WORLD'S GREATEST
Travel writers reveal their picks for the best bars — those that embody the city they’re situated in
Caribbean Club
There are some bars that travel writers should keep to themselves (and this will lose me some friends) but the Caribbean Club, a tiny speakeasy behind a wooden door bearing nothing but a brass plaque, is too good not to share. Founded by an alumnus of Havana’s legendary El Floridita, it combines Cuban swagger and nautical trappings with old-school Barcelona elegance, and has a rum collection that would sink Jack Sparrow. You won’t find a better prepared daiquiri in town.
5 Carrer de les Sitges, Barcelona
Sevva
If I’m out to impress visiting friends, there’s only one place to go. Sevva is atop a stately old high-rise in the centre of town, haloed by neon-washed Victoria Harbour and some of Hong Kong’s most impressive buildings. The views are the most magical the city has to offer. Head to the terrace and order a fruity number such as the Kama Sutra, rum with mango, passionfruit and lime. 25/F, Prince’s Building, 10 Chater Rd, Central, Hong Kong; sevva.hk
The Baxter Inn
The Baxter Inn is so well concealed I ended up sipping cocktails in the wrong bar. Eventually, I was led through the unmarked door, down the grungy stairs and into the candelabra-lit den. Behind the 10m-bar are 800-plus whiskies, many accessible only by library ladder. Behind the good-time vibe is a team that ensures every drink is made with precision and served with panache. The Tennessee whiskey with fresh Granny Smith apple is a refreshing house special.
152-156 Clarence St, Sydney; thebaxterinn.com
The Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel
Nowhere does old Hollywood glamour like the Beverly Hills Hotel, which is why their Polo Lounge is always my first stop when I have friends visiting LA. There have been countless back-of-the-napkin deals made under the candy-striped ceiling — Marilyn Monroe, Katharine Hepburn and Clark Gable were regulars — but my favourite spot is the bougainvillea-filled patio, where you can order a Howard Hughes gin cocktail (he lived in one of the bungalows) and keep a look out for familiar faces. 9641 Sunset Boulevard, Beverly Hills; dorchestercollection.com
Gen Yamamoto
The atmosphere feels more restrained than riotous. But what Gen Yamamoto lacks in party glitz, it more than compensates for in its quintessentially Japanese experience. It’s a cocktail take on a traditional tea ceremony — ubermixologist Yamamoto san, in lab-style whites, serves an array of cocktails (always seasonal, mixing spirits with flavours such as Hokkaido prunes). What I love most? Not having to thumb through a menu. Sit back at the eight-seat counter and watch him work his magic.
1-6-4 Azabujuban, Anniversary Building 1F, Minato, Tokyo; genyamamoto.jp
Baba au Rum
If I had to pick one joint that sums up the late-night social scene, it’s this tropically tinged boozer. Louche smokers and discerning drinkers spill out on to the pedestrian alley. Inside, the decor is a mash-up of mid-century modern with a tiki twist, and the summery soundtrack — from reggae to rumba — is just as eclectic. Naturally, rum’s the thing to order: go for any of the signature daiquiris with houseblended botanicals. Lively but laid-back, hip but unpretentious, Baba au Rum is a pioneer of the resurgent spirit of Athens. Klitiou 6, Athens; babaaurum.com
Arnaud’s French 75 Bar
When I think of New Orleans, I think of decadence and tradition, and this plush spot in the heart of the French Quarter connected to Arnaud’s Restaurant has both in spades. It’s a place unconcerned with passing fads and trends, so you will never feel out of place. Sit back and order their house French 75 cocktail, plus a side of their must-have souffle potatoes. After the first drink, head upstairs to the hidden Mardi Gras museum and return, newly impressed, for your second round of drinks.
813 Rue Bienville, New Orleans; arnaudsrestaurant.com
Bar Cock
A favourite haunt of Ava Gardner and Francis Bacon, Cock (short for cocktail) has been going for nearly a century and is always packed with artists, actors and anyone who doesn’t have a nine-to-five job. With dark panelled walls, green leather banquettes and killer dry martinis, this classic bar has barely changed since I first went there in the 80s. No one cares what you are wearing or how old you are, which makes it very smart indeed — and very Madrilenian.
16 Calle Reina, Madrid; barcock.com
Pereletny KabaK
My favourite bar in Moscow is Pereletny Kabak, “The Flying Inn”, named after a novel by G K Chesterton. It has only been open a year but already feels like part of the fabric of the city. It’s a tiny, subterranean space in a 19th century building, with an adjoining bookshop and gallery, so it has a raffish, Bohemian atmosphere and matching clientele. They serve wine, food and cocktails, but here, I’d drink vodka neat, in the Russian style.
10 Mansurovskiy Ln, Moscow; flyinginn.ru