The Lewers Lounge is a sophisticated place - it’s not a meat-market and the clientele is well-dressed and quiet. The live lounge-y music is pleasantly retro and very good and although all the drinks are great, the House Specialties are truly, truly extraordinary.

And the service is wonderful, everyone knows your name and your preferences - I would definitely recommend walking in with 20 bucks in ones/fives just to drop tips here and there because everyone really goes out of their way…[TripAdvisor]

[Halekulani Hotel Website]
HotelsByCity [Honolulu Travel Guide] [Hotels in Honolulu]

Lobby and lounge area of our hotel in Hong Kong, the Shangri La Pudong. It’s representative of the many hotels we stayed at during our tour. At first I thought such luxury was unnecessary, but after many long days in transit or touring, I was more appreciative..

HotelsByCity [Hotels in Hong Kong]

The Shinkobe Oriental Hotel was smart and clean although no-one spoke English - and I speak no Japanese - but it was not a problem for money exchange and car hire. Hotel is said to be earthquake proof so that is reassuring, room itself was good although a little cramped, I think that they put all non Japanese people on one floor, 37th…[TripAdvisor]

HotelsByCity [Japan Travel Guide] [Hotels in Kobe Japan]

Boutique hotels around the world are positioning themselves as “lifestyle” hotels. The concept of lifestyle branding suggests that a hotel can embody the values and aspirations of a group or culture. A successful lifestyle brand speaks to the “core identity” of its customers, each of whom have their own sense of self based on their background. The lifestyle hotel provides a powerful supplement to this core identity by allowing the individual to publicly associate themselves with the hotel’s identity.

New York City’s Hudson Hotel on 58th Street is self styled as the embodiment of the lifestyle hotel.

“Urban adventure, daredevil design, and true affordability meet in Hudson, the ultimate lifestyle hotel for the 21st century…Hudson is a brilliant reflection of the boldness and diversity of the city – the quintessential New York hotel…Hudson is the next generation of Cheap Chic – stylish, democratic, affordable, young at heart and utterly cool…[Hotel Site]“

Although we’re not sure exactly which lifestyle element the Hudson Hotel lounge, featured above, is trying to appeal to - it does capture the essence of eclectic-cool-weird-chic.

HotelsByCity [Hotels in New York City] [New York City Travel Guide]

Hotel lounges are a gathering place for guests and locals to enjoy good company and good times. Some hotel bars, however, offer an experience far beyond the company you’re keeping across the table.

The Hilton Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario offers a spectacular bird’s eye view of the incredible falls. While you’re being mesmerized by the view, don’t forget to engage your partner across the table if you are in town for a romantic getaway!

The rooms were nicely appointed. Not brand new, but not run-down either. The views were excellent, especially 34 stories up, in the Blue Martini Lounge. We didn’t get to use the pool but I liked the setup and how you could see what was going on from the lobby. The valet parking service was convenient and I liked how it only cost $20 for the entire stay. The breakfast buffet was also good, although I don’t know if it was worth $19.95 a person. I appreciated getting it comped because of my Hilton Honors Gold status. The only problem we had was with the front desk at checkout. The representative got a little frustrated with my wife when she asked him to change our parking charge to a different credit card. All in all, a nice stay and we would definitely consider coming back…[TripAdvisor]

HotelsByCity [Hotels in Niagara Falls] [Niagara Falls Travel Guide]

Enjoy this outdated (we hope) hotel lounge signage from the Bristol Hotel in Melbourne-West, Australia. Not an uncommon sight in past eras all over the world, we’re not sure whether signs like it came in response to demand from gentlemen bar patrons, or from the ladies!

HotelsByCity [Melbourne Travel Guide] [Hotels in Melbourne, Australia]

Normally when we talk about hotel bars here at HotelDrink.com, we mean the “entire” lounge. Service, cocktails, design and decor - the whole thing. Not today.

All over the world, hotel bartenders are known for their charisma, mixology talent and their ability to “connect” with guests and customers. Customers often go out of their way to visit a bar where they know they will be entertained by the bartender. As of today, customers will be travelling to be entertained by the bar itself!

Check out this incredible video of a hotel bar design of the future. Actually, make that the present, since this is the real thing.

Thanks to Chad for sending this my way. Chad is one of our HotelsByCity resident bloggers, and he authors the excellent hotel blog here at HotelsByCity.net. Chad is keen to install one these beauties in his basement. I hope I’m invited to the launch party!

[i-Bar.ch]

Images can speak a thousand words, and we thought this picture of the Deseo Hotel Lounge on the rooftop in Playa Del Carmen said plenty. Of course, then we read some reviews of the property and discovered a consistent theme among most of them; that this hotel has some serious noise issues.

This is a terrible place for a relaxed stay. It is noisy and incredibly expensive. The rooms are soooooo minimalistic that will give you the impression you are in prision, the so-called breakfast is awful and coffe is served in tin cups, so dirty it is disgusting.

The closest beach is ugly and the “exclusive” beach club you are entitled to go (Mamitas) is quite far and full as a sardine can, so you better get at dawn or you will be left out of the “in” crowd. All rooms look to the pool and there is no in-room TV. Totally disrrespectful DJ activity at the pool everynight, leaves you sleepless until the wee hours of the morning (management, kindly provides ear plugs).

If you are into ectasy and such you will have a great time, if not, stay elsewhere…[TripAdvisor]

HotelsByCity [Other Playa Del Carmen Hotels] [Mexico Travel Guide]

Inside the Fairmont hotel in San Francisco is the wonderful, world famous Tonga Room. There’s a lake in the middle of this tiki lounge/restaurant and it rains every 1/2 hour. Great happy hour!!

Check out the Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar [Fairmont San Francisco]
HotelsByCity Best Rate [Fairmont San Francisco] [Sanfrancisco Travel Guide]

Here’s the super-cool lounge at Doug Fir, the restaurant and bar attached to the Jupiter Hotel in Portland

The Jupiter Hotel has consistently received critical success. A place where crisp, modern guest rooms, cutting edge entertainment and spa style rub-downs make up Portland’s only cultural boutique hotel.

Check out their website at JupiterHotel.com - you’ll be grooving to their website theme song for the rest of the day!

Jupiter Hotel Reviews [TripAdvisor]
HotelsByCity Best Rate [Jupiter Hotel in Portland]