Parental Discretion Advised! Bars Bars Bars

How to add value to the vacation or work travel experience by the bar you choose.

At a wedding cocktail party recently I spoke with Clement IV from San Diego, and it caused me to reflect on why we choose the bars or lounges we go to.  I offer that, the choice of bar is simply one that adds to our experience. Whether a favorite in town or one that we seek out when traveling. My encounter with Madeline, has inspired me to write, in the future, on why we select the restaurants that we choose. (Curious of Madeline?)

I want to share with you the bars – that in my travels – have brought joy to the experience of where I have visited. You will more than likely find these bars in some other reference.  They may not be the current fad, nor require an  annual fee, nor will you likely find rope you have to pass some test for. What you will find is an experience, visual, like gorgeous chicks, or a skyline of a foreign city, or the bar itself, like Firefly or Rouge in DC's Kimpton Hotels. Other reasons I choose to make these recommendations are for the music or for historical reasons. Not certain why I make a particular recommendation, contact me. 

So here is my list of favorites -

Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia
     Piano Bar at The Prime Rib

Austin     The Driskoll Hotel Lounge

Boston     Mandarin Bar

Charlottesville     C&O Bar

La Jolla     The Marine Room Bar

New Orleans     Laffitte Blacksmith Bar

New York  Pressroom Rooftop Bar at Ink48

Stockbridge     The Porch at the Red Lion Inn

Washington     Round Robin Bar, Bar at Firefly and Rouge

Williamsburg     Trellis Lounge, Blue Talon Zinc Bar and
     the Veranda, Williamsburg Inn

Athenai     The Grand Bretagne Roof Bar, and Cafe - Lykavittos Hill

Frankfurt     22nd. Lounge, Neue Mainzer Strasse

Havana     La Floridita

Deserving of the special treatment one sometimes observes patrons receiving at the bar? Be engaging with the bartender. Ask the hostess for the name of the bartender and call her or him by name. Sincerely ask about a drink or her favorite cocktail. Ask the bartender to concoct a drink for you!

         Amuse-toi bien.

Santorini Sidecar – Tom, bartender at Mourayo Restaurant, Washington

1 oz Metaxa Brandy

½ oz orange infused Ouzo
¼ oz lemon juice