You know that feeling, when you first enter your hotel room, and it seems like a magic kingdom of accommodations, and you’re the king? Neatly tucked bed linens, egregious thread and pillow counts, and, oh yes, the snack-filled minibar. Gleaming in the corner, tucked into the wall, a world of semi-nutritious promise and $8 candy bars.
Except, in the world of modern minibars, that’s just the beginning. As outrageously courteous as it seems to provide you with half-bottles of Poland Spring and a canister of roasted nuts that costs as much as your second pair of shoes in a Payless BOGO sale, there are hotels around the world that take the small wonders of the minibar to a new level. From top shelf liquor to top shelf molecular compounds (see numbers 6 and 7) to one of the most sought-after Scotches in whisky-drinking creation, these little—and big—refrigerators aren’t stocked with amenities. They’re stocked with dreams.
The Little Nell, Aspen, Colorado – IT’S FREE
No surprise the services in the snowy playpen of the rich and famous are top notch. And no surprise the incredibly well-stocked minibar is free for the rich and famous and refreshed daily (all but alcohol, that is). Also don’t miss the Puppy Jet Lag Kit, for your flight-exhausted pooch.
Park Hyatt, New York, New York – IT’S HUGE
Some, like Little Nell, are moving toward complimentary snacks. The Park Hyatt is dialing luxury, and size, up, to the point where the “mini” is irrelevant and, in the event of a zombie apocalypse, you could probably live inside the bar for a few comfortable weeks.
The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow, Russia – IT’S TOP SHELF
Where there’s luxury in Russia, it tends to be ornate and unceasing. No surprise then that accommodations at the Ritz-Carlton in Moscow include a minibar with Remy Martin Cognac, Piper-Heidsieck Champagne, and Macallan 12-Year (also in convenient mini-bottles). You’d have to live in this gilt wonderland for a good week (or a wild few nights) to even put a dent in the mini bar.
The Andaz, Tokyo, Japan – THERE’S JAPANESE WHISKY
Considering it’s been voted the best whisky in the world, at least by one frequent imbiber, the Japanese whisky (Hibiki 12-Year and Hakushu Single Malt) might be enough of a draw (though non-alcoholic drinks from the minibar are free, another plus). Sip meticulously crafted whisky in the peace of meticulously crafted Japanese aesthetic minimalism. ‘Cuz you’re a calm baller like that.
XV Beacon, Boston, Massachusetts – THERE’S DETOX SPRAY
If Boston’s XV Beacon helps intoxicate with double-digit mini bottles of Appleton Estate rum and Glenlivet, it can at least help your room detox. $24 bottles of City Life Detoxer from a company called Sprayology supposedly helps clear the air. (Considering the contents of the minibar, we think they should’ve included the Party Life detoxer, too.)
Banyan Tree Ringha, Jian Tang Town, Yunnan, China – OXYGEN
If your hotel is located in Shangri-La, in lush mystery high in the Tibetan Himalayas, your minibar is likely to go well beyond the Pringles and Diet Coke experience. Fortunately, they’re not just thinking about what you’ll be drinking high up in the mountains, but how you’ll be breathing— hence complimentary oxygen canisters that should keep your mindfulness well-oxygenated.
Trump International, Chicago, Illinois – WATER (YES)
If you’re looking for that sort of thing, the Trump International in Chicago has a “water library” in its minibar. It’s just listed as “Water Library” under Amenities, but it includes four kinds of special water from around the world: 420 from New Zealand, Tasmanian Rain, Welsh Tau, and Bling H20, complete with not-over-the-top Swarovski crystals.
The Levin Hotel, London, England – PORT ELLEN…?
Yes, there’s the Egyptian cotton and in-room Champagne minibar, with recipes to guide you through mixing peach juice and bubbly, but what we’re interested in is the “honesty bar” downstairs. Presumably you pour, and pay, on the honor code. And considering there’s a bottle of Port Ellen in this picture, we’re hoping the British concept of honesty has some lenience.
