Thank Goodness it's Friday! Need to unwind after a long week? No problem! Here are a few top spots for the cocktail crowd in three major cities...
Relax in the citizenM New York Lobby
Part of a recent spate of hotel openings in New York City's Times Square, our editorial director Ruthanne Terrero got a chance to visit a few weeks ago and was impressed by what she found.
The lobby has an open kitchen with a full-service cocktail and kitchen bar, and can be a great space to grab a drink and people watch. There's also free Wi-Fi, but let's face it, you're trying to relax - so you may want to avoid logging in.
Take Part in a Champagne Toast at The Plaza
As part of its "Seeing Central Park" package, guests at The Plaza can get a complimentary "Strawberry Fields" cocktail toast at The Rose Club or The Champagne Bar, in addition to the package's private tour of Central Park. Alternatively, you could just hit the bar, because sometimes the classics are the best.
Visit the Hôtel Americano Roof
Back at the end of May we identified the 10th floor terrace and pool "La Piscine" at this Manhattan boutique hotel as one of five rooftop bars to watch this summer, and with a Mediterranean-inspired menu and live DJs, it could be a great place to welcome September. After all, it's still 74 degrees and sunny outside (according to the weather widget on my computer), so check it out and let us know if it's still great.
The Langham Chicago
In the Windy City, The Langham Chicago has launched a tableside cocktail cart service at Travelle restaurant. Straight out of the 1960s, the carts recall a glamorous bygone era at luxury hotels, when the service soared in popularity.
Expert mixologists put on a show in preparing specialty cocktails which you can sip, Madmen-style, while staring out over the city. In fact, the house signature is the “Madhattan”- made with choice whiskey (like Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Whistle Pig Rye, or Oban 14-year Single Malt Scotch), sweet vermouth, a dash of Benedictine, and house made smoked simple syrup, stirred and served over ice.
London
Across the Pond, London also has some great spots for relaxing with a friend...or several friends. Here's a list of some popular spots, but the city has lots of hidden gems worth exploring, too.
Near Barbican, The Brewery has turned the venue’s 18th century cobbled courtyard into a secret garden in the City of London neighborhood. The building has a raised clear roof (good for London-esque rain) and outdoor seating.
On the banks of the River Thames above The Globe’s Swan restaurant is the newly refurbished Shakespearean Balcony Room, with panoramic views of the river and St Paul’s Cathedral framed by floor to ceiling French doors, opening out to an exclusive private balcony.
In central London, hidden behind a door on St Martin’s Lane, is LIBRARY, a new design-led private members’ club. The main hub has a double mezzanine, stage and a floor-to-ceiling bar as well as six bedrooms with 24-hour concierge service. The building also includes a whiskey and wine room, the eponymous library and a restaurant that is set to open in September. Bedrooms and spaces in the club are available for private hire.