Named after one of the most fierce gangs in New York City, The Dead Rabbit is as notorious as its historic moniker. Set in Manhattan’s Financial District, the bar – created by Jack McGarry and Sean Muldoon, alumni of Belfast’s much-lauded Merchant Hotel – has featured on ‘World’s Best’ lists since opening in 2013, finally taking out World’s Best Bar in 2016. Sawdust-sprinkled floors, leather furnishings and unpretentious service infuse the vintage venue with an ambient atmosphere across its three levels. There’s the Taproom, pouring 145 varieties of Irish whiskey (the largest selection in the USA); the Parlour, featuring a graphic novel-like cocktail menu; and the Occasional, a private function room, plus with traditional Irish fare served across all floors.
Hidden in the depths of the Smithfield Meat Market is Oriole, a bar where Africa meets Europe. Playing with history, Oriole embraces the magic of time, and its interior creates an atmosphere of warmth, mystery and magic. The food menu treats guests to flavours and ingredients from all corners of the world that are artfully combined into imaginative dishes, while a list of cocktails will see guests transcend to another era and offers a sense of adventure in a glass.
Tantalise your tastebuds choosing dishes like sweet potato and green curry ice-cream with tamarind, sambal and palm heart while you sip on the Cape Of Good Hope cocktail, a concoction of Plymouth Gin, buchu infusion, grapefruit liqueur and lime juice.
Sitting above Perth’s Richmond Quarter, Sweetwater Rooftop Bar has brought the taste of Asia to Western Australia. Former head chef of Melbourne’s Gingerboy, Leigh Power, has collaborated with cocktail guru Ben Tua, to create a hawker-inspired venue. Sit under the ambient light beaming from lanterns and enjoy the stunning view over the harbour while you savour the inimitable flavours.
Delight in the steamed duck and water chestnut dumplings or grilled sirloin with kimchi and black pepper sauce, and sip away at the Jungle Book cocktail made with Eristoff, melon, raspberry and spiced pineapple. It’s open from Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, so find a perch on a wicker chair and let the chaotic city life go on without you.
Step off the streets of Berlin’s Lichtenberg borough and right into this cosy bar. Eclectically designed with red and turquoise walls, disco ball and a blend of vintage and modern lamp fixtures, Zum Schwalbenschwanz – the name translates to dovetail – re-creates a comfy, welcoming living room with its interiors.
Focused on offering the full cultural experience, Zum Schalbenschwanz’s program includes live music, readings and film screenings. And if you’re up for some good ol’ fashioned fun, the bar is also decked out with a foosball table and a variety of board games. For those after more than just a drink, the menu offers a selection of homemade and organic food, and coffee and cake from 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
As part of the luxurious Sri Panwa Phuket, the sky-high Baba Nest is one of those only-exists-on-social-media bars that are more exclusive than an invite to Megs and Harry’s wedding. And when you enter the poolside bar located on the rooftop it’s easy to understand why – with limited space on the island-like platform, bookings are a must for everyone, including hotel guests.
Baba Nest’s 360-degree views of the sparkling Andaman Sea and Phuket’s southeastern peninsula are best enjoyed from the comfort of your giant fluffy floor pillow. That’s right, chairs aren’t a thing here. For added drama, the newly tiled space is surrounded by an epic wrap-around infinity pool, which makes for great photos (seriously, it’s impossible to get a bad shot of Baba Nest). Open from 5pm to 9pm daily, once you’ve enjoyed happy hour here prepare for all other sunset sips to feel a little less special.
Named for the sunset views that drench this rooftop establishment in a golden hue come late afternoon, Last Light is the newest addition to New York City’s crowded skyscape. Perched atop Sister City hotel on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, it’s positioned itself as a relaxed neighbourhood haunt – it’s far more chilled out than you’d expect from a hotel bar, with a first-in, best-dressed door policy, no bottle service and generous happy hour specials.
While the two outdoor decks are the obvious drawcards here, the creative and surprisingly affordable cocktail list, plus the tasty small plates from Floret, the ground-floor restaurant, make a trip up to the 11th floor worthwhile. Oh, Last Light is also completely cashless, so don’t forget to stick your credit card in your pocket.
If you’re the sort of person who watches a bit of reality TV, has a hot Milo and is in bed by 10pm on a Monday night, you’re probably going to want to move on right about now. However, if you treat every night like an equal opportunity party while you’re on holiday, you’ll be completely sorted in the Spanish capital Madrid.
Once you’ve eaten all the tapas, watched some flamenco and the people promenading on Plaza Santa Ana, and tasted both sherry and locally brewed cerveza, it’s time to dance it out at Fucking Monday. This temple to debauchery has a vast dance floor, rows of bars and even a slick lounge upstairs that hosts an all-night beer pong tournament. Here you’ll discover the kind of fun that can make you want to keep partying, fuelled by cheap drinks and the crowd’s fierce energy, right through till dawn.
Calling all wine lovers! All aboard the train des vignes – otherwise known as the vineyard train – which coasts past the stunning vineyard terraces in Lavaux. A UNESCO World Heritage Site home to 800 hectares of sprawling vineyards, complete with a backdrop of the Savoy and Valais Alps, this regional train from Vevey station to Puidoux-Chexbresoffers is your ticket to immersing yourself in Switzerland’s wine country.
Alight at Chexbres-Village Station, where you’ll find a number of walking trails that weave among the beautiful terraces. Prepare to send your tastebuds into a frenzy as you walk along a signposted trail that tells the story of the local vineyard here, including the yummy grape varieties that can be found. For those who aren’t so keen on tackling the incline by foot, the Lavaux Panoramic, a train with wheels. Cruise from Chexbres-Village along skinny roads that wend among the grapevines while learning about the region and enjoying the landscape.
There’s also the Lavaux Express, which chugs along a loop among the neatly manicured vine fields from Lutry and Cully. For the few who make the journey here, the local winegrowers often allow visitors the opportunity to sample their wines in their cellars. The best part? Due to limited production, Swiss wines are often not exported, which makes quaffing a fine drop here an even more exclusive affair.
Central California produces some of the best wines in the world, but one particular winery in Paso Robles is doing it with a bit more panache than the rest. Tooth and Nail Winery, founded by Rabble Wine Company, is located in a castle, complete with an aquamarine moat that protects the winery’s premier vines and grapes.
When you’re done exploring the impressive castle grounds – which include a library, rooftop terrace, barrel rooms and epic foyer – a variety of wine flights are available for tasting from the friendly staff, and there’s a rocking food menu to provide some delicious ambrosia to accompany your vino.
Don’t forget to download the app to see Tooth and Nail’s labels come alive right before your very eyes. It’s the very first technology of its kind and definitely adds a showstopping element to your visit. Also, keep an eye out for the exclusive castle parties, which are legendary in the area.
Step into a different era at Miss Wong. Hidden down a lane away from the neon lights and thumping beats of Siem Reap’s party hub, Pub Street, this 1920s Shanghai-style bar oozes intimacy. Cosy booths and cherry lanterns illuminating burgundy walls create a seductive vibe, but the Asian-inspired cocktails are the real heroes. Sink into a sofa and get your lips around a refreshing Lemongrass Collins, with lemongrass-infused vodka, vanilla syrup and lime juice. For a sweet fix, the Mocha Martini, with vanilla vodka, espresso, Kahlua, crème de cacao and a squirt of chocolate, will make you forget you’re consuming alcohol. A small menu of light dishes, featuring dim sum and hotpots, ensures a deliciously full stomach and are perfect for sharing with new friends – both locals and travellers.
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