Once the haven of somnolent sale men far from home and the odd adulterous couple, hotel bars have become the new battlefield, as houses of slumber compete for speak-easy status. Nick Walton discovers some of the world’s top hotel watering holes.

Sugar, East Hotel, Hong Kong
Located in Tai Koo Shing, Sugar offers innovative cocktails and stunning views over one of the world’s most famous harbours. Located on the 32nd floor, expect plenty of mood lighting, spinning DJs and some of the city’s best concoctions, including the Treacle, with Appleton V/X rum, maple syrup, apple and Angostura bitters; and the Sugar Espresso-tini, with Stolichnaya vodka, Galliano, dark crème de cacao and Ristretto espresso. 232F, East, 29 Tai Koo Shing Road, Tai Koo Shing, Hong Kong Island, Tel. +852 3968 3738, www.sugar-hongkong.com
Sky Bar, Lebua at State Tower, Bangkok
Asia’s City of Angels has a reputation for its impressive rooftop bars and top among them is the Sky Bar at Sirocco, the world’s highest al fresco restaurant and one of Bangkok’s sexiest spots. Designed by Design Worldwide Partnership, this lofty perch offers 270-degree views of the Chao Phraya River and the cityscape, with some of the city’s hottest cocktails, including the Mango Tickle, with fresh mango, Belvedere IX and lavender; and a range of Alain Milliat fruit juices, complemented by live jazz performances. Lebua at State Tower, Silom Road, Bangrak, Bangkok, Thailand, Tel. +66 2624 9555, www.lebua.com
Flair, Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong
For another truly vertiginous cocktail experience, head to Flair, situated atop the new Ritz-Carlton Pudong. Located on the hotel’s 58th floor, Flair offers both innovative cocktails and Asian-inspired tapas, as well as views down to the Bund that are truly inspiring – although the minimum spend of 320 yuan, about $50, per person can sting. Shanghai ifc, 8 Century Avenue , Shanghai, Lujiazui, Pudong 200120 China, Tel. +86 212020 1888, www.ritzcarlton.com
Long Bar, Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund
Once an iconic meeting place for the city’s colonial powerbrokers, the Long Bar at the former Shanghai Club has been reinvented as part of the new Waldorf Astoria Shanghai. Every element of the bar, from marble columns and stained-glass windows to ornate wall panelling, has been carefully studied and reproduced from archival photographic records. Expect one of the city’s most diverse ranges of spirits, the original 34-metre bar top, premium cigars, an elegant Oyster bar and classic Waldorf Astoria cocktails, each with a modern twist. No. 2 Zhang Shan Dong Yi Road, Huang Pu District, Shanghai China, Tel. +86 21 6322 9988, www.waldorfastoria.com
Le Bar Churchill, La Mamounia, Marrakech
So named because one of history’s most endearing figures spent considerable time painting in the gardens of La Mamounia when he retired, the Churchill Bar was one of the many spaces that has benefited from this iconic Moroccan property’s recent 120 million euro renovation. Dressed in red velvet, gleaming timber, subtle animal print and rich leather, the bar has retained its elegant 1930s jazzy persona and makes for the perfect spot for a chilled glass of Champagne or a smooth single malt after a long day exploring the Atlas Mountains. Avenue Bab Jdid, 40 040, Marrakech, Morocco, Tel. +212 524 388 600, www.mamounia.com
Blue Bar, The Berkeley, London
One of the most regal and stylish hangouts this side of the Thames, the Blue Bar is synonymous with glamour and sophistication, where one can easily while the night away in the company of a rare single malt whiskey and the city’s beautiful. Dressed in striking Lutyens Blue by designer David Collins, the white onyx bar and black crocodile print leather floor make for a decadent fusion reminiscent of the original Berkeley of Berkeley Square, and go perfectly with the bar’s famed ginger cosmos. The Berkeley, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London, Tel. +44 020 7235 6000, www.the-berkeley.co.uk
Aer, Four Seasons Mumbai
Mumbai is famous for its entertainment scene, and one look at Aer, located on the 34th floor of the Four Seasons, explains it all. With fantastic views, the city’s highest rooftop bar covers an entire floor of the hotel and features a menu of hot and cold Lebanese and Middle Eastern snacks as well as one of the city’s best Champagne by-the-glass lists. Look out for their exotic fruit and Champagne mixes, and signature Horizon cocktail, with vodka, coconut water and curry leaves. 114 Dr. E. Moses Road, Worli, Mumbai, India, Tel. +91 22 2481 8000, www.fourseasons.com
Le Bar, Hotel Plaza Athénée, Paris
One of the hottest (and certainly the most expensive) bars in the City of Love, this chic Patrick Jouin-designed space is often referred to as the Ice Bar, mainly because of its massive artificial iceberg that lights up when you touch it. The bar has two personas; half is set around a long, brightly lit counter made of curvy glass, with high Louis XV-styled bar stools and Murano glass chandeliers. The other is cosier, with big leather armchairs and hand-tufted carpets. The cocktails of manager Thierry Hernandez are inspired; the Plaza Colada Sushi features slices of pineapple dipped in Pina Colada syrup and sprinkling in dried coconut, while ladies might prefer the signature Royal Rose, Champagne blended with fresh raspberries. Avenue Montaigne 25, Paris, France, Tel. +33 1 53 67 66 65, www.plaza-athenee-paris.com/the-bar
Mixx Bar & Lounge, ANA InterContinental Tokyo
One of Tokyo’s newest and most sophisticated hotel bars, Mixx offers stunning cityscape views from the 36th floor, and is divided into three spaces; a bar area with communal tables, a spacious lounge area with intimate couches nestled in private zigzag window bays and a Mixx Room for private celebrations. Expect play lists by Blacklist, and mouth-watering molecular cocktails, including the Mixx Mary, a basil-infused vodka concoction with tomato and vegetable juices, mozzarella foam and chilli flakes. ANA InterContinental Tokyo, 1-12-33 Akasaka Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan, Tel. +81 3 3505 1111, www.anaintercontinental-tokyo.jp
The Tap Room, Langham Huntington Pasadena, Los Angeles
One of the sexiest watering holes in Pasadena, the Tap Room is an elegant nod to the hotel’s historic past. First built in 1904, the Huntington is one of La La Land’s most acclaimed landmarks and a cocktail in the new-look Tap Room, with its fireplace, ample whiskey selection, premium beers and dark-wood persona, is a must. If you’re looking to settle in for a few drinks, book ahead to get one of the coveted terrace lounges, with views across the hotel’s iconic croquet lawn. 1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA, Tel. +1 626 568 3900, http://pasadena.langhamhotels.com
Bascule Whisky, Wine & Cocktail Bar, Cape Grace Hotel, Cape Town
This award-winning hotel bar, located on the city’s picturesque waterfront, is the perfect place to wind down after a long day exploring. With more than 400 whiskeys on offer, as well as the best drops from the nearby Western Cape vineyards, the bar offers a cosy homely feel. Be sure to try the Sommelier’s Choice, a selection of the bar’s top firewaters matched with chocolate, smoked salmon and blue cheese, or a tipple of their rare 50-year-old Glenfiddich. West Quay Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa, Tel. +27 21 410 7100, www.capegrace.com
Bar dos Descasados, Hotel Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro
Housed in the former slave quarters of this historic plantation-turned-boutique hotel, head down to the exclusive Lounge for postcard-perfect sunsets (it was recently voted the city’s most romantic bar) and cocktails laced with local cachaca, amidst interiors that include hand-painted red and white tiles, exposed stone walls and a spacious outdoor terrace. Call ahead for one of their teak terrace cabanas. Rua Almirante Alexandrino 660, Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tel. +55 21 3380 0200,
www.santa-teresa-hotel.com


O2 Lounge, Ritz-Carlton Moscow
Named the city’s top terrace bar by Time Out, O2 offers unsurpassed views of Red Square and the Kremlin and one of the city’s best vodka collections, complete with dedicated vodka sommelier. Early in the evening, expect lingering house tracks and the city’s glitterati, sitting in regal red velvet armchairs, sipping ice-cold vodka, while later on, the beautiful hit the dance floor thanks to tracks played by visiting international DJs. And don’t worry about the cold; it may be a rooftop bar but this is still Moscow, so you’re covered in a glass dome. Ritz-Carlton Moscow, Tverskaya Street 3 , Moscow, Russia, Tel. +7 495 225 8888, www.ritzcarlton.com

<photo courtesy of The Berkeley London>