Hotel bars are havens. Whether it’s a business traveler unwinding after a long day or group of locals celebrating a milestone, everyone is welcome—including those who abstain from drinking, as zero-proof cocktails have shifted from a passing trend to menu mainstays.To honor the watering holes on the top shelf, Forbes Travel Guide presents its 2026 Hotel Star Bars, which spans 18 countries, from Singapore to Scotland. To compile the second annual list, FTG’s incognito inspectors visited every hotel bar, sampling cocktails as well as food menus—always as a paying guest. The winners were determined by data from FTG’s Star Rating inspections, based on several exacting standards. To make the cut, bars had to achieve top scores for their beverage program and presentation, seamless service and an exceptional guest experience. Shanghai and Tokyo led the 2026 list, each with three winners. And five bars earned repeat recognition: Le Bar at Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li; Le Bar Américain at Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo; Le Bar Botaniste at Shangri-La Paris; Library by the Sea at Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa; and The St. Regis Bar at The St. Regis Macao. Industry giants such as Hilton Luxury and Luxury Group Marriott International dominated, with six spots apiece. But boutique hotels are also shaking things up in the cocktail world with six independent properties landing on the 2026 list. Forbes Travel Guide’s Star Bars 2026