Forbes Travel Guide’s Best Hotel Bars For 2026 |
Hotel bars are havens. Whether it’s a business traveler unwinding after a long day or group of locals celebrating a milestone, everyone is welcome—including those who abstain from drinking, as zero-proof cocktails have shifted from a passing trend to menu mainstays.
To honor the watering holes on the top shelf, Forbes Travel Guide presents its 2026 Hotel Star Bars, which spans 18 countries, from Singapore to Scotland. To compile the second annual list, FTG’s incognito inspectors visited every hotel bar, sampling cocktails as well as food menus—always as a paying guest. The winners were determined by data from FTG’s Star Rating inspections, based on several exacting standards. To make the cut, bars had to achieve top scores for their beverage program and presentation, seamless service and an exceptional guest experience.
Shanghai and Tokyo led the 2026 list, each with three winners. And five bars earned repeat recognition: Le Bar at Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li; Le Bar Américain at Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo; Le Bar Botaniste at Shangri-La Paris; Library by the Sea at Kimpton Seafire Resort Spa; and The St. Regis Bar at The St. Regis Macao.
Industry giants such as Hilton Luxury and Luxury Group Marriott International dominated, with six spots apiece. But boutique hotels are also shaking things up in the cocktail world with six independent properties landing on the 2026 list.
Forbes Travel Guide’s Star Bars 2026
Forbes Travel Guide’s Star Bars 2026
The Champagne Bar at Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club (Miami)
Sit under the stylish bar’s arched ceilings and tall palms and peruse Miami’s largest selection of champagne. This perennial hot spot also specializes in martinis, including a rosy-hued Surf Club with house-pickled pink pearl onions infused in martini flavors and the Peanut, which uses Ilegal Reposado mezcal, Mancino Kopi, amaro, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur and, yes, nuts. The bar food is approachable yet refined, with everything from crudo to artisan pizzas.
Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (New York)
A mystique surrounds this Manhattan institution, famous for the whimsical murals by Ludwig Bemelmans, creator of the beloved Madeline children’s books. A magnet for celebrities for decades, the bar has welcomed everyone from Jackie Kennedy (who has a cocktail named after her) to Timothée Chalamet (who does not—yet).
Red-jacketed bartenders stir up hundreds of martinis nightly. Their secret: a drop of vermouth coats an ice-cold glass, and the cocktail arrives alongside a sidecar (a small carafe on ice to keep it chilled).
Don Manuel’s at Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico)
This open-air bar feels distinctly Mexican, from the Talavera tiles and thatched roof to the glassware and cocktails. One of the most popular picks is the Pedregal Reyes. A play on the margarita, it combines reposado tequila, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur, orange, lime and grapefruit juices, and housemade ancho-chile syrup. The crispy garnish is the syrup’s chiles—after the infusion, they are dehydrated and caramelized for more than 12 hours.
Library by the Sea at Kimpton Seafire Resort Spa (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands)
Here’s the backstory: this Grand Cayman bar does liquid interpretations of books. Please Look After This Drink, for example, takes a page from A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond. It draws inspiration from the beloved marmalade-obsessed bear’s Peruvian roots and his adopted home of the U.K. Guests can also read the tale—and other works—with the digital copies and hardcovers throughout the space.
The Maybourne Bar at The Maybourne Beverly Hills (Los Angeles)
At Beverly Hills’ only oyster and caviar bar, opt for the inventive nine-course caviar omakase, which includes compressed watermelon with mezcal and N25 caviar; a caviar burger; and vanilla ice cream with sea salt, olive oil and caviar—all paired with Billecart-Salmon champagne. Though for a single drink, try the Maybourne Old Fashioned made with Macallan 15 Year, Nikka Taketsuru whiskey, pandan and Forbidden Bitters.
The Speakeasy at San Ysidro Ranch (Santa Barbara, California)
This Santa Barbara speakeasy has animal-print barstools, tufted leather sofas and unforgettable drinks. As standout is the Surprise Me—tell the bartenders your woes and they will concoct a personalized elixir. Those who don’t like surprises should try the absinthe service, which includes a dramatic tableside fountain.
The St. Regis Bar at The St. Regis Atlanta
Whether patrons choose to sit in the wood-paneled bar or the sun-filled terrace, the Yuzu Whiskey Sour hits the spot. A fragrant and floral libation made with Suntory Toki Japanese whiskey and yuzu, it’s shaken with egg whites for a velvety texture, and finished with bitters, fresh basil and........