Are you a member?
Between meltdowns, layoffs and bailouts, we imagine you could use a drink. Luckily, hotels have stepped up their cocktail game, crafting new bars and designing signature drinks to bring the art of cocktailing to a new level. Here are a few one-of-a-kind spots to check out.
Las Vegas
As if Las Vegas weren’t already known for its excess, the new Moon nightclub on the penthouse level of the [Palms Fantasy Tower](http://www.palmsfantasy.com/) takes the “room with a view” concept to a new extreme. The club’s massive retractable roof opens to reveal the nighttime sky. And when the roof is closed, it serves as a giant video screen, showing scenes from the dance floor and around the club from a series of moveable cameras and projectors. Whatever happened to “what happens in Vegas…”?
London
If you’ve got an insatiable thirst for the bubbly, [Gilt Champagne Lounge](http://www.jumeirahcarltontower.com/dining/gilt/) in London’s Jumeirah Carlton Tower should be your next stop. The small bar sparkles with gold-hued walls, white banquettes and plush gold-trimmed chairs. The luxury doesn’t stop with the surroundings, though: A glass of Champagne will run you £14 (about $21) at the very least; pony up £17.50 ($26) for a Bellini.
New York
Last May, the [Peninsula New York](http://www.peninsula.com/Peninsula_Hotels/en/default.aspx#/New_York/en/) transformed its famed rooftop bar into Salon de Ning, an homage to 1930s Shanghai. Named for a celebrated Shanghai socialite who traveled the world, hosted parties and, apparently, enjoyed a good cocktail every now and again, the terraced bar sits 23 floors above midtown Manhattan. The space is adorned with Moroccan lanterns, Chinese daybeds on the outdoor terrace (ideal for warm-weather sipping) and artwork from the contemporary Chinese artist Yao Junzhong. The Peninsula opened its second Salon de Ning in Hong Kong last week, but we’re looking forward to partaking in an even more authentic experience when the Peninsula Shanghai opens at the end of 2009.
Sao Paolo
A name can say a lot about a place, and Sao Paolo’s [Hotel Unique](http://www.hotelunique.com.br/splashpage/) is no exception. The hotel, which resembles a modern, copper-hued boat, was designed by Brazilian architect Ruy Ohtake and features a striking rooftop bar and restaurant, Skye. A crimson-hued pool is the centerpiece; revelers can look out at a panoramic city skyline while sipping cocktails.
Turks & Caicos
The [Grace Bay Club](http://www.gracebayclub.com/) in Turks & Caicos recently unveiled the longest bar in the Caribbean. The 90-foot Infiniti Edge Bar, constructed of black marble, creates the illusion that the entire structure is floating above the sand and slipping into the ocean. Sip a traditional Caribbean cocktail under shaded canopies while the waves lap at your feet.
