Hotel bars hold significant cultural importance, serving as sacred gathering spaces where travelers come together to enjoy cocktails, wine, and beer. And you might be curious about which hotel bars are the best. Food & Wine has a panel of drinks experts who have spent considerable time sampling beverages at the best hotel bars across the country, and you won’t believe which Chicago place made the list.
Currently, it is a particularly bright time for hotel bars across the United States. For one, a top-tier drinking venue is almost essential for any self-respecting five-star hotel. And second, these places almost always have innovative drink programs while also transcending the classics we love so much. All these places on the list encompass a cozy atmosphere that may also offer a touch of opulence.
Why Z Bar is considered the best hotel bar in the country:
At number 10 on the list, Z Bar, located in the Peninsula Hotel, is situated both indoors and outdoors, six stories high on the Magnificent Mile. While its minimalist, metallic-clad interior and five-star ambiance suggest a refined venue, the friendly staff and straightforward cocktails evoke the charm of a neighborhood dive bar.
The Tommy’s Margarita and the Espresso Martini are ideal ways to begin and end your evening, respectively. But the bar also stays at the cutting edge with an ever-evolving Something New section. The current standout there is a Mezcal Papi, a bitter, smoky fusion of agave spirits with vermouth, Campari, and hibiscus.
The top spot was awarded to King Cole Bar at the St. Regis in NYC. Food & Wine noted that King Cole Bar has been a stylish gathering place for socialites in midtown Manhattan. The highlight of this bar is its signature cocktail: the Red Snapper.