In the upscale world of luxury travel, there is something basically timeless about slipping into a plush bar chair, having a meticulously crafted cocktail and feeling the rich history of a place come alive with each sip. At Kempinski Hotels, this has been perfected for over 127 years. In celebration of World Cocktail Day on May 13 and World Whisky Day on May 17, Kempinski's legendary bars globally are raising a glass to the celebration of heritage, creativity and craftsmanship in true European tradition.
These are not beverages they are liquid heritage. From Munich to Istanbul, every cocktail is a story to be shared, built on local palates and perfected by the skilled hands of professional bartenders who know that sophistication is served shaken or stirred.
A Royal Flair Martini in Munich
Beneath the surface of Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich lies the Jahreszeiten Bar, affectionately known as Munich's most beautiful living room. First opened in 1858 by King Maximilian II, this palace atmosphere blends tradition and modernity with live jazz, American swing-style and a chic atmosphere of informality.
The pièce de résistance of the bar is the Jahreszeiten Martini, a rich combination of house-distilled gin and locally produced vodka served tableside from a stunning bar cart. With Head Bartender Aleksandar Vujin at the helm, the team garnishes every cocktail with precision and attention to detail. As a celebration of the holiday World Cocktail Day, a seasonal-only menu crafted especially for the four seasons will transport visitors on a celebratory journey through time and taste.
Dresden Offers a Taste of the Twenties
In Dresden's historic center, Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski's Bar 1705 embodies the glamour of the 1920s. Situated in an 18th-century royal palace, the oak-paneled bar features twelve in-house-designed cocktails made by a winning team. Cocktails are not only consumed here they are savored with petit fours and toasted Dresden chocolate.
World Cocktail Day will see each bartender showcase their personal favorite classic, while World Whisky Day will spotlight a refined Whisky Sour menu. The venue is a nod to old-world elegance where every detail feels like a step back in time in the best possible way.
Contemporary Cool in Budapest
Blue Fox The Bar at Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest blends traditional sophistication with a modern edge. With floor-to-ceiling windows that encircle the Budapest Ferris Wheel, this Top 500 Bar applies art to the art of mixology. Hand-plucked herbs from the rooftop garden of this hotel are used to garnish signature Negronis crafted with Hungarian vermouth.
Throughout May, Blue Fox will celebrate cocktail culture with a dedicated menu for World Cocktail Day and whisky tasting packages for the whisky connoisseurs. It is a place where history and innovation blend seamlessly and where every drink is served with a view.
A Tribute to Timelessness in Berlin
Just a few minutes' stroll from Berlin's Brandenburg Gate is the legendary Hotel Adlon Kempinski of 1907. Its Elephant Bar is steeped in the atmosphere of the Golden Twenties with a hint of American flair and European extravagance. Visitors can indulge in the pungent smell of cigars and a vast international choice of whiskies throughout the year.
For travelers going through on World Whisky Day, the weekly Thursday cigar-rum-whisky tasting is a definite must. It takes place every Thursday and encourages travelers to taste a sophisticated blend of three assorted spirits with a specially selected cigar in an environment of classic opulence.
Ottoman Grandeur in Istanbul In Istanbul, Ottoman Sultans' former palace has been converted into Çırağan Palace Kempinski, where Le Fumoir Bar rests under palm trees with Bosphorus panaroma views. The ambiance is Turkish hospitality at its best with cocktails such as the Rakitini a Mediterranean mix of classic Turkish spirit, melon purée, citrus and skinos.
In celebration of World Cocktail Day, the bar introduces the Blended Barrel a signature cocktail featuring Michter's Bourbon Whiskey blended with strawberry-infused Cabernet Sauvignon. The Spring Sour, meanwhile introduces a floral nuance to the classic whisky cocktail with the inclusion of chamomile, which adds a light, refreshing edge of seasonal change.
Bangkok's Jazz-Inspired Hideaway
In the heart of Bangkok's city center, Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel is where Firefly Bar glows with vintage jazz bar ambiance. Its moody elegance, moss-green bar, and sparkling chandeliers all add up to a cocktail aficionado's hidden gem.
This month, the bar offers a special collaboration with a visiting international guest bartender from Kuala Lumpur's Here and Now Bar, reaching its climax in an international mixology fiesta on May 23. Customers can expect innovative cocktails and personalized flair evoked by Bangkok's cosmopolitan beat.
A Singapore Toast to Revolution
In Singapore, The Bar at 15 Stamford at The Capitol Kempinski rings a symbolic bell at 8 PM nightly in tribute to American revolutionary Paul Revere. The cocktails themselves are anything but old-fashioned. Among the highlights is the Plantation 1840, a spicy combination of Cuban spiced rum, pineapple citrus and sugar cane syrup, served in a copper mug for that rebellious touch.
The month features one-night-only affairs with the globe's top bartenders, so every night is a night of taste and story.
Bali Combines Originality With Seaside Scenery
The Apurva Kempinski Bali invites guests to honor creativity in a seven-day mixology festival. Specialty drinks like Tito's Blood, spiced and infused with curry leaf and earth-meets-flower Avinya with beetroot and elderflower espuma capture the resort's bold culinary ethos during May 13 to 18. With sea views as the backdrop and innovative nicknames like Coco Loco and Pizza Smash on the menu, this venue delivers more than sun-and-sea lounging it's a full-blown sensory experience in every glass. A Universal Celebration of Time and Flavor With World Cocktail Day and World Whisky Day being commemorated at Kempinski Hotels worldwide, customers are not just presented with a liquid beverage. These carefully crafted menus are a tribute to culture, heritage and luxury hospitality. In a palace in Istanbul, a posh bar in Budapest or a beach resort in Bali, every single cocktail is a tale to be told. So the next time you hear, "Meet me at the bar," make it a Kempinski. Where each glass tells a tale and each sip is a celebration.
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