Cover Beautiful bar destinations, like the Bivium Bar at Six Senses Rome, transform a simple drink into a sensory journey. (Photo: Instagram / @sixsensesrome)
Beautiful bar destinations, like the Bivium Bar at Six Senses Rome, transform a simple drink into a sensory journey. (Photo: Instagram / @sixsensesrome)
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Beautiful bars worldwide worth travelling for—uncover breathtaking interiors, panoramic views and unforgettable cocktail experiences
The modern hotel bar has evolved far beyond a simple watering hole. Today’s most celebrated venues are architectural masterpieces, conceived by visionary designers as immersive experiences that blur the lines between hospitality, art and theatre. These beautiful bar destinations showcase cutting-edge design concepts, from biophilic sanctuaries suspended above city skylines to meticulously restored Belle Époque salons steeped in history. Each space tells a compelling story through carefully curated materials, bespoke furnishings and atmospheric lighting that transforms a simple drink into a sensory journey.
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Lobby Bar, The Tokyo Edition (Toranomon, Japan)
The Lobby Bar at The Tokyo Edition Toranomon is a biophilic masterpiece designed by Kengo Kuma and Ian Schrager. High above the city, this lush terrarium features an extraordinary density of tropical greenery surrounding ivory seating and a central bar. Guests can sip cocktails while gazing out at Tokyo Tower, experiencing a rare mix of modern architecture and nature.
Vesper Bar, The Dorchester (London, UK)
Above Vesper Bar features a gleaming ceiling that casts light across the marble bar. (Photo: Instagram/@thedorchester)
Vesper Bar features a gleaming ceiling that casts light across the marble bar. (Photo: Instagram/@thedorchester)
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The Vesper Bar at The Dorchester is Martin Brudnizki’s glamorous homage to 1930s Mayfair. A palladium leaf ceiling reflects across the sienna marble bar, while timber marquetry walls and mirrored columns heighten the cinematic feel. Original Cecil Beaton drawings are a nod to the hotel’s storied past, making this bar both timeless and elegant.
Lobby Bar, Ace Hotel (Sydney, Australia)
The Lobby Bar at Ace Hotel Sydney is Flack Studio’s inaugural hotel project, celebrating Australia’s design heritage through warm, desert-inspired tones. The design captures 1970s suburban optimism with a sunken lounge rendered in burnt orange, raw off-form concrete walls and a dramatic ochre-red marble staircase. Built on a historic ceramic kiln site, the space achieves designed authenticity that feels timelessly worn-in.
Le Bar Kleber, The Peninsula Paris (Paris, France)
Le Bar Kleber at The Peninsula Paris is a Belle Époque icon meticulously restored by Henry Leung and Richard Martinet following a four-year renovation of the hotel. Le Bar Kleber’s original grandeur shines through its soaring ceilings, ornate gilded mouldings and refurbished oak wall panels. This beautiful bar, where Henry Kissinger negotiated the 1973 Paris Peace Accords, now features specially commissioned silk tapestries commemorating that momentous occasion.
The Aubrey, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong (Hong Kong SAR)
The Aubrey at Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong is a whimsical Japanese izakaya-inspired bar created by Maximal Concepts. Inspired by provocative illustrator Aubrey Beardsley, this 25th-floor sanctuary features plush vintage furniture, art-nouveau fixtures and warmly glowing fringed lamps. An assemblage of period artworks and curios creates an atmosphere reminiscent of a worldly collector’s opulent home, complete with panoramic Victoria Harbour views.
Bivium Bar, Six Senses Rome (Rome, Italy)
Patricia Urquiola’s serene oasis masterfully blends Roman classicism with contemporary sustainability principles in this beautiful bar. At Six Senses Rome’s Bivium Bar, traditional materials like cocciopesto plaster and Travertine limestone create authentic Roman character, while a multitude of plants and natural light emphasise wellness connections. The sculptural curved bar, crafted from rich Verde Alpi green marble, flows seamlessly from interior to courtyard, unifying the entire space.
BKK Social Club, Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River (Bangkok, Thailand)
AvroKO’s theatrical masterpiece fuses Buenos Aires glamour with Bangkok energy through early 20th-century Argentine architectural inspiration. The lush, garden-like BKK Social Club at the Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Praya River features towering green velvet banquettes with ceiling-high backrests, intricate colonnades and plants cascading from chandeliers. The dramatic back bar showcases an extensive spirit collection within this award-winning venue that ranks among the world’s finest.
Manhattan, Conrad Singapore (Singapore)
Above Manhattan’s bar is framed by rich drapery, creating a stage for mixology. (Photo: Instagram / manhattan_sg)
Manhattan’s bar is framed by rich drapery, creating a stage for mixology. (Photo: Instagram / manhattan_sg)
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This jewel box by Proof & Co transforms bartending into theatrical performance art. Inspired by 19th-century New York’s celebrity bartender era, Manhattan’s elevated bar is framed by rich plum theatrical drapery, creating a literal stage for mixology. Enormous Chesterfield sofas and plush club chairs evoke Gilded Age society houses, while the world’s first in-hotel rickhouse adds unparalleled craft authenticity.
After more than a decade in lifestyle media, Clifford has mastered the art of writing seriously about things that are fun—and writing fun things about people who take themselves very seriously. At Tatler Asia, he helped steer its flagship lists, Tatler’s Most Influential and Asia’s Most Stylish. And today, he leads T-Labs, Tatler Asia’s content innovation hub, where he continues the noble pursuit of lifestyle storytelling, spinning stories on wealth, entertainment, necessary style, Hallyu, Hollywood, beauty and more for audiences across Asia.
