Where to Get a Martini (Around the World)
From New York to Los Angeles, Paris, London, and Toronto, sip on a cocktail that's as classic as it gets.
Maybe it’s the wink of the new season, maybe it’s the desire for a glamorous touch when out with friends after another stretch of winter solitude, but martinis are having a moment. It’s an effortlessly elegant drink. The classic mix — gin, dry vermouth, with a lemon twist or olives — is a pillar of old Hollywood and when you raise a chilled glass to your lips you can almost slip into its allure.
As we tuck away our winter selves and contemplate renewal, the simple grace of this drink solidifies it as a trusty go-to. We’ve collected passerbys’ favorite spots — across five cities— so no matter where in the world you find yourself, a crisp drink will await you.
new york
Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel
Recommended by Karolyn Pho, Tina Bhojwani, Eva Giocochea, Jenna Saraco, Carolina Santos-Neves, Lynette Nylander, Clémence Polès, Marina Sulmona, and Alexis Badiyi
Named after Ludwig Bemelman who painted the bar at The Carlyle’s whimsical Madeleine-inspired murals, this is an established go-to for passersby. In the evenings, drinks are accompanied by live piano and jazz, which makes it the perfect spot to make an evening around grabbing a good martini — or two.
The Odeon
Recommended by Caitlin McMullen, Clémence Polès, Marina Sulmona, Vere Van Gool, and Alexis Badiyi
New York meets French brasserie at this Tribeca staple. The Odeon has been bustling since the 1980s and remains a timeless spot to dine and drink. Pair your martini with classics like a New York strip steak and moules-frites or mix it up and snack on crispy artichokes with garlic-yuzu aioli. With classic, ginger, and cucumber martinis to choose from, there’s something for all palates.
Minetta Tavern
Recommended by Karolyn Pho, Clémence Polès, and Marina Sulmona
Even — or perhaps, especially — now, after a Keith McNally revamp in the late aughts, Minetta Tavern exudes the old Greenwich Village charm that’s forever been romanticized. Dining and drinking at the 1937-established institution is a more upscale experience, nowadays, yet it’s still always unfussy and cozy. Pull up a solo seat at the bar and curl into a copy of Joseph Mitchell’s quintessential read, “Joe Gould’s Secret” — with a martini in hand.
If you’re in the mood for more, stop by Lucien (recommended by Clémence Polès and Lauren Servideo), American Bar (recommended by Abby Pucker and Carolina Santos-Neves), JG Melon (recommended by Clémence Polès and Hallie Gould), Frenchette (recommended by Caitlin McMullen and Clémence Polès), Clover Club (recommended by Caitlin McMullen), Bar Goto (recommended by Clémence Polès), Bernie’s Restaurant (recommended by Georgie Greville Jasper), Bar Pisellino (recommended by Clémence Polès), Primo’s (recommended by Alexis Badiyi), Rialto Grande (recommended by Caitlin McMullen), The Long Island Bar (recommended by Caitlin McMullen), Diner (recommended by Jenna Saraco), Bowery Hotel (recommended by Clémence Polès), Hawksmoor (recommended by Maria Geyman), Bacaro (recommended by Caitlin McMullen), Our/New York Bar & Vodka Distillery (recommended by Caitlin McMullen), Maison Première (recommended by Clémence Polès), Achilles Heel (recommended by Clémence Polès), The Nines (recommended by Eva Giocochea), Temple Bar (recommended by Eva Giocochea), El Pingüino (recommended by Eva Giocochea), and Lodi (recommended by Alexis Badiyi).
los angeles
The Tower Bar at the Sunset Tower Hotel
Recommended by Beverly Nguyen, Clémence Polès, Mina Alyeshmerni, and Marina Sulmona
Sunset Tower impresses as a relic of old Hollywood with a modern edge. The hotel’s restaurant and bar offer newfound privacy for the 21st century (no photos allowed) and a moment for guests to lounge in either the timeless wood-paneled interior or by the pool with a view of LA. As passerby Beverly Nguyen suggests, The Tower Bar is fitting for a “belvedere martini with a twist stirred (along with one cigarette and gossip session with my girlfriends from LA).”
Musso & Frank Grill
Recommended by Rachel Nguyen and Clémence Polès
Given that the signature drink at this 100+ year old Hollywood Blvd. establishment is their martini, it's a drink with a reputation that’s hard to beat. Once you step inside, the elegant mahogany and leather interior contrasts with the homey atmosphere set by the staff. A real charm to regulars, Musso’s menu has a rotating selection of specials from Thursday Chicken Pot Pie to Sunday’s Duck Confit, assuring that fine dining doesn’t have to be ostentatious to be loved.
Dan Tana’s
Recommended by Ariel Roman
This Italian establishment may not look more than a little yellow house from the outside, but Dan Tana’s has been loved by celebrities and everyday people alike for over fifty years. With quintessential Italian fare, checkered tablecloths, red leather booths, and the best “outside/inside vibes,” dinner and a martini at Dan Tana’s never misses.
Other spots to hit include Greekman’s (recommended by Ariel Roman), Jones (recommended by Abby Pucker), and The Varnish (recommended by Rachel Nguyen).
paris
Bar Hemingway
Recommended by Jenna Saraco and Vere Van Gool
The Hemingway Bar offers so much more than the eclectic cocktails suited to the author's palate. With leather armchairs, only twenty-five seats, and a respite from noise and music, the bar provides the tranquility needed to enjoy a catch-up with a friend or simply pour over a book.
Le Fumoir
Recommended by Laura Saglio
Steps away from the Louvre, Le Fumoir is a cut above your run-of-the-mill Parisian brasserie (though we love those too). With classic Scandinavian design and a Prohibition-era bar top sourced from the US, this spot is intimate without trying. Enjoy a martini on the sidewalk terrasse in the summer or keep it cozy inside in the winter. And don’t miss their brunch on Sundays with tartar, tartines, and even pancakes.
Le Tout-Paris at the Cheval Blanc
Recommended by Vere Van Gool
Located in one of Paris’ most iconic hotels, the bar at the Cheval Blanc is up to the task. Here, mixology is treated as an art form and holds true to the promise of an “alchemy of senses.” The art-deco hotel plays off Paris’ essence and faces the iconic Pont Neuf. We recommend an evening drink to round out a long stroll along the Seine — sometimes playing into the romance of the city is welcome.
One more must is Harry’s Bar (recommended by Vere Van Gool and Clémence Polès), Le Mary Celeste (recommended by Ly Ngo), and Le Syndicat (recommended by @hksern).
london
Martini Bar at the Barbican
Recommended by Clémence Polès and melanie coles
The Martini Bar at the Barbican has its roots in Jame Bond lore — which we love. Created in 2012 for martini drinkers visiting the “Designing 007” exhibition, visitors to this multidisciplinary art space continue to enjoy a wide array of cocktails where martinis abound. Take advantage of their daily happy hour from 5–6 PM when you can get two cocktails for £14 and catch whatever else is going on in the center.
The Rivoli Bar at the Ritz
Recommended by Lynette Nylander
Tucked away from the busy London streets, the Rivoli Bar at the Ritz is where passersby go to enjoy a martini in style. Step into the glittering bar room that’s modeled after the inside of a jewelry box in your cocktail hour best (no sneakers allowed) and enjoy a fashionable martini.
The Connaught Bar
Recommended by Sukey Novogratz
The “back bar” at the Connaught in London is the perfect spot for martini connoisseurs and newbies alike. This 1920s bar is gilded with silver leaf adornments and features a martini trolley for a truly unique experience. Come with a friend for the martini infused with bergamot oils, or try a specialty cocktail as you enjoy the finesse of mixology.
toronto
Milou
Recommended by Fran Miller
This Dundas West bistro bar is the perfect spot for a martini alongside a burger or a beef stroganoff or coq au vin sandwich. As a neighborhood favorite, you’ll want to keep coming back for any occasion. Checker-printed food-adornments keep the energy laid back while the kitchen and bar bring elevated food and drink to the table.
Cocktail Bar
recommended by Marina Sulmona
The atmosphere of Cocktail Bar is hard to beat. Bottles are stored in antique glass cabinets behind the bar and in the summer, Toronto regulars know to take advantage of their outdoor patio. The no-frills building lends to the ethos of the establishment — tasteful without being saccharine — and the drinks are classics with a twist. Be sure to try some of their bar snacks or just cross the street to Rhum Corner, their sister restaurant, for a bite.
Bar Raval
recommended by Marina Sulmona
A definite favorite, Bar Raval is a Barcelona-inspired bar with small plates, a great wine list, and “top-notch” martinis that you’ll “want to return for again and again.” The curved architecture of the Gaudí-inspired bar guides you from the wrap-around patio to an indoor section which feels like it’s been carved from a tree – if a tree was ornamented with bottles, candles, and glass details. Organic lines run from the bar top to the rounded windows to make a drink here a truly original experience. As Marina suggests, “a good drink is often made better by a little something to nibble on. So order some manchego for a bite or the mackerel, kitchen bread, and eggplant if you’re hungry.”
Words by Claire Dauge-Roth