Martini cocktails, martini bars and martini culture
The legend says that Bono and The Edge enjoyed so much a night at this bar, located in the Clarence hotel in Dublin, that they decided to buy the whole Hotel. The question is: what was served to them that night? Probably Martinis. Apart from legends, the Octagon is one of the best cocktail bars …
Dublin is not the best place for cocktails, with its rivers of Guinness and Irish wisky, but still it is possible to find some good Martini spots. One is the Mint Bar at the Westin Hotel: once the caveau of a bank, the bar is a rather large and confortable lounge where middle and upperclass …
Back in 1952, the famous bartender Giuseppe Cipriani, creator of the Harry's Bar in Venice, convinced his friend Enrico Mariotti to use the name “Harry’s Bar” also for his new bar in Florence. Since then, the bar is the realm of Leo Valdorini, probably the only bartender who was honoured with the Key of the City …
Before entering the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone, in New Orleans, I was convinced that - at the end of the day - good bars are good bars, but they all are quite similar, the rest are details. Then I sat at the bar, I ordered a Martini (sorry, a very good Martini) and …
The Peabody Hotel in Memphis is a landmark in US history, at least for two reasons: it is the place where Elvis used to buy its clothes (!!) and it has a fountain where a few famous ducks happily swim all day long. Apart from this, the Peabody offers a lobby bar that is referred …
Born as a pastry shop in 1832, the Ex Urbanis is a nice spot a few steps from one of the most beautiful squares on earth, Piazza Unità in Trieste. The Bar still has its original glasses and a spectacular 1800 mosaic on the floor, all combined with modern furniture and lights. Even though the …
The Boadas is a legendary place. It is said to be the oldest cocktail bar in Spain, and the place where Hemingway used to drink his mojitos when in the Catalan capital. Legends apart, the story is the following: the founder of this bar, Miguel Boadas, established it in 1933, bringing to Europe his bartendering …
Most probably the best Martini Bar in Indonesia, the Cafè Batavia is hosted in what is said to be the second most ancient building in Jakarta, looking over the beautiful Kota square. The bar is simply marvellous, classy and wooden as it should be; the wals are covered with hundred of pictures (the owner collection) …
The Bombay Club is a New Orleans miracle: you walk 3 minutes away from the noisy, crowded, lively, colored and crazy Bourbon Street and you enter in a space of relax, soft music, and especially fantastic drinks. The website site says "A leather bound martini list contains over 100 different specialty martinis, each stirred—not shaken—to …
The Sazerac Bar, in the old and classy Roosvelt Hotel in New Orleans, is a historic bar where the famous (at least in New Orleans) Sazerac cocktail was invented. If you are into Martinis, I suggest you do not get a Sazerac or you'll feel like being surrounded by sugar. The bar is very good, …
The Martini Hour 