Forbes Travel Guide has revealed its 2025 Hotel Star Bars, spotlighting the world’s 58 most exceptional hotel bars. Each location was verified by FTG through in-person inspections, celebrating cocktail artistry, elevated service and exceptional guest experiences.
Spanning 19 countries, the list reflects FTG’s legacy of trusted, anonymous evaluations. Star Bars were selected using data from FTG’s 2024 and 2025 Star Ratings, with inspectors visiting incognito to assess service, ambiance and beverage quality across more than 1,500 hotels worldwide.
The choice of 58 winners is a tribute to FTG’s founding as Mobil Travel Guide in 1958.
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“This list represents the pinnacle of hotel bar excellence,” said Hermann Elger, CEO of FTG.
“Our in-person inspections provide unmatched insight, and the 2025 Star Bars are shining examples of luxury, creativity and impeccable hospitality.”
The 58 honorees include storied icons and rising stars. London tallied the most accolades with seven bars, followed by Paris with five and Dubai at four. Australia and the Oceania region lacked any locations in the list, with the closest bar being the MO Bar at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore.
Independent hotels earned the most accolades, with nine winners, while Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts followed closely with eight. The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts each had five bars named.
Among the standout winners:
- Le Bar Américain at Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, a 1930s-era jazz favorite beloved by legends like Josephine Baker and Lady Gaga.
- BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, blending Buenos Aires flair with agave-forward cocktails.
- Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London, where cocktails are inspired by the art of British caricaturist Gerald Scarfe.
- Library by the Sea at Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa in Grand Cayman, reimagining classic literature through mixology.
“These awards highlight sophisticated ambiance, elevated service, artfully curated wine lists, and cocktails that are skillfully crafted and creatively presented,” said Bastien Gardrat, Forbes Travel Guide’s Global Spirits Ambassador. “These elements come together to create an unforgettable hotel bar experience.”
The 2025 Hotel Star Bars winners’ specialty cocktails and spirits will be showcased at the Spirits Lab at Le Logis, Forbes Travel Guide’s center for excellence in Cognac, France.
View the full list of 58 Hotel Star Bars here.
