Cool spots to sip a cocktail

On the 14th floor of the Dear Hotel, this is the terrace to watch the sunset. With views of Plaza de España, Casa de Campo and all the way to the Sierra, ‘Nice to Meet You’ is an amazing urban garden. The restaurant and cocktail bar are open to the public.

The relaxed rooftop bar at Bleyenberg is young, trendy and perfect for a cocktail. Thursday night is cocktail night: bartenders create a special edition cocktail and all cocktails cost 7,50 euro. The cocktail bar is on the third floor and from the terrace you’ll have great views over the Grote Markt (a lively square) and the Grote Kerk (the church).

Winner of both ‘Best Bar in Copenhagen’ and ‘Best Bartender in Denmark’ by the Nordic Bartenders’ Choice Awards, this place takes its inspiration from the Danish Royal Theatre just around the corner. The menu features classic cocktails with names split into categories such as ’comedy & adventure’, ‘Romance & Drama’, and ‘Tragedy & Terror’, rustled up by expert mixologists.

Ötap’s mezze menu is rather concise, with a dozen original and exciting plates to share. The drinks menu, served by the in-house mixologist, is centred around inventive cocktails. On Sundays the restaurant is open for a creative and seasonal brunch buffet, with a tasty range of refined products. So, hurry up and gather your friends for a lazy weekend date.

This bar’s concept is that of a waiting room at a hospital. The staff wear nurse uniforms. All the cocktails have unique names. If you do not understand Japanese, ask the nurse. But be warned, some of the names are rather outrageous. Don’t be disgusted, it is just their unique sense of humour.

Named after an influential group of Philadelphia journalists who used to drink, eat, and hang together in the late 1800s, Clover Club is a beautiful pre-Prohibition-style spot, where stylish waitstaff serve cocktails that will blow your mind. There’s a democratic door policy – meaning no hassle to get in –, an atmosphere that is unpretentious, and a cozy back room with a fireplace. Occasionally they have jazz performances, and they do a killer family-friendly brunch too.

If you’re hoping to have a drink with a soccer player or another celebrity, than visiting this fancy cocktail bar gives you a good chance. To avoid any confusion: Boca Grande (Big Mouth) is a restaurant, specialised in rice dishes and fish, whereas Boca Chica (Small Mouth) is the adjoining cocktail bar. Prices are steep: you’ll need a couple of cocktails to get over the shock.

A martini at this venerable Hollywood institution is a must. Not only is it the best in town, it’s a true taste of classic LA. Since 1919, these leather booths have seen it all: film’s biggest players ate and drank here (Charlie Chaplin, Bogart & Bacall, Elizabeth Taylor), and many of the 20th century’s best American writers (Fitzgerald, Faulkner, Chandler) met in the backroom.