Ten bars you need to visit before you die

Sky Bar is on the 64th floor of the Lebua State Tower and is best known for its characteristic gold steel-and-concrete dome. This rooftop bar offers a stunning panoramic view of the Chao Phraya river and the enormous city of Bangkok. Sky Bar has made it to the top five of the world’s most unique bars on several occasions and was used as a film set for the film The Hangover Part II (2011).

Not surprisingly, the Hangovertini, made with whisky, green tea liquor, green apple juice, Martini Rosso and rosemary-infused honey, is one of the most popular cocktails on the list. lebua.com/sky-bar

Ophelia’s interior, inspired by Hong Kong’s rich and lively culture, is the brainchild of architect Ashley Sutton, who has created a surprising universe for the bar’s guests. You access the bar through an exotic-bird shop (yes, an exotic-bird shop). Once inside, you will be floored by the luxury furniture, 600,000 hand-painted tiles and state-of-the art metalwork making up the fabulous interior. But the main theme here is peacocks.

You see them everywhere in the decor, even in the smallest details, creating the ultra-luxurious feel that pervades the place. The drinks are equally colourful and exotic. The bar’s signature cocktails include the Opium Cage, a combination of Tequila Ocho Blanco, homemade watermelon syrup, rhubarb cordial and lime juice, and the Muse, which fuses Nusa Cana rum, pineapple juice, Orgeat syrup, lemon juice and cassis liqueur. ophelia.com.hk

360 Bar and Dining offers visitors a breathtaking view of the city, and because it is a revolving restaurant, you will be able to see almost every corner of Sydney without having to even get up from your table. You can start dinner with a kangaroo carpaccio while watching the sun go down, and finish with a duck confit while the lights of Sydney Harbour flicker distantly in the background. Do try out a seat at the bar, too: it’s the ideal place for a special date over an Old Fashioned, accompanied by a glorious view. 360dining.com.au

This bar is probably located at one of the most beautiful places in the world. Not only can you enjoy a perfectly served cocktail here, but you are also treated to a breathtaking view of the Adriatic. What more could you want? The Buza Bar is also rather aptly called ‘the hole in the wall’: buza means ‘hole’ in the Dubrovnik dialect, and to enter this magical place you indeed have to step through a hole in the wall. Note: the bar is open only during the spring and summer months. croatiagems.com/buza-bar/

Admire the panoramic city and sea views and dream away underneath the endless ceiling of sky and stars at AER, Mumbai’s highest bar. This modern, futuristic, open-air lounge occupies the whole roof of the Four Seasons Hotel, drawing large crowds who come to enjoy its clubby ambience and lively music. The cocktail menu leaves nothing to be desired, either, but what you really come here for is the view. A must for the more adventurous cocktail drinker is undoubtedly the Fired Up, a mix of whisky, mint, pineapple and jalapeños. fourseasons.com

Alexander’s Bar in Athens is definitely one of the best hotel bars in the world. It boasts an inviting interior, warm atmosphere and top-quality drinks. Here you will find rare single- malt whiskies, brandies and cognacs. Just reading the drinks lists is guaranteed to make your mouth water.

Fancy a cocktail instead? Then go for the bar’s signature Napoleon Select, a blend of Dubonnet Rouge, Grand Marnier, gin and fragrant essential oil from Sicilian tangerines. The origin of the venue’s name becomes immediately clear when you enter, because behind the bar hangs a rare 18th-century tapestry portraying Alexander the Great at the battle of Gaugamela. gbrestaurants.gr/en/alexanders-bar

Rock Bar has as its stage the Indian Ocean and the spectacular rock formations along the coast of Jimbaran. Guests fly to the island specifically to sample the bar’s signature cocktails and its magical ambience. They are especially fond of the martini cocktails, including the Punch Rock, Rockberry Martini and Spa on the Rock. The cocktails were designed by international bar consultant Sebastien Bonnefoi, who created them by mixing imported liqueurs with local fruit, herbs and spices. ayana.com

Located on Barcelona’s Plaça Reial, Ocaña houses a restaurant, a nightclub, and Apotheke cocktail bar, an absolutely breathtaking place that’s characterised by a passion for antiques and respect for craftsmanship. The result is a combination of various styles: old chandeliers, a wooden church floor, massive pillars and a variety of works by contemporary artists.

Impressive decor aside, in Apotheke the drinks are the stars of the night, but they share the limelight with the able bartenders. Owner Mario Grünenfelde, one of Berlin’s most famous barmen, loves to add oriental flavours to his cocktails. We suggest you ask for a Flesh & Blood, made with gin, Moroccan lavender syrup and kaffir lime leaves. ocana.cat/en/apotheke/

Beta Bar is located above Alpha, a popular Sydney restaurant. It is an initiative by the Hellenic Club, an association founded by the Australian city’s Greek community in 1924. Expect dramatic decoration, generous mezze dishes and cocktails with a hedonistic twist. Needless to say, they serve nice ouzo, and should you get hungry, you cannot go wrong with their homemade moussaka. betabarsydney.com.au