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Tags: Castle Hotels / Hotel Packages / Country Hotels / Ireland Hotels / Booze / → All Tags

Celebrate 250 Years of Guinness In Style At Ashford Castle

Where: Cong, Co Mayo, Ireland, 00000

Ashford Castle – an actual, 13th-century castle in County Mayo, Ireland, that doubles as as five star hotel – is celebrating its 70th birthday next month. So far, so worthy. Forgive us being slightly more excited about the fact that Guinness is turning 250. Now that’s worth celebrating.

Luckily, the folks at the castle agree with us (it was once the country retreat of the Guinness family, which probably has something to do with it). So they’ve designated October as Guinness Month and 15 October as the date for a five course "Black and White dinner", where the head Brewer will talk about the black stuff.

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Tags: Andaz Hotels / Hyatt Hotels / Los Angeles Hotels / Celebrity Scoop / Booze / → All Tags

Free Booze and Views of Johnny Depp’s House at Andaz WeHo

Where: 8401 Sunset Boulevard [map], West Hollywood, CA, United States, 90069

Last week, after we’d checked out the Chamberlain and the Avalon, we spent a night at Andaz West Hollywood. As devoted fans of the London branch, we were a little nervous. Would they have got rid of the things we love (like the stationery kits in every room and the free minibars?) Would they have developed a vibe-killing attitude?

We’re happy to report a no on both counts. The stationery kit is there, although it’s a bit more basic than in London – mainly a pencil and an eraser – and the vibe was smiley. Even the free minibar had more stash in it than those in the Smoke (although sadly, still no alcohol).

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Tags: The Bowery Hotel / New York Hotel Reviews / Hotel Hype / Booze / → All Tags

Paparazzi Already Not Welcome at The Bowery Hotel

Where: 335 Bowery [map], New York, ny, United States, 10003

Last night we went to The Bowery Hotel for the second time this week. We forgot the ol' digital camera the first time, so we went back for some snaps. But front office manager Steve Rachmat politely told us that there are no photos allowed during these early stages. So we're using an exclusive shot that one of our tipsters sent in last week. (Geez, that's the last time we ask before taking the picture!)

But enough about all that. What's the bar like? We got our drinks at the bar itself, a cozy enough nook with lots to choose from. Still, we opted for something simple: a Woodford Reserve Manhattan. It was damn good--as it should've been for $17.

Since there are no bar stools (as of now, anyway), we retired to the lobby with our cocktail. Lots of mix-and-match furniture, Persian rugs and Italian tiling fill the space, which channels a sort of Keith McNally meets Freemans vibe. Which all makes perfect sense: As Down By the Hipster first reported, Freemans is partnering with the hotel for a still-TK Italian restaurant called Gemma. Maybe we'll be able to get a photo of that?

Related Stories:
· Photos from Inside the Bowery Hotel [HotelChatter]

Tags: Cambodia Hotel Reviews / New York Times / Booze / → All Tags

New York Times Continues Aggressive Coverage of Hotel Booze Beat

Where: Sivutha Boulevard, Siem Reap, Cambodia

It's rough out there for travel junkies and road warriors. All that time away from home, checking into hotel after hotel, staying in new cities: it's enough to make you want a stiff drink. Or, apparently, not:

"Do you have nonalcoholic beer?" a guest asked a passing waiter. "Yes sir, we have beer," he was told. "But do you have nonalcoholic beer?" "Yes sir, we have beer," the waiter said again, politely gesturing toward the menu. "But do you have ... Oh, forget it. Bring me a beer."

That's the latest word from Stuart Emmrich who checked into the Hôtel de la Paix in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Wait, so a high level of service is now frowned on by the Times? (We give the waiter points for graciously doing his best.) Surely the hotel has something to make up for its lack of O'Douls? Indeed it does:

Even the standard rooms are huge: a soaring loft space with a large seating area, a comfortable, spacious bed on a wooden frame, and a terrazzo bathtub big enough for two (or three, for that matter), as well as a walk-in shower

The hotel spa and gym also get high marks, and an on-property cafe has free WiFi that draws tourists who don't want to drop $300 on a hotel room in Cambodia. Not paying inflated hotel WiFi rates: the quickest way to more beer money.

Related Stories
· Check In, Check Out: Siem Reap [NYT]