Bars we’d travel the world for
Sure, you can get a standard cocktail at your local watering hole, but some bars are such creative standouts that it merits booking a flight and a hotel to visit.
Come journey with us- after all, it’s 5:00 somewhere.
World-renowned for their unique concepts, innovative menus, and extraordinary experiences, these bars are worth the trip.
Let’s take a tour around the globe to some of the most intriguing bars that we'd travel just to experience.
The Aviary
Chicago, USA
"The Aviary — a kitchen just for drinks" by Steve Jurvetson
is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Located in the heart of Chicago in Fulton Market, The Aviary is for those with a taste for high concept drinks and elaborate presentations.
The bar offers an immersive experience, with cocktails served in elaborate glassware, creative garnishes like smoke and popsicles, and multi-drink flight presentations that are nothing short of a spectacle. They even offer a 7-course cocktail and food menu pairing, ensuring a sensory delight for all patrons.
Argo
Hong Kong
Argo in Hong Kong is a place where drinking makes you think. For starters, it is named after the ship that sailed Jason and the Argonauts to the Golden Fleece in the Greek mythology.
This avant-garde bar boasts lab-created whiskey and the world’s first AI-created gin. The cocktail menu, aptly named 'Here Today, Gone Tomorrow,' focuses on six essential ingredients that might face an uncertain future due to climate change: coffee, honey, rice, cacao, vanilla, and apples. Each sip here is a reminder of our environment's fragility.
Vowz
Tokyo, Japan
Vowz, a cozy 23-seater establishment in Tokyo, offers an unforgettable experience with a side of Buddhist chants. Hosted by Buddhist monks, the intimate and hidden setting, combined with the spiritual chants that play over the loudspeaker, make for a unique ambiance. The specialty drinks here have intriguing names like “Perfect Bliss”, “Infinite Hell”, and “Enslavement to Love and Lust”. Locals, however, vouch for their White Russian.
Ski Lodge
Las Vegas, USA
Inside the city of sparkle and glamour hides a cozy little secret in its midst - the Ski Lodge. Tucked away in the Cosmopolitan Hotel, this psychedelic lodge is a serene escape from the city's bustle. The fireplace is always crackling, and the window offers views of falling snow. Seasonal cocktails and tableside s'mores kits add to the warm and inviting experience.
3'6 at Fortnum & Mason
London, UK
Offering an experience of quintessential British luxury, 3'6 at Fortnum & Mason is another bar worth traveling for. Situated on the Gentlemen’s Floor of the famous Piccadilly department store, you'll find this freshly renovated refuge serving coffee and tea by day and cocktails in the evening.
Guests can choose between six signature cocktails, a set of classics made with in-house spirits, or a 'Made To Measure' experience, which guides them through a custom 4-step cocktail mixing process. The menu features seasonal ingredients and focuses on a sustainable farming and zero waste ethos, giving the eco-conscious an extra incentive to check this spot out.
Mariposa Negra
Barcelona, Spain
Hidden in a the heart of the Born district, Mariposa Negra is beautifully quirky even by Barcelona standards.
The bar's concept, 'Mind to Reality,' is evident in every corner, from the custom drinkware to the signature cocktails inspired by characters from Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s novel Marina.
El Malaostia
at Mariposa Negra
As the first bar to incorporate 3D and laser printing technology to create custom glassware optimized for each individual drink, Mariposa Negra takes creativity to another level. Expect lots of creative garnishes, patterns, and drinkable art at this innovative bar.
Whether you're a nomad, a connoisseur, or simply a thirsty traveler, these bars promise an experience that's more than just a drink. They offer stories, adventures, and memories that last longer than any cocktail. Cheers to that!