Photo by Phil Whitehouse. If you too like to spend pleasant evenings over a drink, in the company of friends or a special someone, don't miss this list. We have gathered together the 30 most beautiful and special bars around the world. Some are famous for the cocktails they serve, others for their history, many are located in exclusive locations but also in places where it would be almost unthinkable to find a bar or pub.
No matter which drink you prefer, these venues are already an incredible attraction in themselves, sometimes on a par with museums and historical monuments. Take a seat at the table or at the bar, study the drinks list and place your order!
30 - Sky Bar, Bangkok, Thailand
Photo by Ninara. The Sky Bar in Bangkok will allow you to feel tipsy even without having tasted a drop of alcohol. It is located on the 63rd floor of the Lebua Hotel, about 250 metres above the ground. The psychedelic LED-lit bar counter changes colour periodically. Enjoying a drink here means being mesmerised by the incredible panoramic view over the city.
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Have you seen the film 'The Hangover II'? This bar is featured in the film.
Address: 1055, Silom Road, Bangkok
Phone: +66 2 624 9555
29 - Rock Bar, Bali, Indonesia
Photos of Rock Bar. Rock Bar in Kuta, Bali, is carved out of a rock led ge overlooking the Indian Ocean. Just below the ledge, which is about 20 metres high, the waves of the sea break. Isn't that exclusive and exciting enough? Just think, then, that the bar is only accessible via a special cable car.
Address: Kabupaten Badung, Bali
Telephone: +62 361 702222
28 - Chandelier Bar, Las Vegas, NV (USA)
Photos of Chandelier Bar. Have you ever wanted to be inside one of those majestic chandeliers? In this bar you can. The Chandelier Bar is located at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas and is a three-storey bar right inside a huge chandelier, covered with two million crystals. Even the drinks are extravagant and distinctive, many of them inspired by molecular cuisine, created and served directly at the table from a state-of-the-art bar cart.
Address: 708 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV
Phone: +1 702-698-7979
27 - Monkey Bar, Berlin, Germany
Photos by Voyages etc.... What could be better than a drink "with a view"? In the case of this bar, located on the roof of the 25hours Bikini Hotel in Berlin, the view is of the monkey area of the famous zoo.
Address: Budapester Str. 40, Berlin
Phone: +49 30 1202210
26 - JICOO The Floating Bar, Tokyo, Japan
Photos of JICOO The Floating Bar. Jicoo the Floating Bar is located in Japan and consists of a futuristically designed boat that sails around Tokyo Bay every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The boat's large windows allow diners to admire a beautiful view of the city at night. Live performances are also periodically organised at the bar.
Address: 2-7-104, Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Telephone: +81 120-049-490
25 - Wind and Water Bar, Binh Duong, Vietnam
Photos of Wind and Water Bar. This majestic bamboo dome is located about an hour from Ho Chi Minh City. The bar is located in the middle of an artificial lake and is completely made of natural materials, even the furniture is made of bamboo! The structure, about 10 metres high, is also covered by local vegetation and is made without using a single nail, but using traditional Vietnamese weaving and braiding techniques.
Address: Phu Tho district, Thu Dau Mot Town, Binh Duong
Telephone: Not available
24 - Rick's Café, Negril, Jamaica
This Jamaican bar is a veritable institution on the island and is famous for the epicly beautiful sunsets that can be admired from the natural terrace where it is located. Patrons of this bar also take advantage of the clifftop to make resounding dives into the crystal-clear sea.
Address: W End Rd, Negril
Phone: +1 876-957-0380
23 - Al Sarab Rooftop Lounge, Dubai, UAE
Al Sarab Rooftop Lounge, located at the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort in Dubai, UAE, allows guests to have a drink almost in the middle of the desert, with an enchanting backdrop during spectacular sunsets over the dunes.
Address: Al Qudra Road, Opposite Endurance City, Dubai
Phone: +971 4 809 6100
22 - Ozone Bar, Hong Kong, China
Photos of Ozone Bar. This bar is recommended for those who are not afraid of heights. It is, in fact, the highest bar in the world. It is located on the 118th floor of Hong Kong's Ritz Carlton, at a height of about 500 metres.
Address: Elements, International Commerce Centre (ICC), 1 Austin Rd W, West Kowloon, Hong Kong
Telephone: +852 2263 2263
21 - Alux Restaurant Bar & Lounge, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Photos of Alux Restaurant Bar & Lounge. Forget great heights and breathtaking views, at this Mexican restaurant and bar you can order your dinner or drink in an atmospheric cave.
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The name of the restaurant derives from a mythological creature belonging to local beliefs, a kind of cave elf whose less than straightforward behaviour includes kidnapping people. The beauty of the place, however, is worth the risk!
Address: Avenida Juárez s/n Mz. 217 Lote 2, Ejidal, 77710 Playa del Carmen
Phone: +52 984 122 7365
20 - HR Giger Bar, Gruyères, Switzerland
H.R. Giger Museum Bar, located in Gruyères, Switzerland, is a tribute to the work of the famous Swiss artist H.R. Giger, the creator of the main character in the film 'Alien'. The sinister theme recurs in the bar in the ceilings that are decorated with the alien creature's tentacles and in the chairs that resemble skeletons.
Address: Rue du Château St. Germain 3, Gruyères
Telephone: +41 26 921 08 00
19 - Cova d'en Xoroi, Alaior, Menorca Island, Balearics, Spain
Photos of Cova d'en Xoroi. Located in Alaior, on the island of Menorca in the Spanish Balearic Islands, the bar is about 30 metres above the Mediterranean Sea. It offers spectacular sea views during the day and performances by top DJs during the long party nights.
Address: Urbanización Cala en Porter, Carrer de sa Cova, 2, Alaior, Illes Balears
Phone: +34 971 37 72 36
18 - La Bodeguita del Medio, Havana, Cuba
The Bodeguita del Medio is located in Havana, on the island of Cuba, and is the bar that claims to have invented the famous 'mojito' cocktail. Whether true or not, the mojito prepared at this bar has Ernest Hemingway's 'seal of approval'. An inscription on the walls of the bar, attributed to the writer himself, reads: "My mojito in La Bodeguita, my daiquiri in El Floridita."
Address: C. Empedrado entre Cuba y San Ignacio | La Habana Vieja, Havana
Phone: +53 7 571375
17 - Joben Bistro, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Photos of Joben Bistro. This bar called Joben Bistro is located in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The bar literally transports its customers into the imaginary world of Jules Verne. Inside, there are imaginative machines reminiscent of those described by the author in his novels, lampshades in the shape of hats, LED lights that give off a soothing glow, and mechanical gears that fit well with the bar's industrial theme.
Address: Avram Iancu Street 29, Cluj-Napoca
Phone: +40 720 222 800
16 - Spårakoff Pub Tram, Helsinki, Finland
Would you like to see the main attractions of the Finnish capital in an original and convenient way? If you choose the Spårakoff Pub Tram, you can take a tour of Helsinki on board this historic tram that has been converted into a pub. On board, sample various types of beer, cider and sparkling wine while appreciating the sights of the city.
Address: Railway Square (Mikonkatu street tram stop), Helsinki
Telephone: +358 20 1234800
15 - Falk's bar, Munich, Germany
Falk's bar is located inside the Bayerischer Hof hotel complex in Munich. The bar has been set up in the spectacular 'hall of mirrors', dating back to the year 1839 and the only one in the entire hotel to have survived the damage of World War II.
Address: Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Promenadepl. 2-6, Munich
Telephone: +49 89 2120956
14 - Bemelmans Bar, New York, NY, USA
Photos of Bemelmans Bar. Tucked away among the streets of New York, at the Carlyle Hotel is Bemelmans Bar. This bar is named after the famous children's and young adult book author Ludwig Bemelmans, whose illustrations from books such as 'Madeline' decorate the walls of the bar.
Address: The Carlyle Restaurant, 35 E 76th St, New York, NY
Phone: +1 212-744-1600
13 - Caviar Bar, St. Petersburg, Russia
Photos of Caviar Bar. The opulent Caviar Bar at the St Petersburg Grand Hotel Europe boasts of having the only professional vodka sommelier on staff in the whole of Russia. This is an advantage, especially for customers, as the bar's list includes over 30 different types of vodka. It doesn't end there: the name, Caviar Bar, is well suited to the rest of the menu, which includes as many types of caviar.
Address: 7, Mikhaylovskaya ul., 1, St Petersburg
Phone: +7 812 329-66-51
12 - Antico Caffè Greco, Rome, Italy
This is an old and historical café in the capital, serving coffee and drinks since 1790. Its regular customers include names such as John Keats, Charles Dickens, Mary Shelley and Lord Byron, to name but a few. Throughout its history, therefore, it has earned a reputation as a 'den' for writers.
Address: via dei condotti, 86, Roma
Telephone: 06 679 1700
11 - Artesian Bar, London, UK
Photos of Artesian Bar.
Rated as the World's 50 Best Bars, London's Artesian changes its cocktail menu every year. In one of the last years, the bar's theme has been 'surrealism': drinks have been made and served in unusual and bizarre objects, such as huge metal ant-shaped sculptures, fur cups and lego elephants.
Address: 1C Portland Pl, Marylebone, London
Phone: +44 20 7636 1000
10 - Smuggler's Cove, San Francisco, CA, USA
Photos of Smuggler's Cove. Everyone loves a classic exotic-themed bar, and San Francisco's Smuggler's Cove is the best known in the world in this category. The bar is pirate-themed and reminiscent of Disney-style pirate ships, but don't let the extravagant style confuse you! The menu is extremely varied and includes no less than 400 types of rum, including some rarities and vintage editions, as well as around 70 tropical cocktails.
Address: 650 Gough St, San Francisco, CA
Phone: +1 415-869-1900
9 - Madame Claude, Berlin, Germany
Photos of Madame Claude. Located in what used to be a brothel, Madame Claude is a bar where everything is upside down, or rather, inside out! Here, tables, chairs, carpets and bookcases are glued to the ceiling, creating a bizarre optical effect. Famous international DJs perform here, live performances by famous artists and musicians are organised, and special events are the order of the day.
Address: Lübbener Str. 19, Berlin
Phone: +49 30 84110859
8 - Riad Yacout, Milan, Italy
Photos of Riad Yacout. A Moroccan-style bar awaits you in Milan. In this bar you can immerse yourself in an exotic ambience, a corner of the metropolis where you can rediscover all your senses. Here you will savour the true atmosphere of Marrakech. The bar is spread over three levels and features refined and exclusive spaces.
Address: via Cadore, 25, Milan
Phone: 02 546 2230
7 - The Ice Bar, Quebec City, Canada
Photo by Falk's bar. It is located inside the Hotel de Glace (Ice Hotel) near Quebec City, Canada. As the name suggests, the bar is carved out of a massive block of ice.
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Every year it is renewed and changes its design. Customers can enjoy their drinks in a unique ambience and directly from glasses and cups made of ice.
Address: 1860 Boulevard Valcartier, Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, QC
Phone: +1 888-384-5524
6 - The Cave Bar, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Photos of The Cave Bar. Cave Bar, at Hotel More in Dubrovnik, Croatia, is located inside a majestic natural cave. The bar features special multi-coloured lighting that makes the natural ambience almost fantastic and romantic. Outside, customers can enjoy their drink with a beautiful view of the Adriatic Sea.
Address: 11-, Šetalište Nika i Meda Pucića 12, Dubrovnik
Telephone: +385 20 494 200
5 - White Rabbit Restaurant & Bar, Moscow, Russia
Photos of White Rabbit Restaurant & Bar. As the name suggests, the restaurant embraces the Alice in Wonderland theme in an extravagant way: lots of white rabbits, rococo-style furniture... be sure not to be late for an important appointment! The restaurant also has a panoramic dome that offers a spectacular 360-degree view of the city of Moscow.
Address: Smolenskaya Square, 3, Moscow
Phone: +7 495 663-39-99
4 - Blue Frog Lounge, Mumbai, India
The interior is made up of a blue nodal structure, well highlighted by a large central light that ties the whole place together. At this spacious venue, there is a performance space for drinks and food, a dance floor and even a recording studio. It is also possible to sit in cylindrical booths, located in the main area, sculpted from a swaying expanse of stepped wooden frames, the surface of which is decorated with transparent Plexiglas and lit from underneath with multi-coloured LED lights. The result is a network of semicircles of colour variation that outline the individual cabins.
Address: Zeba Centre, Mathuradas Mill Compound,, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai
Phone: +91 22 6158 6158
3 - Baobab Tree Bar, Modjadjiskloof, South Africa
If you want a completely naturalistic bar experience, head to the Baobab Tree Bar in Limpopo Province, South Africa. You may have a hard time reaching the site (the bar has no address, only a PO box!) but what awaits you is truly unique. In fact, the bar is located inside a 22-metre tree that even has its own wine cellar!
Address: Not available
Telephone: Not Available
2 - Mirror Lounge & Club, Bali, Indonesia
Photos of Mirror Lounge & Club. Dance the night away in a setting reminiscent of a spectacular Gothic cathedral at the Mirror Club, in Bali, Indonesia. Famous DJs from around the world liven up the evenings at this club, elaborately decorated with high glass ceilings, huge chandeliers and breathtaking architecture.
Address: Jalan Petitenget No.106, Seminyak, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali
Phone: +62 361 8499799
1 - Northern Lights Bar, Nesjavellir, Iceland
Inside the ION Luxury Adventure Hotel is the Northern Lights Bar, a venue specially designed to enjoy an excellent view of the Northern Lights.
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It is located about an hour from the capital Reykjavík, amid majestic mountains and expanses of lava. It is a sort of glass 'cage' jutting out from the end of the hotel complex, allowing anyone to relax with a drink and admire the fascinating and unique natural phenomenon.
Address: Nesjavellir vid Thingvallavatn, 801, Selfoss
Telephone: +354 578 3700