Want the most memorable night time view in Iceland? Hope you are lucky to see the aurora borealis while staying in the middle of this fascinating island, at HOTEL RANGA. In the capital, Reykjavik, however, Girlahead recommends the just-opened rooftop bar at THE REYKJAVIK EDITION (above, photo by Nikolas Koenig) – 360° panoramic views of the Ocean, Mount Esja and the Snæfellsjökul glacier. The 250-room hotel is right next to the city’s concert and conference hall. Designed by Ian Schrager’s own team, plus T.ark and Roman & Williams, it is owned by Boston-based Carpenter & Co, which has developed many outstanding properties back home, including FOUR SEASONS DALTON STREET BOSTON (it is now working on FOUR SEASONS TURTLE CREEK in Dallas). Obviously Richard Friedman, President and CEO of Carpenter & Co, is one of the growing number who are fascinated by the nature, and future potential, of Iceland.
The city’s A-listers and other influencers will be rushing to ROSEWOOD VIENNA when it opens 1st August 2022. Rise to the sixth floor rooftop (separate elevator, straight up from ground level)). There, up there, is the all-day, inside-out Neue Hoheit restaurant-bar. What is more you can continue going up, to an above-rooftop bar, for surveying the city around – pair Louis Roederer Rosé with truffle fries. The gorgeous 99-room hotel, mostly designed by Alexander Waterworth, was formerly headquarters of its owner, Erste Bank: Girlahead adores the 16-seat Salon Aurelie afternoon tea salon, its walls a bespoke Rousseau nature garden hand-painted in situ by local artist Marie Hartig. Hotel MD Alex Lahmer, by the way, should be nicknamed Mr Style. One of the myriad of take-home memories will be the hotel’s night turndown stories, specially sourced from such local craftsmen as Markus Scher, a seventh-generation shoe maker.
In New York, THE KIMBERLY’s rooftop bar, Upstairs, is thoughtfully, in view of Manhattan’s notorious winters, supplied with retractable glass and flooring is heated. At THE RITZ-CARLTON HONG KONG’s 118th floor Ozone, by the way, architect Kohn Pederson Fox KPF have sensibly made sure no-one could fall overboard after a best-selling dragontini (martini with dragon feet). At 490 metres ASL, Ozone claims to be the world’s highest hotel bar. Sticking up for Singapore, its MARINA BAY SANDS complex could rightly claim to have the world’s largest rooftop bar: a horizontal lid atop its three adjacent 57-floor towers is long enough for a 747 to land, or would be except that there’s a goes-on-for-ever pool up there. Lap while others drink in the view.
Iconic, through and through. Time to hear thoughts from Iconic Luxury Hotels – no, there are no rooftop bars in this collection – yet.
