Five hotels for barflies

Looking for the best hotel bar hang-outs? Tom Henry suggests five of the very coolest

Soneva Gili, The Maldives

Order a Blue Lagoon, and then compare and contrast with the scene around you. The Over Water Bar at Soneva Gili sits over the luminescent water of the Indian Ocean, its thatched structure supported by wooden posts that plunge into a lagoon below. Lounge at the edge of the circular bar and soak up the palette of greens and blues, or pull up a chair around the central viewing aperture, where tropical fish dart beneath. Back on dry land there's also a gourmet cellar bar.

Soneva Gili by Six Senses, Lankanfushi Island, North Malé Atoll, Republic of Maldives (00 960 664 0304; www.sixsenses.com/soneva-gili). Doubles start at US$1,488 (£783), room only

Hotel Marina All Suites, Rio de Janeiro

The world's de facto party capital isn't short of places to let your hair down. But to get into the swing of things, start the evening at the Marina All Suites in the chic Leblon district. The retro Bar d'Hôtel has sea views and raspberry-coloured sofas from which to enjoy a range of fresh fruit caipirinhas. It attracts plenty of local celebrities, so booking ahead is essential.

Hotel Marina All Suites, 696 Avenida Delfim Moreira, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (00 55 21 2172 1100; www.marinaallsuites.com.br). Doubles start at 834 reais (£278), room only

Mondrian, Los Angeles

Set to fully reopen next week, Mondrian continues to attract guests and locals in droves to its hip SkyBar. It's somewhere between a chic Mexican cantina and a Hamptons beach house. But don't get the impression that the SkyBar is a place to relax – with top DJs, expect late-night parties.

Mondrian, 8440 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, US (001 323 650 8999; www.mondrianhotel.com). Doubles start at $507 (£267), room only

101 Hotel, Reykjavik

Line your stomach with Icelandic fare or sip a champagne cocktail from the bar at 101 Hotel's bar-cum-restaurant. It features modern art, perspex chairs and deep leather sofas. Gaze at the midnight sun or falling snow from the glass ceiling then retire to one of the design-led bedrooms in the former headquarters of the Social Democratic Party.

101 Hotel, Hverfisgata 10, Reykjavik, Iceland (00 354 5800 101; www.101hotel.is). Doubles start at Kr29,900 (£198), room only

The Connaught, London

Voted one of London's best bars by Time Out, the Coburg at the Connaught has set the standard for hotel bars in the capital. Its new Baroque decor is less formal than you would expect. The cocktail menu reads like a whistle-stop tour of mixology. The brand new David Collins-designed Connaught Bar further adds to the appeal.

The Connaught, Carlos Place, London W1 (020-7499 7070; www.the-connaught.co.uk). Doubles start at £358, room only