Meet me for a Mocktail? Booking.com Shares Five Hotels with the Trendiest Bars to Enjoy Dry January
While cocktails are often seen as synonymous with a vacation, many travelers will be kickstarting the new year with healthy intentions and signing up for Dry January, where participants give up alcohol for the month. With over two-thirds (69%)* of travelers saying they are more adventurous with their food and drink choices on vacation, a ginger ale or lemonade will no longer cut it, and more hotel bars around the world are elevating alcohol-free options to satisfy sober guests. Whether travelers have chosen to cut out the booze completely or are dipping their toe in the alcohol-free pool, we present a selection of swanky hotels with bars serving signature mocktails, offering all the fun of a cocktail, minus the hangover.
The West Hollywood Edition – Los Angeles, United States
With sleek design, unparalleled views of the city, and an epic rooftop pool and bar, this boutique hotel offers a fabulous stay in the Californian sunshine. Situated on Sunset Boulevard, where West Hollywood meets Beverly Hills, the Booking.com Travel Proud property perfectly encapsulates the warm and inclusive vibe of LA. The plant-covered roof terrace houses the hotel’s bar, The Roof, famed for its delicious alcohol-free cocktails for those embracing Dry January, and sweeping views of the surrounding Hollywood Hills. The mocktail menu features the popular ‘Second to None’ infused with bergamot, grapefruit and rosemary, and the ‘Learner’s Permit’ laced with cucumber and lime, all served with vibrant Mexican small plates from tacos to guacamole. With the heart of Hollywood and Venice Beach just a short drive away, these drinks are the perfect fix for the designated driver renting a car to explore the city – or guests can extend the party to Sunset, the hotel’s shimmering basement nightclub. Outside of the bar, this Booking.com Travel Sustainable hotel embraces plant-based treatments at its zen spa and plant-based dishes in its world-class restaurant. Visitors can experience more of the city’s exciting food and drink scene on a Gastronomic Tour with Tasting in West Hollywood to explore local farmers markets and the favorite culinary hotspots of the A-listers.
Coworth Park – Ascot, United Kingdom
Coworth Park is a grand Georgian country manor house transformed into a luxurious five-star hotel on the edge of Windsor Great Park. Nestled in 97 hectares (240 acres) of charming parkland in Berkshire, the hotel even has an equestrian center with stables and polo fields for guests to enjoy a riding lesson or a fast-paced game. One of the crowning jewels of the hotel is its gold toned, elegant bar which features a finely crafted mocktail menu using seasonal ingredients, homemade syrups and cordials. From the fruity ‘Groovy Mango,’ mixed with raspberries and sweet agave to the refreshing ‘Ginger Mint Land,’ topped with ginger ale and nettle cordial, sober guests can indulge in a choice of special alcohol-free drinks. This Booking.com Travel Sustainable hotel houses Michelin-starred restaurant, Woven, for the ultimate culinary experience, while The Barn offers a rustic brasserie-style menu with vegetarian and vegan options. Awake hangover-free and make the most of the hotel’s luxe eco spa and gym set into the side of a hill with a roof of fragrant herbs, incredible blue-lit pool featuring underwater music and mood showers. If guests can tear themselves away, hire a car and venture into the nearby town of Windsor for a Windsor Castle & St George's Chapel: Half-Day Walking Tour to learn about the regal history of this traditional part of England.
Park Hyatt Bangkok – Bangkok, Thailand
Located right in the heart of downtown Bangkok, this futuristic high-rise hotel offers a calm oasis in a prime spot above the pulsating Thai capital. Park Hyatt has everything guests could want for a rejuvenating vacation with the wow-factor, including a salt-water infinity pool, landscaped gardens and floor-to-ceiling windows. Its swanky rooftop bar, the Penthouse, serves up some of the best ‘refresher’ mocktails in the city with incredible sunset views to match. Inspired by New York glamor, the adventurous ‘East of Eden’ features popcorn foam and passionfruit, while the ‘Watermelon Cooler’ with sweet rose lemonade and cucumber syrup will help any traveler cool off in the Southeast Asian heat. For those seeking relaxation, the all-organic Pañpuri spa offers indulgent treatments, while those wanting to kickstart a fitness regime can exercise in style in the spacious gym on state-of-the-art treadmills facing the city skyline. Healthy and nourishing cuisine is also available at this Booking.com Travel Sustainable hotel which dishes up locally sourced food and offers vegan and vegetarian options. Bangkok is famed for its golden temples, floating markets and centuries-old cuisine. Travelers can explore local tastes with a Thai Cooking Class with a Local Chef that includes a visit to a market before learning how to make traditional dishes such as pad thai and green curry.
The Dylan – Amsterdam, Netherlands
Overlooking the iconic Keizersgracht canal, The Dylan is an intimate boutique hotel set back from the street in the Dutch capital. Enter through a 17th-century arch and cross a shaded courtyard to discover striking rooms designed by Remy Meijers, an innovative Dutch designer. In the chic old-world bar, guests can honor Dry January in style with one of the imaginative mocktails or alcohol-free options: the hotel’s homemade non-alcoholic gin comes highly recommended, while the ‘Five O’Clock’ laced with passion fruit, ginger and sparkling tea makes for a suitably zingy pre-dinner aperitif. The Dylan houses two fantastic restaurants, the Michelin-starred Vinkeles, and the more relaxed Bar Brasserie OCCO, where guests can tuck into crowd-pleasing dishes such as lobster, coq au vin and steak. For those making a concerted effort to eat more plant-based dishes in the new year, this Booking.com Travel Sustainable hotel also serves vegan and vegetarian options from ratatouille to ravioli. Situated around the corner from the Nine Streets, lined with stylish boutiques and bars, the hotel is just a short walk to the art exhibitions of the world-renowned Rijksmuseum. Visitors can explore more of the city courtesy of the hotel’s complimentary bikes, or on a unique Pancake Cruise, sailing past iconic landmarks while digging into unlimited pancakes with next-level toppings.
QT Melbourne – Melbourne, Australia
In the heart of the Central Business District, the QT Melbourne is an old cinema transformed into a boutique hotel with easy elegance, a buzzy rooftop bar and eye-catching artwork. Kitted out with neon sculptures, video art and a wall-display of 6,000 books, this Booking.com Travel Sustainable stay draws on local artists to display their rich talents. For those seeking a clear head, a wide selection of virgin drinks hero twists on classic cocktails at the hotel’s famous Rooftop bar that offers magnificent views of the city’s skyline. Guests can wake up and smell the coffee with a ‘Nospresso Martini,’ or indulge in a dry and fruity ‘Nogroni,’ the perfect thirst quencher. Onsite grill restaurant, Pascale, is renowned for its seasonal menus championing the finest organic produce, from lobster to steak and all cooked over ironbark, applewood and charcoal for an intense flavor. Outside of this welcoming Booking.com Travel Proud hotel, the lively bayside city of Melbourne has something to offer every traveler from beautiful beaches to an eclectic arts and culture scene. Guests are steps away from the city’s best shopping, theaters and clubs, and a short drive to the beach. To explore the surrounding coastal area, book a Full-Day Great Ocean Road and 12 Apostles Tour to experience this iconic coastal drive and the incredible sights of these 12 limestone stacks.
*Travel Predictions 2024 research commissioned by Booking.com and conducted among a sample of adults who plan to travel for business or leisure in the next 12-24 months. In total, 27,730 respondents across 33 countries and territories were polled (including 1008 from Argentina, 1012 from Australia, 505 from Austria, 1001 from Belgium, 1002 from Brazil, 1009 from Canada, 1009 from China, 1002 from Colombia, 508 from Croatia, 504 from Denmark, 1011 from France, 1011 from Germany, 1016 from Hong Kong, 1004 from India, 510 from Ireland, 504 from Israel, 1014 from Italy, 1004 from Japan, 1009 from Mexico, 1014 from The Netherlands, 1015 from New Zealand, 500 from Portugal, 502 from Singapore, 1010 from South Korea, 1009 from Spain, 502 from Sweden, 507 from Switzerland, 504 from Taiwan, 1003 from Thailand, 502 from the UAE, 1007 from the UK, 1005 from the US and 1007 from Vietnam). Respondents completed an online survey in July 2023.