HotelChatter - Tag: Hotel Lounges

London: Come All Ye Boozy Faithful: The Met Bar Ditches Its Members Only Policy

Heidi Atwal — 2011-11-09T18:32:24-05:00

In many cases, the most exclusive hotel cocktail haunts (Bungalow 8, et al.) adhere to a hard and fast rule: If you're not on the list, don't bother sashaying up to the velvet rope, no matter how high your Louboutins. One of London's staple mixology lounges, however, has 86'ed the "Members Only" maxim in favor of a "come one, come all" approach to coincide with its recent reopening post-renovation.

London: Where to Find a Proper Stiff Drink at London Hotels

Heidi Atwal — 2011-10-07T13:04:10-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/32083/bungalow8prohibition.jpg" class="top"> Fact, plain and simple: <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/London%20Hotels">London</a> is not a cocktail town. A proper pint Londoners know, but the art of the mixed drink sometimes eludes those tending to liqueurs behind the bar. In recent years, however, a few chic speakeasies dedicated to crafting Prohibition era-inspired concoctions have opened their doors to discerning drinkers, raising the standard for cocktails in a city where ales and ciders rule. Hotels are catching up in kind, with mixologists going for top-shelf gold with creative, original drink menus that shame those who dare order a Cosmopolitan as they sidle up to their boozy companions for the evening. And Appletinis? Don't even think about it. What follows are three hotels bars making an

Pour Over Pretty Fashion Tomes at The Halkin's New Assouline 'Culture Lounge'

Heidi Atwal — 2011-10-06T12:04:49-05:00

Cocktails and Chanel Retrospectives — the perfect combo

Taschen and Assouline have won acclaim for releasing gorgeous fashion, art, and design tomes, going head to head for prominence in the realm of luxe book publishers. It seemed that the former had a leg up when the Trump Soho decided to stock its library with mint condition Taschen books, but Assouline is playing catch up as London's Halkin hotel welcomes the Assouline Culture Lounge to its lobby bar.

New York: Guess The $15,000 Hotel Coffeemaker Revealed!

ASchechter — 2011-08-29T12:09:44-05:00

We took a whirlwind tour through the newly-operational (well, almost operational) Hyatt 48Lex on Thursday morning. Amidst construction workers, multiple staff trainings, and other private tours, we got to peek the hotel's first-floor restaurant, Lexington Brass, the second-floor lounge area, Lexicon Lounge (above), and several of the rooms.

What struck us most, however, was the $15,000 WMF Bistro coffeemaker we spotted in the Lexicon Lounge. Not only will this machine be available to guests throughout their stay, they will even be able to use it to make coffee for themselves. Free coffee for all!

New York: Taschen Lovers Can Get Cozy At The Trump Soho

ASchechter — 2011-07-07T09:30:02-05:00

Looking for a quiet place to catch up on your coffeetable book reading? Head to Trump Soho's Library, a cozy lounge area wrapped in cherry blossom wallpaper, located on the mezzanine floor. Though you're welcome to bring your own reading material—or make use of the Library's own backgammon board—you're better off browsing the wall full of mint condition Taschen books.

From Helmut Newton to Gustav Klimt, it would take years to properly absorb all the stunning images contained in each heavy-as-a-brick volume. We had a soft spot for the Favourite Hotels publication, but hey, to each his own.