best hotel bar

The Plaza Hotel's Oak Bar Wins Luxist's Editors' Choice Award (with Video)

The Plaza Hotel's Oak Bar wins the Luxist Awards Editor's choice award for best bar.

One evening at the Oak Bar in New York's Plaza Hotel, a patron noticed a diamond ring on the floor and alerted the manager. Remembering that a customer seated in the area had just departed, the manager called the room number on the bill. Within minutes the guest was downstairs to collect her ring-and promptly ordered a bottle of Dom Perignon for the manager as a token of thanks. "You don't understand," she said. "That ring is worth over $1 million."

Such is the aura of the Oak Bar, Luxist's Editors' Choice award winner for best in entertainment. Nestled in the northwest corner of the Plaza Hotel, the bar has been serving well-heeled guests-with a few extended breaks for prohibition and various renovations-for over a century.

Walk into the ancient room today and you'll find rich wood paneling surrounding sumptuous banquettes, vast murals of Central Park mirroring the actual park that sits on the other side of enormous picture windows, and on any given night a clientele whose collective wealth is likely enough to buy a medium-sized country.

Gallery: The Oak Room At The Plaza Hotel, New York

The Oak Bar in the Oak Room at The Plaza Hotel, New York

Tags: awards-main, bars, Best hotel bar, luxist-awards, New York, Oak Bar, Oak Room, oak room bar, Plaza Hotel, The Plaza Hotel, winners-editors-choice, winners-entertainment

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The Oak Bar Wins the Luxist Awards Readers' Choice Award for Best Hotel Bar

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

The Plaza Hotel's Oak Bar wins the Luxist Awards readers' choice award for best hotel bar.

The Oak Bar in The Oak Room, a New York landmark and iconic meeting spot is the winner of the Luxist Award for Best Hotel bar.

Located on the first floor of New York's fabled landmark, The Plaza Hotel, The Oak Bar is one of the most romantic meeting spots in Manhattan. The Oak Bar serves as an informal gathering place for New York's luminaries, with distinctive cocktails and a separate bar menu along with the classic view of Central Park South from its windows.

Bringing old-world glamour to the 21st century, The Oak Room was originally designed by Henry Hardenbergh in 1907 as a bar for men only. It closed during Prohibition and re-opened in 1934 as a full service restaurant. The Oak Room is known for its detailed wood-paneled walls and barrel-vaulted ceiling. The three carved niches feature beautiful murals of German feudal castles with one mural featuring the former Cornelius Vanderbilt II mansion, which is now the location of luxury goods department store, Bergdorf Goodman.

Gallery: The Oak Room At The Plaza Hotel, New York

Tags: awards-main, best hotel bar, cocktail lounge, hotel bar, Luxist-awards, Oak Bar, Oak Room, Plaza Hotel, winners-entertainment

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Nominees for Best in Entertainment

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits

Best Wine Bars

The first nominee offers an authentic Tuscan experience in the heart of Manhattan while the second nominee is an inviting and chic wine bar that is a favorite of San Francisco residents. The third nominee is sure to please every oenophile with its vast selection of wines from around the world while the fourth nominee offers a stunning selection and intimate ambiance with a European feel. The final nominee is a cozy, yet sophisticated establishment that attracts wine country royalty.

Accademia di Vino

Bar Bambino

The Local Vine
Mercy Wine Bar

Underwood Bar & Bistro

Best Cocktail Lounges
The first nominee is a monumental place with a magical atmosphere while the second features handcrafted liqueurs and innovative imbibables. The third nominee takes a culinary approach to the art of cocktail making while the fourth has been mixing masterpieces for Parisians and international celebrities since 1911. The final nominee is housed in a two-story barn that dates back to the 16th century England.

Best Coffeehouses
The first nominee is known for discovering unknown and exotic coffees from around the world while the second is focused on its craft of making the best coffee. The third nominee is the largest chain of coffeehouses in the world while the fourth nominee knows coffee the way oenologists know wine. The final nominee features artisan-roasted beans and single-origin coffees and teas from around the world.

Zoka

Best Hotel Bars

The first nominee offers the royal treatment and is located within one of the world's most glamorous hotels. The second nominee blends grand heritage with modern panache while the third offers spectacular service and stupendous views. The fourth nominee is a decadent, elegant and decidedly dressy bar while the final nominee is a New York landmark and iconic meeting place.

Best Brew Pubs

The first nominee is in Vemont and the only way to sample its beer is to go there yourself. The second nominee has won countless awards while the third nominee features hand-crafted beer. The fourth nominee brews its award-winning beer on the premises while many consider the beers made by the final nominee among the best in the world.

The Alchemist Pub and Brewery

Four Peaks Brewing Co.

Lost Coast Brewery

Silver City Brewery

Spuyten Duyvil

Tags: awards-main, beer, best brew pub, best cocktail lounge, best hotel bar, best wine bar, claridges, Cocktail Lounge, four seasons, Four Seasons George V, hotel, luxist-awards, Plaza Hotel, Starbucks, starbucks coffee, wine, wine bar, winners-entertainment

Claridge's Bar: The Royal Treatment in London

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Claridge's Bar is nominated for Best Hotel Bar by Luxist Awards.
For travelers looking to receive the royal treatment in London, there are few options better than Claridge's, a five-star hotel whose history dates back to the middle of the 19^th Century. Small wonder Claridge's Bar is among Luxist's nominees in the best hotel bar category.

The Claridge's first incarnation, a small hotel at 51 Brook Street, was founded in 1854 by William and Marianna Claridge. The pair purchased the neighboring Mivart hotel, rechristening their new establishment Claridge's, and Europe's most influential citizens began to take note. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert made their first visit in 1890; the hotel served as a haven for exiled monarchs during World War II. In 1945, Suite 212 was declared part of Yugoslavia so that Crown Prince Alexander could be born on home turf.

Gallery: Claridge's Bar

Today, Claridge's Bar is an expression of the hotel's grand heritage. Designed by David Collins, the Art Deco-style bar – more old-fashioned than the swank Coburg Bar – is among London's most elegant places to grab a drink. Each table is adorned with a single red rose; green glass chandeliers hang from a silver-leafed ceiling. Don't bother making a reservation – the bar's policy is first come, first served. For those who prefer privacy, a 20-seat back area called The Snuggery can be reserved.

Claridge's Bar boasts one of the largest champagne selections in London. Classic and contemporary cocktails can be had as well. For those with an appetite for solid sustenance, the bar offers a selection of sushi, truffles, fish and chips, and other snacks.

Vote for the hotel bar that you believe is the best of breed. The voting period runs through April 30 and winners will be announced on May 1.

Tags: awards-main, best hotel bar, Claridges, Claridges Bar, london, luxist-awards, nightlife

Le Bar: Start Your Day on Avenue George V

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits, Wine

Le Bar at the Four Seasons George V Paris is nominated for a best hotel bar award from Luxist

Le Bar is a simple name for a truly decadent bar in the George V (a Four Seasons Hotel in Paris), and a nominee for a Readers' Choice Award for Best Hotel Bars.

The bar is elegant and decidedly dressy, with a distinct Parisian air of entitlement. The decor is very French with classic continental details like the rich mahogany wood, the plush and substantial chairs and the obligatory enormous, heavy draperies and chandeliers. If King Louis XIV were here today, this is where he would take his mistresses when away from Versailles.

Gallery: Le Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris

Located on the ground floor of the George V with a large window facing the hotel's namesake Avenue (near the Champs-Elysées), the bar is popular with both hotel guests and Parisians -- a combination which is a must-have for weary travelers doing their best to be social while running on jet lag and espresso.

Tags: awards-main, bars, best hotel bar, Four Seasons, George V, Le Bar, luxist-awards, nightlife, Paris, The Four Seasons

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The Oak Bar at the Plaza Hotel: Historic and Classic

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits

Oak Bar at the Plaza Hotel is nominated for a Luxist Award for Best Hotel Bar.

The Oak Bar in The Oak Room, a New York landmark and iconic meeting spot is nominated for a Luxist Award for Best Hotel bar.

Located on the first floor of New York's fabled landmark, The Plaza Hotel, The Oak Bar is one of the most romantic meeting spots in Manhattan. The Oak Bar serves as an informal gathering place for New York's luminaries, with distinctive cocktails and a separate bar menu along with the classic view of Central Park South from its windows.

Bringing old-world glamour to the 21st century, The Oak Room was originally designed by Henry Hardenbergh in 1907 as a bar for men only. It closed during Prohibition and re-opened in 1934 as a full service restaurant. The Oak Room is known for its detailed wood-paneled walls and barrel-vaulted ceiling. The three carved niches feature beautiful murals of German feudal castles with one mural featuring the former Cornelius Vanderbilt II mansion, which is now the location of luxury goods department store, Bergdorf Goodman.

Gallery: The Oak Room At The Plaza Hotel, New York

Tags: awards-main, best hotel bar, hotel bars, luxist-awards, Oak Bar, Oak Room, Oak Room Bar, Plaza Hotel

Continue reading “The Oak Bar at the Plaza Hotel: Historic and Classic”

Felix: Indulge in a Cocktail for "The Most Magical Show on Earth"

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits

Felix at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong is nominated for a best hotel bar award by Luxist

Felix at The Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong offers both spectacular service and a stupendous view of Hong Kong, and has been nominated for a Readers' Choice Award for Best Hotel Bars.

Fortuitously situated with an outlook facing Victoria Peak and Hong Kong Harbor, Felix boasts front row seats for a "galaxy of lights" in the evening which they describe as "the most magical show on earth." As you can see from the photos, the views inside the bar aren't too shabby, either.

Gallery: Felix at the Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong

The grand opulence of The Peninsula Hotel is the perfect setting for this luxurious bar experience. Guests of the highest caliber from all over the world can enjoy the beauty of Hong Kong from the uber-contemporary 28th-floor haven over an elegant bowl of Sunchoke and Lobster Soup with Meyer Lemons and Capers, or a Prawn Cracker-crusted Garoupa with a Shrimp Pillow, Scallions and Champagne Butter.

Late night dishes include small yet extravagant fusion offerings like Smoked Beef Tenderloin with Carmelized Onions and Brie on Toast, Salty Five Spices Pork Ribs and Salmon Nachos, and desserts like Rose Champagne Terrine with Seasonal Berries and Peach Reduction and a menu item entited "Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate" (really, who needs a further explanation?).

You'll find cocktails of both the avant-garde and classic varieties at Felix, and no children under 12. An additional bonus: as no "plastic footwear" is permitted, you won't see a single pair of Crocs.

Vote for the hotel bar that you believe is the best of breed. The voting period runs through April 30 and winners will be announced on May 1.

Tags: awards-main, bar, best hotel bar, Felix, Hong Kong, hotel bar, Luxist-awards, nightlife, Peninsula Hotel

Coburg Bar: Elegance with a Modern Panache

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Coburg Bar at the Connaught Hotel is nominated for best hotel bar

One of London's defining traits is the ease and elegance with which it blends grand heritage and modern panache. The Connaught Hotel and its Coburg Bar are two shining examples of this phenomenon – making the latter an easy choice as a Luxist nominee in the best hotel bar category.

The hotel's history dates back to 1897, when it was founded as The Coburg Hotel. The original name was a tribute to Queen Victoria's late husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg. The hotel gained its modern moniker in 1917, renamed after Victoria's third son, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught.

Gallery: Coburg Bar and Connaught Bar at the Connaught Hotel in London

Since then, the hotel – which has had just six general managers in a century of existence – has maintained its old-world charm while adding flair more modern than other standbys like Claridge's hotel bar. The Coburg Bar is a perfect showcase, thanks to an interior recently redone by Parisian designer India Mahdavi. Burnt orange and purple velvet upholstery now adorns the bar's wingback chairs; black-and-white wall hangings complement the wood-paneled interior.

Then there are the drinks. Starting with rare ales from the Harviestoun Brewery in Scotland (8 pounds apiece), the selection soars to rare vintages of Krug champagne (a bottle of 1964 will set you back 8,000 pounds, plus VAT). In between are a range of cocktails Britishly listed as "Compounded Drinks," from the classic Bloody Mary (12 pounds) to the arcane Sazerac (12 pounds). Even a mundane Jack Daniels on the rocks (16 pounds) will feel sophisticated at The Coburg.

Vote for the hotel bar that you believe is the best of breed. The voting period runs through April 30 and winners will be announced on May 1.

Tags: awards-main, Best Hotel Bar, Coburg Bar, Connaught Hotel, London, luxist-awards, nightlife, The Connaught

Readers' Choice Awards for Best in Entertainment

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits, Wine, Big Givers

Is there a coffee house that offers both ambiance and a great cup o' Joe? Do you have a favorite brew pub that makes great-tasting beer and serves good food? What wine bar offers an extensive selection of wines and a knowledgeable staff? What are the best cocktail lounges? Which hotel bars are the best in the world? If you can recommend the best places to enjoy a cup of coffee, a glass of wine or a cocktail, we want to hear from you!

The Luxist Awards Readers' Choice Awards for Best in Entertainment will be awarded based on your nominations and voting. We're currently seeking nominations for the best-of-breed in the following categories:

Best Brew Pub
Best Cocktail Lounge
Best Coffee House
Best Hotel Bar
Best Wine Bar

One nomination per category, please. Submissions can be filed until April15, 2010. Winners will be announced on May 1, 2010.

Tags: awards-main, best brew pub, best cocktail lounge, best coffee house, best hotel bar, best wine bar, luxist-awards

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