden leaf.
Another favorite at The Court is El Fascinante, which is a velvety twist on the pina colada. A perfect equilibrium is struck between sour elements lemon juice, Greek yogurt and pineapple tepache with sweeter ones St. Antonio Luxardo amaro and a caramel black tea syrup. Together with base spirit Matusalem 7 rum, the ingredients are shaken and strained into a Gobbler glass with crushed ice. The garnish includes a dried pineapple flower and mint bud.
For the serious imbiber, The Court has it all: mesmerizing cocktails, luxurious decor with a relaxing vibe and perhaps the best view in the world.
Palazzo Manfredi and Roman Colosseum
Living area in Grand View Colosseum Suite
Bedroom on upper floor of Grand View Colosseum Suite
Stairs leading from living room to bedroom in Grand View Colosseum Suite
Matteo Zed, Bar Manager of The Court. Photo Alberto Blasetti.
Staff at The Court (Left to Right): Martina Proietti, Karin Germani, Ludovica Massucci, Federica Marcaccini. Photo Alberto Blasetti.
Expression Martini 2.0. Photo Alberto Blasetti.
El Fascinante. Photo Alberto Blasetti.
Evening at The Court. Photo Alberto Blasetti.
MO Bar at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore
Mandarin Oriental is one of leading luxury hotels in the booming city state of Singapore. Mandarin Oriental Singapore has the honour of being the only hotel in the city to be awarded Five Star status for both accommodation and spa in Forbes Travel Guide for the past ten years. The property has a strategic location in Singapore, close to the financial hub and walking distance from touristic Marina Bay. American architect John Portman designed the atrium-style hotel based on a theatre concept with the exterior of the structure resembling a fan, just like Mandarin Oriental’s logo.
Despite being built in 1987, the interior of the hotel is still eye candy, thanks to a slick, dimly lit lobby and a towering atrium. Combining Asian touches with a contemporary design, the hotel features 468 rooms and 59 suites, with stunning views of Marina bay and the city. The stylish 25-metre outdoor swimming pool is surrounded by a lush tropical landscape and offers spectacular views of the Singapore city skyline. The exclusive pool is perhaps the best location to catch the sunset over Marina Bay. In addition to MO Bar, Mandarin Oriental Singapore is home to five covering range of international cuisines.
MO Bar was revamped in 2018 in collaboration with Proof & Company, the bar consultancy firm and leading distributor of craft spirits in SE Asia. MO Bar rose to fame under the watch of Michele Mariotti starting in 2018 and was recognised as one of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2020. Although Michele has since moved on to a prestigious role at Gleneagles in Scotland, he has left behind a great legacy. Current bar manager Adrian Besa and his team have recently been awarded the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award at Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2021. Entering MO Bar, you will immediately understand why the team has won so much praise. Everyone person who works at MO Bar has a smile on their face, from the hosts and hostesses at the door to the bar staff. The service here is friendly, professional and attentive, making you always feel like the centre of attention.
Situated on the 4th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Singapore, MO bar offers breathtaking views of the Singapore skyline. The bar has an all-day menu with afternoon tea service during the day and craft cocktails in the evening. The interior design at MO Bar includes hand-carved wooden sculptures and hand-woven tapestries, complimenting the cocktail menu inspired by the APAC region. MO Bar Singapore is taking things beyond twists on classics thanks to an in-house laboratory just behind the bar counter. Adrian and his team use all the latest high tech equipment to come up with new flavors and aromas for their signature serves at MO Bar.
MO BAR has recently launched a fully interactive and digitally engaging menu to complement the in-bar experience. The current menu, Volume Three, is a continuation of the journey undertaken in the first two volumes. While Volume Two drew inspiration from the team’s travels, Volume Three was developed by virtual guest shifts, exploring the history and culture of select destinations across Asia Pacific. The line-up of virtual bar exchanges included Vesper in Bangkok, Alice Cheongdam from Seoul, The Spirits Library in Manila, and New Delhi’s Sidecar. Each drink on the menu is inspired from the team’s time spent with one of these regional partners, incorporating unique flavours, ingredients and techniques.
Four drinks offer a non-alcoholic option such as White Rabbit, a twist on the classic Bloody Mary with a thoughtfully layered combination of with fresh tomatoes, spicy homemade kimchi and aged Korean black garlic. The ingredients are then clarified and the drink is garnished with a tomato crisp (a byproduct of the clarification) topped with black garlic cream and micro greens. With the alcohol supplement, you can add further complexity to White Rabbit with habanero and poblano pepper infused tequila. Not surprisingly, White Rabbit was inspired by the fictional character of Alice in Wonderland, which symbolizes the continuous quest for knowledge. Keeping with the virtual guest shift theme of the current menu at MO Bar, the cocktail was designed in collaboration with Terry Kim and Aiden Lim of Alice Cheongdam, an Alice in Wonderland themed bar.
Taking inspiration from the Province of Lanao del Sur in the Philippines is the colourful Sarimanok, a rum mango daiquiri blending flavours of Lanao with spiced rum, fresh mango, kombucha, peaches, lemon juice and sugar syrup. Sarimanok was inspired by the mythical creature from the southern part of the Philippines, which is also a symbol of good fortune. The rum is fat washed with croissants and butter to make the drink even more savoury. The garnish of the drink pays homage to Mimi Schofield, former Spirits Evangelist at Proof & Company who was responsible for opening MO BAR. Mimi introduced a unique technique of creating beautiful designs on edible rice paper, best known from the iconic Volume 1 drink “The Mother of Dragons.” On Sarimanok, the rice paper features the beautiful colors of the Philippines and its fabled creature.
Other than developing great drinks and memorable guest experiences, Adrian Besa also finds the time to collaborate with Michele Mariotti and Alex J. Murphy with the Unjiggered podcast, where they interview bar legends from around the world.
Mandarin Oriental Singapore with Marina Bay Sands on the left and the city on the right
Marina Bay Suite
The spectacular swimming pool at Mandarin Oriental Singapore
MO Bar entrance
The bar area at MO Bar
Bar manager Adrian Besa
The award winning MO Bar team
White Rabbit, a Seoul-inspired Bloody Mary
Sarimanok, a rum mango daiquiri with Filipino flair
Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver
Fairmont Pacific Rim is a modern hotel located in downtown Vancouver in the waterfront area, also close to the historic gastown district. It’s the city’s top luxury hotel and was rated the World's Best Business Hotel by Condé Nast Traveler. Fairmont has a worldwide portfolio of more than 75 hotels including The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, and Fairmont Banff Springs. Fairmont Pacific Rim offers unobstructed mountain and harbour views, combining the best of the Pacific Rim in its architecture and décor. The Fairmont features a rooftop pool deck, lavish guestrooms and suites, and two of the city’s most important cocktail bars, The Lobby Lounge and Botanist. The cocktail program at both bars at the Fairmont is thanks to Australian Grant Sceney, who has been with the hotel for 10 years. Sceney is one of the most successful bartenders based in Canada, having placed fourth overall in the World Class Finals in 2014.
The Lobby Lounge is the hotel’s original cocktail bar and is located on the lobby level and includes live music and high quality sushi, donburi bowls and bento boxes from RawBar. The Lobby Lounge is one of the best locations in the city for those seeking a glamorous cocktail bar with a warm atms. The typically laid back Vancouver attitude is left at the door at the Lobby Lounge, where you will feel like you’re hanging with a vibrant South Beach crowd. Whether you’re at one of the Bob Dylan-inspired communal tables or up at the white Italian marble-clad bar counter, you’re sure to have a great time thanks to the upbeat mood and well-mixed drinks by Sceney and his team at the Lobby Lounge.
Botanist is the flagship bar at Fairmont Pacific Rim, and flanks the restaurant of the same name which made the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 50 Best Discovery list in 2019. To find Botanist, walk past the Lobby Lounge bar and up the stairs. Like his supervisor Sceney, Botanist head bartender Jeff Savage, has had tremendous success at World Class, placing 2nd overall in 2019. The centerpiece at Botanist is the cocktail laboratory, which is visible from the bar counter. The lab empowers the bartenders with a culinary-forward approach to cocktail design and production and includes modern equipment such as a rotary evaporator and centrifuge.
One example of the sophisticated cocktails at Botanist is the terroir-inspired Botanist’s martini, which pays tribute to the best of Vancouver: the local mountains, the pacific ocean and the temperate rainforest. Coastal gin blend, house vermouth, seaborne tincture (spruce tip tincture, verbena tincture, elderflower liqueur and salt water) and an oyster leaf and vegan caviar garnish are combined to produce an elegant martini that highlights some of the best flavors of the region. The most visually stunning cocktail at Botanist is Deep Cove, served in a beautiful bespoke glass which is molded onto a piece of driftwood. Deep Cove is a refreshing and slightly sweet cocktail which evolves as it dilutes thanks to the addition of cucumbers to the mix of Island Gin, sea buckthorn and blue algae.
With elegant service, original cocktails and a respect for the best local ingredients, it’s no surprise that Botanist has been a success internationally. In its first year, Botanist was shortlisted for the Tales of the Cocktail – 2019 Spirited Awards under the ‘Best New International Bar’ category.
Whether you’re looking to geek out with more sophisticated cocktails or have maybe you’re just in the mood for a simpler classic, Botanist and The Lobby Lounge have got all the bases covered. Without a doubt the Faimont Pacific Rim is the cocktail enthusiast and foodie’s destination of choice in Vancouver.
Entrance of Fairmont Pacific Rim
Swimming pool area of Fairmont Pacific Rim
Gold Corner Suite
View from Owner’s suite
The Lobby Lounge with stairs leading upstairs to Botanist. Photo Ema Peter.
Live music at The Lobby Lounge
Fairmont Pacific Rim Beverage Director Grant Sceney
Botanist martini with a west coast DNA. Photo Luis Valdizon.
Deep Cove, a cocktail developed in the labs at Botanist.
Atrium bar at Four seasons, Florence
Four Seasons Florence is a hotel resort made up of two Renaissance buildings: the 15th century “Palazzo Della Gherardesca” and “La Villa”, a former convent of the 16th century. Separating the two properties are the majestic 11-acre Gherardesca gardens, the largest private park in the city, which has existed since the 15th century. Following the guidelines of the Superintendent for Artistic Historical Patrimony, Four Seasons has restored the garden to its 19th century Romantic-style – an artistic connection of paths and lawns together with stunning pools.
More than a hotel, Four Seasons Florence is a contemporary museum with its magnificent pieces of artwork and unique designs spread across 116 rooms and suites. Found in the Palazzo Della Gherardesca, the Royal Suite is one of the greatest suites in the world, and will make you feel like a noble Florentine in ancient times. The 233 square meter suite features vaulted ceilings, beautiful frescoes, and an original “Capodimonte Maioliche” ceramic floor by Ignazio Chiaiese. The Royal Suite can be even be connected with the smaller Renaissance and Gallery Suites to become a three-bedroom residence.
Il Palagio is the Michelin Starred restaurant within the hotel where Executive Chef Vito Mollica craftily prepares a mix of Tuscan and Italian dishes in spectacularly elegant surroundings. For a truly romantic experience, one can even dine on the Altana Terrace on the hotel’s roof, offering a magnificent 360-degree view over Florence.
Four Season’s cocktail bar Atrium Bar occupies a vast sun-lit and decorative space near the hotel lobby. Bar manager Tommaso Ondeggia and head bartender Edoardo Sandri serve both inventive signature and traditional classic cocktails at Atrium Bar. In the evenings, live piano music provides a relaxing atmosphere that extends outdoors onto the terraces during the warmer seasons.
In the 2020 menu, Atrium Bar launched its ambitious cocktail book “Animal Kingdom”, in collaboration with Argentine artist Carolina Correa. The scope of Animal Kingdom is to promote environmental issues, and in particular the problem of endangered species. Edoardo Sandri, Tommaso Ondeggia and the Atrium Bar team developed 15 cocktails inspired by endangered animals, accompanied by works of art painted by Carolina Correa. The paintings were placed on sale at Atrium bar and all proceeds were donated the Fondazione Acquario di Genova Onlus for The Cetacean Sanctuary Research.
The Animal Kingdom book is divided into three categories: Land, Sea and Sky. In the Land section, the highlight is The Gorilla with Michter’s bourbon, Campari bitter, Casamigos mezcal, coconut oil, pineapple, Lapsang souchong and dry ice. Although the menu refers to the drink as strong in taste, The Gorilla is very approachable to most palates, with a pleasant explosion of flavors, with a beautiful presentation thanks to the dry ice and accompanying statue of a mother and baby gorilla.
Another cocktail that wows is the Polar Bear, which represents ice with its vodka base and liquid nitrogen preparation. The drink is made by mixing 50 ml of vodka, 20 ml of Amaro Angostura, 20 ml of Etna bitter, 20 ml of centrifuge of tarragon with citric acid, 10 ml of water, and 50 ml of mango juice in a double walled stainless steel bowl. The liquid mixture is then treated with liquid nitrogen while stirring the liquid to form a frozen style cocktail, all while providing a dazzling show at the bar counter. The cocktail is served in a marble tumbler with a cotton candy garnish. This all day drink is cool, refreshing and the spoon provided will make you feel like you’re drinking a sophisticated adult version of the granita. Amazing.
When in Tuscany, the Four Seasons Florence is a can’t miss opportunity. It is the ideal setting for locals and tourists alike seeking luxury, art, great food and drink and a welcoming yet relaxing environment.
The lobby at Four Seasons Florence
Gherardesca Garden Path
The Royal Suite master bedroom
The Royal Suite bathroom
Il Palagio restaurant
Altana Terrace rooftop dining experience
Altana Terrace rooftop dining experience
Bar Manager Tommaso Ondeggia prepares The Gorilla cocktail with dry ice
The Gorilla cocktail with an alcoholic base of Michter’s bourbon and Casamigos mezcal
Head Bartender Edoardo Sandri prepares the Polar Bear
Polar Bear cocktail
Polar Bear painting by Carolina Correa