These 6 Hotels Have The Coolest Bars For Business Travelers
Whether as a place to meet clients to talk business, or simply a place to relax at the end of a long day, a hotel bar often plays a key role for business travelers. Upscale concierge service Luxury Attaché identified several of the best hotel bars across four major U.S. markets, and these are Bisnow's favorites. From Miami to New York, here are six hotels that boast the best bars for business travelers.
The Living Room bar at Hotel Faena
Hotel: Faena Hotel Miami Beach
Location: Miami
Ambiance: Artistic
Developed by Argentine hotelier Alan Faena and his billionaire business partner Len Blavatnik, this colorful hotel opened at the end of 2015 and is one of the hottest developments in Miami. The hotel bar, The Living Room, is no exception. While perhaps a confusing name at first, this eclectic lounge has animal-printed sofas and armchairs instead of bar chairs, making it both a relaxing and interesting place to do business.
Hotel: LondonHouse
Location: Chicago
Ambiance: Luxurious
Housed in Chicago's historic London Guarantee & Accident Building, the LondonHouse was redeveloped in 2016 by Oxford Capital Group. The German firm Union Investment Real Estate bought the property shortly before it opened for $315M and the hotel is run by Oxford Hotels and Resorts. On top of its luxury offerings, the hotel boasts Chicago's only trilevel rooftop bar, called LH Rooftop bar. Travelers and locals alike often gather here for views of the Chicago River while having a bite of interesting American cuisine combinations, like Cheez-Its with caviar.
CORRECTION, March 29, 7:18 A.M. ET: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Hilton runs LondonHouse Chicago. The story has been updated.
The Rose Bar at Gramercy Hotel
Hotel: Gramercy Park Hotel
Location: New York City
Ambiance: Exclusive
The Gramercy Park Hotel can rival any New York City hotel for historic relevance. Its patrons have included Babe Ruth, Bob Dylan and David Bowie, many of whom frequented the Rose Bar. Today the bar retains its luster and is a favorite of many socialites and business leaders, making it an interesting place for a business meeting. Deemed an exclusive hangout for the city's A-listers, the Rose Bar's nightlife includes live music from renowned DJs and music showcases. The bar boasts high ceilings, custom-made furniture and a 20th-century artwork collection.
Hotel: Ace Hotel
Location: Los Angeles
Ambiance: Eclectic
Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles opened in early 2014, but the original building, the United Artists Theater, dates back to 1927. The hotel's bar, fittingly called Upstairs, is modeled after Hollywood's famous Les Deux Cafe and boasts a concrete pool and a bunker-like decor; the bar also hosts live music, book release parties and other creative collaborations every night of the week.
Broker Shaker bar at Freehand Chicago
Hotel: Freehand Hotel
Location: Chicago
Ambiance: Casual
Chicago's Freehand hotel inhabits a classic 1927 building in the city's River North neighborhood and mixes comfort with shared accommodations in a casual atmosphere. The Broken Shaker serves as the hotel bar, but it is frequented by locals and business travelers alike craving its awarding-winning cocktails; the large outdoor bar is known as a "backyard oasis."
Hotel: 11 Howard
Location: New York City
Ambiance: Modern
This 221-room boutique hotel opened in SoHo in April 2016. Danish designers SPACE Copenhagen's Signe Bindslev Henriksen and Peter Bundgaard Rützou designed 11 Howard; it embraces a casual luxury underlined by minimalism. The Blond is a stylish place to complete work during business hours or party during the evenings. The bar is known to appeal to both business travelers and locals looking for a change of scenery. Its decor includes a robust collection of artwork and sculptures, and the nightlife is said to be a revolving door of exclusive parties sprinkled with VIP celebrities.
