Vibe On Location
After searching the globe high and low for overall amazing cocktail venues, we have complied a list of our favorites … hot spots that buzz, are high energy, and proven to be worthy of a visit. What criteria do we use when we check out a spot? Of course we scrutinize the glass, the mix, the menu, the overall presentation, but those are just the basics! Music, lighting, and clearly service come into play. But of course, the most critical component of our checklist is the overall vibe that resonates … the “feel good” factor that can only be felt, not seen. The intangible something that makes you want to stay, that provokes thought, creates sparks and gets the mood going. We’re a tough crowd to please, rest assured … so if we tell you a spot is hot, trust us and go.
For now we’re focusing on hotel bars -- there are some real gems out there, but not always so easy to find. Stay tuned and we will soon expand our coverage!!
Rattlesnake Bar, Ritz-Carlton, Dallas
A+++! Although this high score pretty much speaks for itself, read on… This newest entrée to the cocktailing world of Dallas is superb. From the wrap-around rattlesnake bar rail that encompasses a true mesquite wood bartop, to the deep leather seating throughout, the Chihuly-goes-wild-west glass chandeliers, cowhide rugs and stunning onyx bar front and backlit wall, this place is great. Texas with its best-foot-forward, a true eye-catcher … we love it. This bar speaks, breathes and outright YELLS high class but skips over any snob factor that one might expect. Intimate yet spacious, cozy yet simplistic and modern, the designers who gave birth to this baby hit the nail right on the head. We really dig the cavernous corners, the space to unwind without being cramped and shoved around. We love the oversized entrance that offers a sneak peak to the brand-spanking new and incredibly tasteful lobby of this grand dame of a hotel. The bar crowd (perfect mix of ages, but overall a high class bunch of revelers) gently oozes into the lobby, creating the feeling of being at home (and what a home!!). Having Dallas’ most highly respected chef cooking up a storm next door does help, but no help is needed to turn this masterpiece into a mainstay. Cocktails are perfectly concocted, server staff is super-friendly and professional, music is great … We can’t wait to come back!!
Hudson Bar, Hudson Hotel, New York.
OK, this joint opened with a splash years ago, got its hype … we loved it way back when … and, well, we still like it! Yes, it’s showing its age here and there, but maybe this ultra high-vibe contender has become somewhat of a classic mainstay in the sublime world of cocktailing?! An icon perhaps? Can’t help but oooooh and aaaaaaah at the fab furniture (mid century meets Louis XIV, signature Philippe Starck) scattered throughout, and the cat-walk conscious servers are oh-so-perfect. We also love the little drinking dens – dark, cozy and mysteriously hip – that surround the inner hub. Stop in at all hours of the eve, and the pulse will be there. The tunes they blast are hot, and intensify as the night progresses – sure to impress. Good job at keeping the groove going, guys!
Kasbar, Royal Mirage Hotel, Dubai
As you descend into the lush courtyard outside the roped-off entrance to Kasbar, you immediately sense you’re entering an exciting cocktail spot. Beyond the row of Porsches, Bentleys, Ferrarris and other super chic sets of wheels, you’ll find lots of well-heeled and exotically in-the-know locals partaking in the favorite night time sport of shisha-smoking. Love it. Provocative pipes with yummy smelling scents radiating. Very James Bond. Inside the doors … red velvet lounges, Moroccan lanterns galore, and cavernous hiding spots in every nook. Brilliant house music with Arabian re-mix twists pull party-goers onto the floor until all hours of the night. Overall, this hotspot wins high praise from our team of trend-spotters, who have been looking for an exotic and edgy watering hole for quite a while. Go, let your hair down, get in the groove and enjoy.
DegreesBar, Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
We love this place. It is hot. How can it not be hot when everything is red and orange and the mood is super-sexy?? Chairs are comfy, seating is intimate, and the best part is that you enjoy the ultra de-lux Ritz Carlton white glove service while sipping a chill cocktail and taking in the vibe! If you are looking for an urban venue where the mood is loft, and the power scene is undercover, this is your place. Keep your eyes open to spot some major big-wigs who have designated this watering hole as their spot of choice. Can you spot our infamous ball martini in the picture? Cheers.
MObar, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, New York
Lobby Bar, W Hotel Times Square, New York
Young, cool, and super-fresh. This New York hotspot is the place to go with your pals to revel. Go early, grab a seat, and watch the vibe intensify. Great music, so un-pretentious and an overall winner. cV tip: our sources tell us the bar gets crazier as the night goes on.
Redwood Room, Clift Hotel, San Francisco
Only in San Fran ... old world meets uber-chic and modern in a setting that you will never want to leave. Venetian mirrors, redwood paneling, leather armchairs, fur, acrylic, dim lights, "we love it!!" shouted all the cocktailVIBE reviewers who reveled in the vibe. As if the lobby of the Clift Hotel is not cool enough, once you step into this magical den of drinks, you are transformed to another era (and you might never want to come back!!). Chat the night away, enjoy the perfect tunes and if you can yank your eyes away from the yummy drinks that are poured ... take a peek at the walls. The pictures move, we swear. Rumor has it a love story is being told and you too can witness the passion and debauchery as your buzz deepens! Amazing touches abound; an overall cool and cozy place to spend hours and hours. We are fans, big-time.
Cloud 9, Grand Hyatt, Shanghai
It's like drinking in the clouds, the stars ... so sleek. Windows everywhere. 87 stories in the sky, how could this venue not be hot? Add great sips, cV-worthy tunes, and cuddle spots all over ... you will have an outrageously dark, provocative evening, no doubt, so be prepared.
