From San Francisco to Seoul, these 58 extraordinary watering holes offer exceptional cocktails, stunning designs and world-class service.
The hotel bar has become its own destination. The best examples are familiar yet transport, providing a welcome rest for tired travelers.
The first Forbes Travel Guide Star Bar of 2025 celebrates the experience of one of the world's most exceptional hotel bars. Timeless icons such as Hotel des Paris Monte Carlo's Le Bar Americane in Monaco show daily why they have endured it since the 1930s. Later, new favourites include BKK Social Club, located at the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok on the Chao Phraya River, which connects Asia with North and South America, will feature Mexican-style drinks in the engaging art nouveau space that evokes Buenos Aires.
The inauguration list also includes Sky Bars, including Sky Whies on the 60th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, located on the 102nd floor of the Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong. Grand Cayman hotspot interpreting literary works through creative cocktails.
Forbes Travel Guide has recognized 58 bars this year to celebrate its founding in 1958 as a mobile travel guide. FTG experts, Secret Inspector went to each and sampled cocktails on multiple visits. The winners were determined by data collected as part of the FTG's 2024 and 2025 star ratings. This is based on some strict standards. Top Bar achieved the highest scores in its beverage programs and presentations, providing seamless service and an exceptional guest experience. FTG also focuses on public hotel bars.
London was most praised with seven bars, followed by five, followed by Paris with four, Dubai. As for brands, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts won eight spots, with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and St. RegisHotels & Resorts and Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company each have been linked with five winners.
“These awards highlight a sophisticated atmosphere, sophisticated service, a skilled, curated wine list, and skillfully crafted and creatively presented cocktails,” says Bastian Gadra, Global Spirits Ambassador for Forbes Travel Guide. “These are the elements that come together to create an unforgettable hotel bar experience.”
This is the 2025 Star Bar
Americas
Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club at 33 North, Orange County
1826 Rosewood San Miguel de Arende Tequila Bar
Auberge du Soleil bar in Napa
Bacarat Hotel New York Bar
Bars & Lounges at Umstead Hotels and Spas in Carrie, North Carolina
The Ritz-Carlton Carlotta Reform in Mexico City
Cocina del Marbar in Esperanza, Auberge Resort Collection, Los Cabos
Cut bar at Four Seasons Hotel New York in Downtown
King Cole Bar in St. Regis New York
The St. Regis New York
Leicester bar at Eclipse in Half Moon, Jamaica
Kimpton Shifee Resort + Spa, Grand Cayman Sea
Lobby bar in the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
Tampa version of the lobby bar
Tampa version
Bahamas Rosewood Bahamas Manor Bar
Skyhigh at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center
St. Regis Bar at St. Regis Bar at St. Regis Bar, Miami
Tower Suites Bar at Wintower Suites in Las Vegas
The Port Bar at Rosewood Maya Coba in Riviera Maya, Mexico
Asia Pacific
Mandarin Oriental Bamboo Bar in Bangkok
BKK Social Club Hotel Bangkok Chao Phraya River Bangkok
Capitol Bar at Capitol Hotel Tokyu
Capella Shanghai Rubar, Jian Ye Li
Waldorf Astoria chengdu limited edition SIP bar
Waldorf Astoria Bangkok loft
Lounge & Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto
Lounge and bar in the Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
MO bar at Mandarin Oriental in Singapore
Mobobar at JW Marriott Hotel Seoul
Andaz Tokyo Tranomon Hills rooftop bar
▼St. Regis Macau's St. Regis Bar
St. Regis Macau
Research at the Four Seasons Hotel in Macau
In Virchas, Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo in Otemachi
Wing Laber at Wynn Palace, Macau
Europe, Middle East, Africa
Armani/Bamboo Bar at Armani Hotel Milan
Artesian Bar in Langham, London
Bvlgari Resort and Residences Dubai Bvlgari Bar
El Patio at Four Seasons Hotel Madrid
Goring cocktail bar in Goring, London
Raffles London Guard Bar and Lounge Owo Guard Bar and Lounge
London Cadogan Rally
Ruber at George V, Four Seasons Hotel in Paris
Le Bar Américais at Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
Le Bar Botaniste at Shangri-La Paris
Le Bar Long Roy Royal Moncoe, Raffle Paris
▼Palace on Le Humoir Island Kempinski Istanbul
Silagang Palace Kempinski Istanbul
Les Ambassade at Hotel des Crillon in Paris
Library bars in the Ritz-Carlton in Dubai
Mandarin Bar at Mandarin Oriental in Hyde Park, London
St. Regis Sadhiyat Island Resort, Manhattan Lounge in Abu Dub
Mandarin Oriental MO bar in Geneva
Newman's bar in the Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg, Germany
Peacock Alley at Waldorf Astoriadby International Financial Centre
A pine bar at Biltmore Mayfair, London
Pinzerada Lounge in Hotel Madrid
▼Polo bar at Al Habtor Palace in Dubai
Al Habtor Palace
Ritzbar in Ritz Paris
Rosewood London scarf bar
St. Regis Venice St. Regis Bar
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