Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel for adults 50+, is unveiling two new civil rights programs in New Orleans and Mississippi & Tennessee.
Road Scholar’s inaugural Civil Rights Movement program in Alabama and Georgia has consistently been one of their most popular and impactful programs since its release in 2017. Nearly 550 travelers attended the program last year, and it frequently elicits reviews that include the word “life-changing.”
“I cannot overstate the richness of this experience,” said 2024 participant Analee from South Deerfield, Mass. “The people we met, the experts who taught us, the museums and sites we visited— they all were life-changing (no hyperbole!). History became real, and I am dedicated to learning more and living my life anew with the lessons learned.”
The nonprofit organization hopes these new programs in New Orleans, Jackson, Memphis, and Nashville will help broaden their educational programming on the civil rights history in the U.S., leaving as much of a meaningful mark on participants as the program in Georgia and Alabama.
“This program was created to connect people with the living history of the Civil Rights Movement across Jackson, Memphis, and Nashville— places where ordinary individuals made extraordinary choices that helped shape our nation,” said Bobbie Duncan from the Center for Educational Adventure, which partners with Road Scholar to organize and operate the program. “By exploring these communities and hearing the stories rooted there, we hope participants leave with a deeper appreciation of the movement’s complexity, the courage it required, and a renewed sense of how its lessons about justice, dignity, and collective action still matter today.”
New Orleans is already one of Road Scholar’s most popular destinations, with participants visiting the Crescent City on any of 10 different programs. The new civil rights program takes an even deeper look at the city’s story beyond what most travelers see.
“A civil rights and jazz program in New Orleans offers a powerful new way to experience the city by connecting two of its most influential legacies,” said Lindsey Temple, Program Operations Director at Road Scolar. “From the fight for equality to the birth of America’s most iconic musical tradition, these stories bring New Orleans to life in a meaningful and immersive way. This focused program allows travelers to engage with the people, places, and history that shaped the city’s cultural identity, offering an experience that is both educational and unforgettable.”
Road Scholar’s first departures are scheduled in May 2027 in honor of the 10th anniversary of their inaugural Civil Rights Movement program “The Civil Rights Movement: Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham.” Both programs are currently open for enrollment, as well as future dates of the original program in Alabama and Georgia.
Road Scholar is the not-for-profit world leader in educational travel for older adults. Founded as Elderhostel in 1975, Road Scholar has served more than 6.5 million lifelong learners over the past 50 years. With educational adventures hosted by expert faculty in nearly 100 countries and throughout the United States, Road Scholar truly is a university of the world. Learn more at www.roadscholar.org.
The National Archives Foundation is hosting the Spirit of Independence Festival, a spectacular multi-day festival taking place from June 4-6, 2026 on Constitution Avenue to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Hosted beneath a tent spanning two city blocks in front of the National Archives—the home of the original Declaration of Independence—the Spirit of Independence Festival will include free daytime events for families and three evening benefit events to support the National Archives Foundation and its effort to engage the American public with our nation’s history.
From free daytime programming like a patriotic pet “yappy hour” to a “Stars and Stories” Fest with Disney characters, there’s something for everyone to enjoy throughout the multi-day festival. See the full lineup of events and find more details here.
Reserve free tickets to daytime programming and purchase individual tickets to select evening programs. Guests who reserve tickets online will receive complimentary access to the National Archives Museum.
Glen Cove, N.Y.— Congressman Tom Suozzi (D–Long Island, Queens) announced the introduction of the Washington Spy Ring National Historic Trail Designation Act, legislation that would designate a new National Historic Trail highlighting the crucial role Long Island played in securing America’s independence. He leads this bipartisan bill alongside his Long Island colleague, Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Long Island).
The proposed trail would span approximately 50 miles along the north short of Long Island and Queens, from Little Neck to Port Jefferson, connecting key sites used by the legendary Culper Spy Ring during the American Revolution.
“The story of the Culper Spy Ring is one of courage and patriotism played out right here on Long Island,” said Congressman Suozzi. “As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, it’s incumbent upon us to honor the brave men and women who risked everything for freedom, especially those whose heroism took place in our backyard. By establishing this National Historic Trail, we honor their legacy, preserve our history, and take great pride in Long Island’s role in American independence.”
“As America approaches its 250th birthday, Congress should recognize that without the Culper Spy Ring, General George Washington may never have turned the tide of the Revolution and set the United States on the path to becoming the greatest nation in the world,” said Congressman LaLota.
The Culper Spy Ring, a network of American patriots operating behind enemy lines, gathered intelligence on British troop movements in New York, helped expose traitor Benedict Arnold’s plot to surrender West Point to the British, helped protect the vital alliance between American and French forces, and otherwise transferred information to General George Washington across the Long Island Sound.
Key sites along the proposed trail include Raynham Hall in Oyster Bay, the Arsenal in Huntington, and the Brewster House in Setauket.
The legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior to work in partnership with local stakeholders to develop and administer the trail, ensuring public access and historical preservation.
The Washington Spy Ring National Historic Trail would join the National Trails System, a network that promotes historic preservation, outdoor recreation, and heritage tourism across the United States.
“This designation tells the story of how Long Island helped shape the future of our nation,” Suozzi stated. “This is a proud, bipartisan celebration of both our country and our community.”
Discover Long Island’s Long Island Heritage Trail
Meanwhile, you can explore the Culper Spy Trail and Long Island Heritage Trail on your own. Discover Long Island, the regional destination marketing organization, offers a four-day itinerary.
Although it was largely occupied by the British during the Revolutionary War, there were many brave Patriots who risked their lives in the Washington Spy Ring to get George Washington the information he needed to win the war.
Stretching along Long Island’s North Shore is Route 25A, also known as the Long Island Heritage Trail. President George Washington traveled this same route in a 1790 horse-drawn carriage tour on a mission to thank his Long Island Revolutionary War supporters and the ‘Culper Spy Ring’ for their help in winning the American Revolution. Among the sites to visit are Raynham Hall in Oyster Bay, where the Townsends became part of the Washington Spy Ring; TheArsenalin Huntington, where Job Sammis hid stores of gunpowder in his attic during the onset of the British occupation; the Conklin House where Sybil Conklin lived and worked here while her husband, David was held prisoner by the British during the Revolutionary War; in Lloyd Harbor, the British occupied Joseph Lloyd Manor,and the Brewster House in Stony Brook where American Patriot Caleb Brewster spied on British soldiers during the Revolutionary War.
See where the British had a garrison quartered where the Battle of Setauket was fought near the Setauket Presbyterian Church on Caroline Ave. Nearby on Dyke Rd is the Woodhull Home marker, and go down Strongs Neck Rd., where Anna Smith Strong and Abraham Woodhull lived. Stop in at the Thompson House to see some of the spies’ names in the doctor’s book. In East Setauket, Sherwood-Jayne Farm was the home of Loyalist William Jayne, also known as “Big Bill the Tory”.
Make sure to visit the Three Village Historical Society to see exhibits on the ‘Spy Ring’ and to find out about special events and tours.
Stony Brook University Library’s Special Collections has two original Culper Spy Ring letters from General Washington to his Long Island spymaster. Make an appointment to learn more.
On the South Shore, be sure to visit Sagtikos Manor in Bay Shore, built in 1697. British forces occupied the Manor briefly during the Revolutionary War. President George Washington stayed here during his tour of Long Island in 1790.
This year’s schedules of the member historic sailing vessels of the Maine Windjammer Association include two historic voyages on two of the windjammers to New York City and Boston to participate in celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary.
Among the international fleet of tall ships gathering for NYC’s Sail4th 250 and Boston’s SailBoston 2026 festivities will be two members of the Maine Windjammer Association fleet: Windjammer ANGELIQUE and the Schooner AMERICAN EAGLE. Both plan to participate in the Parades of Sail with tall ships from around the globe.
ANGELIQUE and AMERICAN EAGLE are each offering two trips in conjunction with the event, one 10 or 11-day trip down culminating in NYC’s festivities and one 9 or 10-day trip back that includes SailBoston 2026 and ends in Maine. Guests aboard these special voyages will sail the East Coast the traditional way, anchoring in snug harbors along the way as the vessels make their way between Maine, New York, and Boston.
It’s rare for the Windjammers to leave New England waters. Neither has been to NYC since the rededication of the Statue of Liberty in 1986. Nearly 40 years later, they’ll once again join a fleet of tall ships from around the world to celebrate this important milestone in the nation’s history. We’re delighted to have them there representing Maine’s sailing heritage on a national stage.
All member vessels are individually-owned and -operated. Cruises can be booked directly with the Windjammer via their website or by giving them a call.
Request a packet of brochures (https://www.mainewindjammerfleet.com/brochure-request/) that includes the sailing schedules of all nine vessels of the Maine Windjammer Association; meet the fleet, https://www.mainewindjammerfleet.com/fleet/.
Chicago — Griffin Museum of Science and Industry will be the Midwest host of Anne Frank The Exhibition. A presentation of the Anne Frank House, the exhibition features a pioneering experience outside of Amsterdam to immerse visitors in a full-scale, fully furnished recreation of the Annex rooms where Anne Frank, her parents and sister and four other Jewish refugees spent two years hiding to evade Nazi capture. Anne Frank The Exhibition opens May 1, 2026.
“Anne Frank’s story is a powerful reminder of what happens when fear and hatred are allowed to take root,” said Dr. Chevy Humphrey, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry President and CEO. “At the same time, it reveals the quiet but enduring strength of curiosity, creativity and resilience, values that sit at the heart of our mission. We hope this exhibition offers meaningful moments of reflection for our guests, particularly young people, and encourages them to think critically about their role in the world they are inheriting.”
“Anne Frank The Exhibition is a call to conscience, said Ronald Leopold, Executive Director of the Anne Frank House. “By stepping into the world that confined Anne and her family, visitors are invited to confront the enduring realities of antisemitism, racism and hatred — and to recognize that remembrance is not passive, but a moral act that demands empathy, vigilance and courage. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, founded through Julius Rosenwald’s conviction that knowledge must belong to everyone, embodies this same spirit of moral responsibility. Just as Rosenwald believed education is humanity’s greatest equalizer, this exhibition transforms history into living dialogue, ensuring that learning, understanding and compassion are never the privilege of a few, but the right of all.”
The exhibition follows an inaugural run in New York City at the Center for Jewish History, attended by 300,000, with several extensions due to popularity and dates that sold out.
Anne Frank The Exhibition immerses visitors in the context that shaped Anne’s life, from her early years in Frankfurt through the rise of the Nazi regime. It traces her family’s phased move to Amsterdam in the early 1930s, where Anne lived for ten years until her arrest in 1944. Visitors also follow her deportation to Westerbork, a large transit camp in the Netherlands, then to Auschwitz-Birkenau, a concentration camp and killing center in Nazi-occupied Poland, and eventually to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany, where she died at the age of 15.
In addition to the recreated Annex, Anne Frank The Exhibition provides an opportunity to learn about Anne Frank not as a victim but through the multifaceted lens of her life — as a girl, a writer and a symbol of resilience and strength. This is a story inspired by one of the most translated books in the world.
The Chicago exhibition includes more than 130 original artifacts from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam — many have never been seen before in public. Some of those artifacts include letters from Anne Frank, Margot Frank, Otto Frank and Fritz Pfeffer; a “List of Returned Jews Arriving at Amsterdam Central Station” in 1945; Anne Frank’s first photo album (1929-1942); handwritten verses by Anne Frank and Margot Frank in their friends’ poetry albums; and a German fairytale book that belonged to Margot Frank and Anne Frank (1925).
Celebrated for its unprecedented intimacy and depth, Anne Frank The Exhibition originally premiered in New York City on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Griffin MSI will offer this exhibition for free to all field trip groups, alongside the Museum’s ongoing policy of free General Admission to Illinois field trip groups, to make this important educational experience available to more people. All children in these groups also will receive a journal to write in to reflect on Anne’s words and consider the power of their own.
The exhibition is supported by age-appropriate educational resources and an antisemitism curriculum developed by the Anne Frank House and the Anne Frank Center at the University of South Carolina. These materials help students understand the history and ongoing reality of antisemitism and hatred while fostering critical thinking, empathy and civic responsibility through meaningful classroom conversations. Educators can access the curriculum — aligned with standards adopted by 39 states — through the exhibition website.
The exhibition is designed for children (ages 10 and older) and adults. All tickets include the exhibition audio guide in English and Spanish.
Leading the creative vision for the expanded exhibition in Chicago is Tom Brink, Head of Collections & Presentations at the Anne Frank House and curator of Anne Frank The Exhibition. Michael S. Glickman, CEO of jMUSE, advised the Anne Frank House, with exhibition design by Eric Goossens Ontwerpt. Dr. Doyle Stevick, Executive Director of The Anne Frank Center at the University of South Carolina — the Anne Frank House’s official U.S. partner — is the educational advisor.
The exhibition is presented at Griffin MSI with support from Lead Benefactor Tony and Laura Davis, Presenting Benefactor Crown Family Philanthropies, Premier Sponsors Zell Family, Patron Sponsors Cari and Michael J. Sacks and GCM Grosvenor, the Estate of Judith Marx Golub, Jewish United Fund, Michael and Tanya Polsky and John and Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Foundation, with supporting gifts from Neil Book, Chicago Bulls Charities and Rich and Vanessa Copans.
The exhibition was originally developed — and will travel nationally — through the leadership and support of Leon Levy Foundation, David Berg Foundation, Bank of America, Rebecca and Jared Cohen, Gray Foundation, Stacey and Eric Mindich, The Fuhrman Family Foundation, The Koum Family Foundation, Merryl and James Tisch and UJA-Federation of New York. Major support for the exhibition was also provided by Debbie and Mark Attanasio, Tanya and Ryan Baker, Einstein Astrof Foundation, Jesselson Foundation, Pershing Square Philanthropies, Sara Naison-Tarajano, The Barbra Streisand Foundation, The Krupp Foundation and Anonymous. Pro bono legal services provided by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.
The Anne Frank House was established in 1957 in cooperation with Otto Frank, Anne Frank’s father, as an independent nonprofit organization entrusted with the preservation of the Annex where Anne Frank and her family went into hiding in 1942 during the Second World War. For nearly seven decades, the Anne Frank House has served as a place of memory and a place of learning. Committed to bringing Anne’s life story to world audiences, the Anne Frank House has emerged as a primary resource for teaching and learning about the Holocaust. Through Anne’s legacy the Anne Frank House empowers people of all ages — and especially young people — to reflect on the dangers of antisemitism, racism, and discrimination and the importance of freedom, equal rights, and democracy.
The Annex
In July 1942, Anne Frank (13), her parents, Otto and Edith Frank, and her sister, Margo Frank (16), went into hiding in the Annex at the back of her father’s company. The Van Pels family (Hermann, Auguste, and their 15-year-old son, Peter) followed the next week. Four months later, they were joined by Fritz Pfeffer. All of them were Jews daring to escape certain death at the hands of the Nazis amid the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II. Unable to go to school, largely cut off from the rest of the world, and trapped in close quarters with others while a war raged outside, Anne poured herself into her diary. The people in hiding in the Annex were discovered and arrested in 1944, and subsequently sent to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp. Anne and her sister Margot were then sent to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where they both died of typhus in February 1945. Anne was 15. Margot was 18 or 19. Otto Frank was the only person from the Annex to survive the Holocaust.
The Diary
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, more commonly known as The Diary of Anne Frank, is one of the most translated books in the world. Transformed multiple times for stage and screen, the published book’s source is the personal diary that Anne Frank kept in multiple notebooks during the two-year period of hiding with her family in rooms located in the back house of her father’s company in Amsterdam. Soon after Anne and the others were arrested in 1944, Miep Gies, one of the people who risked their lives to help them in hiding, returned to the Annex and found their belongings ransacked. Miep was relieved to find Anne’s diary pages, knowing how important her writings were to her, and saved them for her return. Otto was the only person from the Annex to survive the Holocaust. When Miep first gave him his daughter’s diary, he could not bring himself to read it. Soon, he did and he could not stop, sharing it with relatives and friends who encouraged him to publish what they considered “an important human document.” Upon its publication, Otto Frank wrote: “How proud Anne would have been if she had lived to see this. After all, on 29 March 1944, she wrote: ‘Imagine how interesting it would be if I published a novel about the Secret Annex.'”
Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (Griffin MSI) offers world-class and uniquely interactive experiences that support the Museum’s mission: to inspire the inventive genius in everyone. For more information, visit griffinmsi.org or call 773-684-1414.
A free immersive walking tour in downtown Manhattan reframes New York as the heart of the American Revolution – set in the Assassin’s Creed® universe
July 1776, “La Destruction de la Statue Royale a Nouvelle Yorck”, published in Paris. When General Washington’s troops heard about the Declaration of Independence, they pulled down the statue of George III at New York’s Bowling Green. The print is part of “Declaring the Revolution: America’s Printed Path to Independence,” New York Historical’s first in series of exhibits focused on the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. On view through April 12, 2026.
New York, NY –NYC Revolutionary Trail: Echoes of Revolution , a free, mobile, geo-located immersive, self-guided 90-minute walking tour, will launch in June 2026 to celebrate America’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
Founded by The Gotham Center for NYC History at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, the multimedia walking tour in downtown Manhattan reframes New York at the heart of the American Revolution. Partnering with Video Game Publisher Ubisoft and Creative Technology Studio Sugar Creative, Echoes of Revolution uses augmented reality to place visitors inside Revolutionary-era New York, including characters, ships, and streets recreated from Ubisoft Inc.’s Assassin’s Creed’s universe.
Echoes of Revolution is a new version of Gotham’s original NYC Revolutionary Trail App and will also partner with the Museum of the City of New York for the upcoming exhibit, “The Occupied City,” to ring in New York’s 250th celebration.
“While Boston and Philadelphia often dominate the conversation about America’s Revolution, New York was at the center of events surrounding Independence and the City’s history is often overlooked. The war literally began and ended in the city, from the earliest major battle – the largest and most important of the war – to the British evacuation,” said Peter-Christian Aigner, Co-Founder of NYC Revolutionary Trail and Director of the Gotham Center for New York City History at The Graduate Center, City University of New York. “Our goal is to correct this misunderstanding and reframe New York as the city at the heart of the American Revolution. We are thrilled to partner with Ubisoft and Sugar Creative to launch NYC Revolutionary Trail and bring history to life in a compelling, immersive and interactive way that will attract a new generation of history fans.”
Starting at the Battery and ending at Federal Hall via Bowling Green, Wall Street, and other pivotal sites, the 90-minute, 3-mile walking tour will transport visitors back in time on a journey throughout lower Manhattan, where they will relive pivotal historical moments from the founding of the United States, uncover the stories that shaped the nation’s beginnings in the actual locations where they took place, and have a close-up experience of the “city at the heart of the Revolution,” with each stop providing audio narration with site information, character profiles, videos and links to Center’s Library.
The Trail will incorporate cutting-edge AR and geolocation technology alongside exclusive historical environments and character assets from the Assassin’s Creed universe, allowing visitors to explore a digitally reconstructed colonial New York layered directly onto today’s streets.
“Ubisoft is excited about using the worlds of Assassin’s Creed III and Assassin’s Creed Rogue to bring key moments of the American Revolution to life for visitors exploring the streets of New York City,” said Amy Jenkins-Le Guerroué, Strategic Alliances Director at Ubisoft.
“Echoes of Revolution brings Revolutionary-era history to life in New York City in a way that no single museum or statue can by connecting people physically to the stories and places where history actually unfolded,” said Will Humphrey, Creative Director of Cardiff-based Sugar Creative Labs.
“The Freedom Trail that many of us visited on school trips as kids helped redefine Boston’s place in the story of the American Revolution,” said Ted Knudsen, Co-Founder of the NYC Revolutionary Trail and Professor of History at CUNY Queens College. “By connecting nationally significant sites through a simple, accessible walking route, it became a beloved tradition for families, students, locals, and visitors—and permanently put Boston on the historical map. Our goal is to do the same for New York. As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, we’re inviting New Yorkers and visitors alike to rediscover the city’s central role in the founding of the United States.”
In addition, as part of NYC Revolutionary Trail, The Gotham Center offers an online classroom featuring short, standard-aligned lesson modules for middle school, high school, and college students nationwide.
Echoes of Revolution was made possible by support from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, the Leon Levy Foundation, the Achelis-Bodman Foundation, Creative Wales and Media Cymru through UK Research and Innovation’s Strength in Places Fund (SIPF) and New York’s Downtown Alliance.
More details of New York City Revolutionary Trail will be announced in the coming weeks.
In Perthshire, Scotland, The Earl and Countess of Mansfield welcome you to 19th-century Scone Palace, the crowning palace of 42 Scottish kings including Macbeth, Robert the Bruce, and Charles II. Scone Palace is home to an outstanding collection of antiques, paintings, and rare artifacts (photo provided by HeritageExplore)
(LONDON, United Kingdom)With Bridgerton-inspired travel having a major moment, HeritageXplore Luxe is launching three intimate, small-group journeys through England and Scotland that open the doors to privately owned castles and aristocratic estates. Hosted by the families who have owned these properties for generations, the small-group tours invite travelers to enjoy their own stately experience through rare access, elegant accommodation inside castle walls, and behind-the-scenes tours.
Arranged exclusively by HeritageXplore Luxe, the two England programs provide privileged access to five castles and six estates, their grounds, and the surrounding areas. The Scotland experience travels to six castles. Each program includes private chauffeured luxury transportation; meals hosted by resident Dukes, Duchesses, or Lords and Ladies; tours conducted by the estate owners; and overnight stays in the castles and estates. Meals are elegant affairs, with some designed as casual chic and others requiring cocktail or black-tie attire.
England’s Abbeys, Halls & Castles – April 27-May 1, 2026
Located across the East Midlands and North West England, and exclusive to HeritageXplore Luxe, England’s Abbeys, Halls & Castles program visits castles, halls, and the ducal seats of the region. Led by Viscountess Violet Garnock (née Lady Violet Manners), the eldest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, and conducted by stewards or owners of the properties, the experience visits five of Britain’s grandest country estates. Accommodations in the castles and a nearby hotel, tours, and dining in castle state rooms are featured.
The visit begins at Hatfield House & Park in Hertfordshire, dating from 1607, whose artifacts include the signed death warrant of Mary Tudor, penned by Elizabeth I. A second stop at Belvoir Castle features a tour of the castle’s manicured gardens on a site that has roots back to the Norman Conquest, followed by a visit in Lincolnshire to the final masterpiece of Sir John Vanbrugh, 13th-century Grimsthorpe Castle, to view the castle’s art collection and one of the largest assortments of royal thrones and furnishings outside of the Royal Palace.
The next stop is medieval Haddon Hall in Derbyshire, one of England’s oldest historic houses and parklands. The final day leads to Combermere Abbey, originally a Cistercian monastery founded in 1133 and dissolved by Henry VIII in 1536, and now a private residence.
The five-day/four-night travel-through-history experience is priced beginning at £8,500 per person, based on double occupancy ($11,600 USD at the time of this writing). International flights are not included.
The Great Estates of Norfolk – May 26-29, 2026
Set in Norfolk and neighboring Suffolk in England’s eastern countryside, The Great Estates of Norfolk opens the doors to six esteemed, private estates across a region noted for its landscaped parklands and proximity to the North Sea coast.
Perfectly timed to allow an optional pre-tour to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London, the tour begins at Euston Hall, the ancestral seat of the Duke and Duchess of Grafton in Suffolk. In this setting dating from the 1660s, you’ll visit the home and parkland of the current Duke, a descendant of Charles II of England. Amidst the private collections of Royal Stuart portraitures, you’ll enjoy two dinners hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Grafton and two nights’ accommodation.
The second day takes you to Elveden Hall, an architectural wonder owned by the Guinness family. Through exclusive arrangement by HeritageXplore Luxe, guests have a privileged look at the estate’s distinctive fusion of English country house, Italian design, and Indian palace – it was once home to the exiled Maharajah Duleep Singh – and its exceptional Marble Hall.
Guests will also visit Houghton Hall, a magnificent Palladian structure built in the 1720s for Britain’s first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole. A tour of the estate’s celebrated Walled Garden and State Rooms is followed by a cocktail reception on the West Front balcony overlooking the sculpture park. An additional stop includes an exclusive house and garden tour, an owner-hosted lunch, and evening accommodations at Sennowe Park, an Edwardian country estate and now a private residence.
The program finale is at refined Wolterton Hall, the former Palladian-style “Power House” residence of Sir Robert Walpole, concluding with a visit and private lunch at Holkham Hall, Thomas Coke’s Palladian-designed country house with its extensive art collection, William Kent-designed parklands, and sweeping coastal vistas.
The four-day/three-night travel-through-history experience is priced beginning at £9,500 per person ($13,000 USD at the time of this writing) based on double occupancy. International flights are not included.
HeritageXplore Luxe can arrange privileged access to the Chelsea Flower Show and accommodations at Claridge’s for an additional charge.
Castles of Scotland – July 31- August 4, 2026
Traveling through central Scotland and the eastern Highlands, the Castles of Scotland program meanders through the country’s heartland, an area dotted with ancient castles with sweeping Highland vistas and stately homes. The program is led by Viscountess Violet Garnock (née Lady Violet Manners), the eldest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland. Privileged guests will enjoy the hospitality of Scotland’s illustrious noble families at their historic homes.
In Perthshire, The Earl and Countess of Mansfield welcome you to 19th-century Scone Palace, the crowning palace of 42 Scottish kings including Macbeth, Robert the Bruce, and Charles II. Scone Palace is home to an outstanding collection of antiques, paintings, and rare artifacts. The Earl and Countess of Rosebery are your hosts at Barnbougle Castle, a heritage site dating to the 13th century on the shore of the Firth of Forth.
The Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne show off the distinctive design details of Glamis Castle in Angus, an architectural masterpiece from 1372 and the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Here, to further your immersion in Scottish country life, the option of clay pigeon shooting on the estate is offered.
Other visits include lunch at House of Bruar, the renowned country emporium, and an after-hours visit to Blair Castle, reflecting Medieval, Georgian and Victorian eras, where guests can view archival treasures before a private Champagne reception. A wine or whisky tasting of your choosing concludes the evening. The final day and celebration take place at Barnbougle Castle.
The four-day/three-night travel-through-history experience is priced beginning at £9,500 per person ($13,000 USD at the time of this writing) based on double occupancy. International flights are not included.
HeritageXplore Luxe can arrange privileged access to the Edinburgh International Festival for an additional charge.
HeritageXplore Luxe invites you inside the United Kingdom’s most remarkable private homes, not as a visitor, but as a personal guest of the families who have lived there for generations.
Three times a year, small groups of culturally curious travelers are welcomed for immersive heritage experiences. These are set departures for those drawn to history, interiors, gardens and the enduring charm of the UK’s country houses.
Days are spent exploring the house and estate alongside your hosts, the families who know every room, portrait and story intimately. Evenings unfold over candlelit dinners in state dining rooms — black-tie affairs where conversation flows as freely as the wine.
HeritageXplore is the UK’s dedicated platform for discovering and booking visits to the country’s most exceptional privately owned historic houses. Beyond traditional day trips, we connect you to Britain’s most imaginative heritage experiences — candlelit comedy evenings, contemporary art exhibitions, supper clubs, and behind-the-scenes access that bring these remarkable houses to life.
For those seeking deeper access, The HeritageX Club offers exclusive benefits: discounts on stays at unique estate properties, plus a monthly newsletter filled with insider stories and the best of what’s on across Britain’s heritage scene.
New York, NY—The New York Historical’s new exhibit, The Gay Harlem Renaissance, examines the Black LGBTQ+ artists, writers, and performers central to the Harlem Renaissance and everyday Black gay life in the early 20th century. Marking the centennial of The New Negro—the landmark 1925 anthology edited by Alain Locke—the exhibition traces the queer creativity, friendship circles, and mentorships that flourished in Harlem’s salons, social clubs, and thriving nightlife and that helped power the Harlem Renaissance.
This may well be the first exhibition to explore the Harlem Renaissance through a LGBTQ+ lens. “The Gay Harlem Renaissance” is on view through March 8, 2026.
As Harlem grew into the nation’s largest Black metropolis after the First World War, Black Southern and Caribbean migrants, activists, and creatives transformed the neighborhood into a nexus of political activism, creative expression, and community life. Many of Harlem’s most celebrated poets, novelists, and artists were gay or bisexual (some discreetly and others openly); and many of the preeminent blues singers performing in nightclubs and basement speakeasies were lesbian, bisexual, or transmasculine.
Gladys Bentley is featured in New York Historical’s “Gay Harlem Renaissance” (unidentified photographer, 1946-1949. Gelatin silver print. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture)
Whether on Harlem’s biggest stages or in its nightclubs or hidden speakeasies, LGBTQ+ performers took center stage. Together they helped shape the cultural innovation that defined the era. Amid this cultural convergence, queer and straight artists formed close-knit circles—living together, mentoring one another, and exchanging ideas that shaped the future of Black art and culture. Their creative tensions—whether over how openly to depict same-sex desire or the so-called “unrespectable” venues of Harlem’s nightlife—helped shape the bold, expansive spirit of the Harlem Renaissance.
“The Gay Harlem Renaissance provides a sweeping portrait of Harlem after the First World War, when a remarkable generation of Black artists, thinkers, and performers—many of them members of the LGBTQ+ community—shaped a new cultural vanguard,” said Dr. Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of The New York Historical. “We hope that this show will invite visitors to consider how intimate friendships, chosen families, and radical ideas about identity helped define the Harlem Renaissance and continue to resonate today.”
“The Gay Harlem Renaissance shows that Black LGBTQ+ life was far more visible, accepted, and integrated into the daily life of 1920s Harlem than most people imagine,” said George Chauncey, the exhibition’s chief historian, a Columbia history professor who is the author of Gay New York, 1890-1940. “The exhibition takes visitors to the basement speakeasies, rent parties, and drag balls where ordinary queer and straight people built lives together, as well as to the salons of the cultural elite.”
Featuring more than 200 objects, The Gay Harlem Renaissance unites painting, sculpture, artifacts, documents, photographs, books, and music from collections across the country and celebrates the creativity, innovation, and resilience of Black LGBTQ+ Harlemites.
Highlights of the exhibition include:
Employment of the Negro in Agriculture, a 1934 painting by Earle Richardson, on loan from Howard University, honors the resilience of African American agricultural laborers within the oppression of the Jim Crow system.
Color, the 1925 first edition of Countee Cullen’s first book of poetry, published when he was 22. Countee Cullen found a champion and mentor in Alain Locke, who included his poetry in The New Negro and helped Cullen accept his sexuality.
Gelatin silver print of Gladys Bentley, circa 1927-45. Taunted as a child for her unfeminine demeanor, the transmasculine performer Gladys Bentley became a star in Harlem, singing and playing piano all night at rent parties and popular nightclubs. Her signature white tuxedo and top hat have become icons of queer self-expression on and off the stage.
Rent party tickets. Throwing apartment parties with a small cover charge in exchange for entertainment and lively company helped working-class residents pay the rent. The fact that LGBTQ+ Harlemites could dance and flirt with people of the same sex at such parties was a powerful sign of their acceptance among Harlem’s working-class residents.
Meditation and Music, a 1925 watercolor by Aaron Douglas. Influenced by the work of Alain Locke, Douglas moved to Harlem, where he illustrated some of the most famous books and magazines of the Harlem Renaissance. While Douglas was not gay, he was close to many Black queer artists and moved in their social circles.
Sculptures by Richmond Barthé, whose artworks chart his movement through interracial and transatlantic gay social circles. His subjects included the popular singer and nightclub owner Jimmie Daniels and the queer Senegalese dancer François “Féral” Benga, whom he met in Paris.
1939 issue of The Crisis magazine. Black publications experienced tremendous growth in readership, circulation, and influence during the interwar years. The Black press provided coverage of the vibrant political, cultural, and social life in Harlem and beyond.
Photographs by Morgan Smith and Marvin Smith created an extraordinary documentary record of the Harlem community from the 1930s to 1950s. Their work captured Black joy and struggle alike. They came to know most of the pioneering figures of the Harlem Renaissance as well as rising talent.
Recordings of blues songs with queer themes by singers such as Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, and Ethel Waters, as well as specially created audio recordings of poetry by Langston Hughes and other poets, as well as a passage from Nella Larsen’s novel, Passing.
Recreation of the prize-winning gown worn by Bonnie Clark at the 1932 Hamilton Lodge Ball, the largest drag ball on the East Coast, which was held every February in Harlem’s Rockland Palace.
Harlem Diner, a 1938 painting by Jacob Lawrence, depicting five Black figures with downturned expressions gathered in a Harlem diner, facing the struggles of daily life. During the Great Depression, Harlemites faced mass unemployment, overcrowding, and persistent racial discrimination.
The exhibition is curated by lead curator Allison Robinson, associate curator of history exhibitions; with Anne Lessy, assistant curator of history exhibitions and academic engagement; with Rebecca Klassen, curator of material culture and decorative arts, contributing; and with George Chauncey, author of Gay New York and DeWitt Clinton Professor of American History at Columbia University, as chief historian.
Programming: A family guide for young visitors to the exhibition will be available. Living History programs focused on Gladys Bentley will also take place at a future date. Visit the family calendar for details. Private group tours can also be arranged throughout the exhibition.
Lead support for The Gay Harlem Renaissance is provided by the Mellon Foundation. Important support is provided by Pamela and David Hornik. Exhibitions at The New York Historical are made possible by Dr. Agnes Hsu-Tang and Oscar Tang, the Saunders Trust for American History, the Evelyn & Seymour Neuman Fund, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. WNET is the media sponsor.
New York’s first museum, The New York Historical is a leading cultural institution covering over 400 years of American history. Offerings span groundbreaking exhibitions; peerless collections of art, documents, and artifacts; acclaimed educational programs for teachers and students nationwide; and thought-provoking conversations among leading scholars, journalists, and thinkers about the past, present, and future of the American experiment. The New York Historical is a museum of museums and a collection of collections and home to the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, the Center for Women’s History, the DiMenna Children’s History Museum, and the future American LGBTQ+ Museum. “We elevate the perspectives and scholarship that define the United States’ democratic heritage and challenge us all to shape our ongoing history for the better.”
The New York Historical, 170 Central Park West (77th Street), New York, NY 10024, 212-873-3400, nyhistory.org.
New York —Encouraged by unprecedented demand, the Anne Frank House announced the second and final extension of its world premiere presentation of Anne Frank The Exhibition in New York City at the Center for Jewish History. The exhibition will remain open through February 1, 2026, before moving to the next U.S. city.
During this final extension of Anne Frank The Exhibition in New York, organizers are providing complimentary admission on several select dates, opening the doors to even more visitors to remember and reflect on Anne’s legacy. Special access days provide complimentary admission for two adults and up to four children, as noted below.
“It has become powerfully evident since the opening of this exhibition that people from every walk of life feel a deep, urgent need to connect with Anne’s story and confront the realities of the Holocaust firsthand. The reflections and courageous conversations sparked by every visitor have shown how this exhibition has a role in challenging hate,” said Ronald Leopold, Executive Director of the Anne Frank House. “Our responsibility to honor Anne’s legacy grows stronger each day. Extending the exhibition is a necessary response to the troubling state of antisemitism and hatred around the world. And soon, we will introduce an innovative resource designed to help educators and students build a deeper, more informed understanding of antisemitism—at a moment when consensus is most at risk. We are unwavering in our resolve to fight all forms of hate, fueling understanding and resilience through education.”
Since its opening, Anne Frank The Exhibition has drawn hundreds of thousands of visitors, including students, teachers, and librarians from almost every state across the nation and more than a dozen countries, providing an immersive experience in the heart of Manhattan and offering deep historical context through never-before-seen artifacts, multimedia, and Anne’s powerful personal narrative.
Anne Frank The Exhibition is the first time ever that the Anne Frank House presents a pioneering experience outside of Amsterdam to immerse visitors in a full-scale recreation of the Annex rooms, fully furnished, where Anne Frank, her parents and sister, and four other Jews spent two years hiding to evade Nazi capture.
Moving through the exhibition, visitors can immerse themselves in the context that shaped Anne’s life—from her early years in Frankfurt through the rise of the Nazi regime and the family’s phased move to Amsterdam across 1933 and 1934, where Anne lived for ten years until her 1944 arrest and deportation to Westerbork, a large transit camp in the Netherlands, then to Auschwitz-Birkenau, a concentration camp and killing center in Nazi-occupied Poland, and eventually to her death at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany when she was 15 years old.
Four exhibition galleries immerse visitors in place and history through video, sound, photography, animation, and more than 100 original collection items from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. Anne Frank The Exhibition provides an opportunity to learn about Anne Frank not as a victim but through the multifaceted lens of her life—as a girl, a writer, and a symbol of resilience and strength. This is a story inspired by one of the most translated books in the world.
The New York City exhibition occupies over 7,500 square feet of gallery space in the heart of Union Square. This marks the first time dozens of artifacts can be seen in the United States—many have never been seen in public.
Artifacts in the exhibition include:
Anne Frank’s first photo album (1929-1942);
Anne Frank’s typed and handwritten invitation to her friend for a film screening in her home (by 1942, anti-Jewish measures prohibited Jews from attending the cinema); and
Handwritten verses by Anne Frank in her friends’ poetry albums.
Special Access Days with complimentary admission:
General admission tickets are available every day the exhibition is open, and complimentary admission will be offered to select visitors on the following dates:
Thursday, September 11th: All day access for Hometown Heroes (police officers, firefighters, first responders, medical professionals, and military personnel)
Thursday October 9th and Friday, October 10th: All day access for librarians, in recognition of Banned Books Week
Thursday, October 9th: Access for Queens Public Library Card Holders from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Monday, October 13th (Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day): All day access for families, Hometown Heroes, and educators (exhibition closes at 2:00 p.m.)
November 4 (Election Day): All day access for families, Hometown Heroes, and educators
November 11 (Veterans Day): All day access for families, Hometown Heroes, and educators
Official ID and email are required for police officers, firefighters, first responders, medical professionals, military personnel, educators, and librarians for free admission on special access days. Tickets for special access days are available with day-of on-site registration.
Merryl Tisch, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York, and former Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents, said, “Anne Frank’s story is a timeless beacon for education that goes beyond history, teaching us the essential values of resilience, empathy, and standing against antisemitism and hatred. It is our responsibility as leaders and educators to ensure that students of all ages learn these lessons deeply, so that Anne’s legacy inspires a more inclusive and compassionate future.”
New York State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, “Anne Frank The Exhibition provides a profound educational experience that connects the lessons of history to the challenges and responsibilities of today. It provides students with a meaningful opportunity to explore the realities of antisemitism and intolerance while equipping educators with resources to thoughtfully integrate these lessons into their instruction. This exhibition not only honors the memory of Anne Frank and her family but also strengthens our shared responsibility to ensure that future generations learn the importance of empathy, tolerance, and standing against hate in all its forms.”
“It has been deeply meaningful to host this exhibition and share its vital history with the public. With this final extension, we look forward to welcoming even more visitors to engage with Anne Frank’s story and the lessons it continues to impart,” said Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, President of the Center for Jewish History.
With this final extension through February 1, 2026, the Anne Frank House reaffirms its mission to ensure Anne’s voice continues to inspire unity and peace across generations.
General Information
Tickets are available at AnneFrankExhibit.org. The exhibition is designed for children (ages 10 and older) and adults. All general admission tickets include the exhibition audio guide. Visitors should plan to spend approximately one hour at the exhibition. The last entry is one hour before closing.
Individual tickets
Timed entry tickets, Monday through Friday: $24 (17 and under, $18)
Timed entry tickets, Sunday: $31 (17 and under, $24)
Flex tickets, Monday through Friday: $38
Flex tickets, Sunday: $54
Family tickets (2 adults + 2 children under 17 years):
Timed entry tickets, Monday through Friday: $74 (additional 17 and under ticket, $18)
Timed entry tickets, Sunday: $98 (additional 17 and under ticket, $24)
Group sales (adults)
$300 per group of 10, timed entry, Monday through Friday
$400 per group of 10, timed entry, Sunday
Hours: Sunday through Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday: Closed.
Center for Jewish History 15 West 16th Street, New York, 212.294.8301,cjh.org, info@cjh.org.
The Elephant Bar at Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh, Cambodia is a legendary bar with a rich history and unique charm. Built in 1929, the bar has welcomed illustrious guests—from Charlie Chaplin to W. Somerset Maugham—and famously hosted Jacqueline Kennedy during her 1967 visit to Cambodia, creating its signature cocktail, the Femme Fatale, in her honor.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Historic Hotels Worldwide®, a prestigious program that recognizes and celebrates authentic historic hotels around the world, announced The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels Worldwide Most Historic Bars and Lounges list. This collection of 25 bars and lounges in historic hotels tells a global story of how hotels provide spaces for guests to gather, socialize, and connect, while enjoying a handcrafted drink and a unique cultural experience.
Geographically, bars and lounges located in countries with a strong pub or cocktail culture, or ones heavily influenced by these cultures, are heavily represented on this list. Drinking culture is deeply ingrained in the social fabric of both the United Kingdom and Germany, where a third of the bars included on this list are located. Many of the venues described in this list are hidden gems, although several famous establishments like the American Bar at The Savoy London (1889) and the Long Bar at Raffles Singapore (1887) were clear choices for inclusion on this list. But whether well-known, or a well-kept secret, all of the historic bars and lounges selected for this list preserve their original architecture, accented by interior design, and historic ambiance, making for a more complete historic experience for guests. The owners and managers of these hotels invest in their preservation, and the bartenders and mixologists know the cultural legacy that they uphold with every glass that they pour. Because of the people behind these historic hotels, today, cultural and heritage travelers can experience all of these unique destination bars and lounges.
Castlemartyr Resort (1210) Cork, County Cork, Ireland Knights Bar At the heart of Castlemartyr Resort’s 18th-century Manor House is the historic Knights Bar. The historic bar is aptly named, as the historic castle complex was built by the Knights Templar in 1210. To truly appreciate the space, guests should look up. The Knights Bar ceiling showcases a stunning Rococo-style design installed by the Lafranchini brothers in the 18th century. These Swiss decorators became famous in Ireland for their distinctive Rococo-style stucco ceiling and wall designs that can be seen in grand mansions throughout Ireland to this day. Rococo style is an exceptionally ornamental and dramatic style of architecture, art, and decoration. The style combines asymmetry, curving scrolls, gilding, white and pastel colors, sculpted molding, and trompe-l’œil frescoes to create surprise and drama. The space has welcomed many visitors over the years, as it was first used as a ballroom for the Boyle Family in the 1800s, and later as a chapel for the daily Mass by the Carmelite Order, who owned the Manor House in the early 1900s. Today, Knights Bar is an elegant, classical locale to enjoy a beverage—from cocktails to Afternoon Tea—in the historic ambiance. Knights Bar is a stylish choice for enjoying a relaxing drink, elegantly providing a warm and intimate atmosphere for guests. Castlemartyr Resort was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2022.
Hacienda de los Santos (1710) Alamos, Sonora, México Cantina de Zapata Family-owned and operated, Hacienda de los Santos is a historic resort encompassing three restored Colonial-style mansions, as well as a sugar mill that dates to the 17th century. The space that Cantina de Zapata at Hacienda de los Santos now occupies was originally part of the estate’s early operation as a sugar mill. In 1999, the sugar mill was converted into a cantina for the resort. The bar top and space behind the bar date to the 19th century and originated in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and were disassembled down to the smallest piece and then reassembled at Hacienda de los Santos. The style of the cantina might best be described as “Old Mexico,” deeply authentic yet crafted for today’s travelers. According to the owner, families travel great distances to show their children the history that is displayed within Hacienda de los Santos’s cantina, and a rancher from the United States once remarked that “this cantina is my favorite bar in the world.” The memorabilia throughout the cantina are a feast for the eyes of any first-time visitor. Many early firearms, chaps, swords, and other historic memorabilia adorn the walls, including more than 200 inlaid silver spurs of Mexican origin. Among the memorabilia, the hotel owner’s most prized historic photograph is displayed in the cantina. The photo depicts Mexican General Álvaro Obregón standing with Pancho Villa, U.S. General John J. Pershing, and a young 1st Lt. George S. Patton, standing on the bridge in El Paso. The photo was given to the hotel’s owner by Obregón’s grandson, who celebrated his 93rd birthday at the hotel. (The cantina was recently included on The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels Worldwide® Most Magnificent Art Collections list for its décor.) The cantina offers a wide range of spirits, including 200 Tequila labels. The Margarita is the bar’s most popular cocktail, made with fresh Mexican limes, a large shot of Blanco Tequila, Controy, sweetener, and plenty of ice. Hacienda de los Santos was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2015.
Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden (1713) Dresden, Germany Bar 1705 Built in the early-18th century by a Saxon king, and located in Dresden’s historic city center, Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden is a beautiful combination of historic palace architecture and contemporary elegance. Bar 1705 is named after the year the original palace was commissioned, but the bar’s ambiance evokes the sophistication of the 1920s, a bold nod to the spirit of the Prohibition Era in the United States. Inspired by iconic venues such as the Oak Room in New York City, the bar combines rich wood paneling, Art Deco-style details, and intimate lighting to create a refined, yet lively, atmosphere, with live music on select nights. Deep red leather seating and dark wood finishes set the tone for an elegant experience. Friendly and creative bartenders are eager to serve original cocktails inspired by the Roaring Twenties, or a guest’s favorite classic cocktail. During the warmer months, guests can also enjoy their drinks in the peaceful inner courtyard of the Taschenbergpalais, making Bar 1705 a year-round destination for connoisseurs and curious explorers alike. Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2017 and dates to 1713.
Hotel Château Gütsch (1859) Lucerne, Switzerland American Bar High above Lucerne, Switzerland, the American Bar at historic Hotel Château Gütsch invites guests to enjoy creative cocktails in a 19th-century castle, with sweeping views over Lake Lucerne and the Alps. Signature drinks like the Gütsch Spritz and Yoda’s Fav reflect a playful, yet refined cocktail menu crafted with regional flair. The interior design of the American Bar elevates the spirit of the Belle Époque, in harmony with the historic character of the hotel. Throughout the public areas within the American Bar, historic photographs and details offer guests glimpses into the past. The bar’s serene, elegant setting makes it a favorite among cultural travelers, who appreciate the timeless atmosphere, quality drinks, and one of the most iconic views in Switzerland. The fairytale castle was built in 1859 and, while the interior has been tastefully modernized, the setting remains steeped in history. The château has long been a landmark in the region, attracting writers, artists, and dignitaries for generations. The American Bar offers a variety of signature cocktails, each crafted with regional ingredients and a flair for storytelling. The American Bar is not just a place to enjoy a drink—itis a place for guests to enjoy spectacular views, surrounded by castle walls and Alpine skies. For cultural travelers seeking authenticity and elegance, the American Bar is a must-visit destination. Hotel Château Gütsch was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2024 and dates to 1859.
Britannia Hotel (1870) Trondheim, Norway Britannia Bar Set in the historically and culturally significant city of Trondheim, Norway, Britannia Hotel boasts an impressive history, with connections to polar expeditions, meetings that helped plan Norway’s independence, and royal receptions. Britannia Bar opened in the early 1960s and the new bar became a cornerstone of the hotel’s social life. By the late 1980s, the hotel expanded its lobby area and relocated Britannia Bar upstairs to its current location. The historic basement space was transformed into Pianobaren, a vibrant piano bar featuring live music and dancing, while the new Britannia Bar became a more refined, cocktail focused lounge with private adjoining salons. Both Britannia Bar and Pianobaren became legendary venues in Trondheim, each with its own atmosphere and loyal following. (Fun fact: the current mayor of Trondheim, Kent Ranum, once worked as a bartender in Pianobaren during the 1990s.) Today, Britannia Bar is the perfect retreat after a long day of exploring—and sets the standard when it comes to cocktails. The hotel’s artistic signature cocktails reflect the history of Britannia Hotel through a series of unique portraits and flavors. The Executive Bar Manager at Britannia Bar, Øyvind Lindgjerdet, developed a series of signature cocktails inspired by art and history. Individuals who played important roles in establishing and operating the hotel in its early days are honored with a signature cocktail, paired on the menu with a short biography and a portrait painted by Lindgjerdet. Explore all of Britannia Bar’s Portraits of Britannia cocktails here. The bar was also recognized in 2025 as the recipient of the Best Cocktail Bar, Best Cocktail Menu, and Best Bartender in Norway by the Bartenders’ Choice Awards. Britannia Hotel was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2024 and dates to 1870.
Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor (1886) Luxor, Egypt Victorian Lounge Nestled within the legendary Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor, the Victorian Lounge is a tribute to the grandeur of 19th-century Egypt and the Golden Age of European exploration. Since 1886, this historic salon has welcomed luminaries from around the world—including royalty, aristocrats, and famed archaeologists, like Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter, who once roamed the halls during the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. With its soaring ceilings, gilded mirrors, and plush period furnishings, the lounge retains much of its original charm. Guests can relax in refined tranquility beneath glittering chandeliers while enjoying views of the hotel’s beautifully manicured Royal Gardens—a tranquil haven where kings and queens once strolled. The soft melodies from the grand piano, often played during Afternoon Tea or evening cocktails, add to the timeless atmosphere and sense of place. The lounge’s signature cocktail, Tutankhamun’s Elixir, is a fragrant blend of hibiscus tea, date syrup, fresh lime, and mint—a nod to Egypt’s botanical heritage and a tribute to its most famous pharaoh. Crafted in the 1950s by a bartender inspired by Luxor’s mystique, it remains a guest favorite today. Whether enjoying Afternoon Tea, a quiet cocktail, or just simply soaking in the ambiance, visitors are invited to step back in time and experience the elegance and mystery that have defined the Winter Palace for more than a century. Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2014.
Raffles Singapore (1887) Singapore Long Bar The world-famous Long Bar at Raffles Singapore is home to the Singapore Sling, widely regarded as the national drink of Singapore. The hotel opened in 1887, when the Sarkies Brothers acquired the building for the development of a luxury hotel in Singapore, and the hotel became one of the most sought-after destinations in Southeast Asia. The Singapore Sling was first created in 1915 by Raffles Singapore bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. A gin-based cocktail, the Singapore Sling also contains pineapple juice, lime juice, curaçao, and Bénédictine. Grenadine and cherry liqueur give the cocktail its signature pink hue. When the hotel bar opened in the early-20th century, it was common to see gentlemen nursing glasses of gin or whiskey, but it was not socially acceptable for women to do so. Women were expected to stick to juices and teas—including the hotel’s iconic Afternoon Tea. Inspired by the women who wanted a hard drink, bartender Ngiam Tong Boon created a cocktail that looks like plain fruit juice, but is infused with gin and liqueurs. He made the beverage pink to give it a feminine flair which, together with the clear alcohol, led guests to think that it was a socially acceptable drink for women. Of course, today, guests can choose to order the drink simply because it is delicious—or select another fantastic option from the Long Bar’s cocktail menu. Raffles Singapore was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2018.
The Savoy London (1889) London, England, United Kingdom American Bar The American Bar at The Savoy London is a true icon in the world of hospitality, renowned as the longest continually operating cocktail bar in London. For more than 130 years, the American Bar has hosted an extraordinary roster of guests, including Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, and Marilyn Monroe, each drawn to the American Bar by its legendary cocktails and timeless elegance. Reportedly, the first cocktail that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin consumed after returning to Earth following the Apollo 11 moon landing was created by Joe Gilmore, the head bartender at the American Bar, who sent a flask of the cocktail to NASA. The American Bar’s history is woven into the very fabric of cocktail culture: Ada “Coley” Coleman, the American Bar’s pioneering head bartender, invented the celebrated Hanky Panky here, while her successor, Harry Craddock, compiled The Savoy Cocktail Book, which remains a bartender’s bible to this day. The American Bar’s Art Deco-style interior, adorned with historic photographs and memorabilia, evokes a sense of glamour and intimacy, while live piano music and immaculately dressed bartenders in white jackets preserve the classic charm of this iconic bar. Today, the new Liquid Moments menu is a tribute to The Savoy’s remarkable legacy, transforming key moments from the hotel’s history into a collection of 17 signature cocktails. Each drink is inspired by a story or person that has shaped the narrative of the hotel. For example, Tea O’Clock pays homage to The Savoy’s famed Afternoon Tea tradition, blending vodka, Lillet Blanc, and strawberries with an Afternoon Tea blend—a nod to over a century of elegant gatherings. A Yeoman’s Toast refers to the Tower of London’s Beefeaters, while New Heights commemorates the hotel’s installation of London’s first electric elevator; the salt used to ferment the blackberries pays homage to the smelling salts that guests were given as a fainting precaution when using the hotel’s “Ascending Room.” With every cocktail, guests are invited to savor not just a drink, but a liquid moment—a taste of the stories, innovations, and personalities that have defined The Savoy and the American Bar for generations. The Savoy London was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2011 and dates to 1889.
Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac (1893) Quebec City, Quebec, Canada 1608 Bar Named for the year that Quebec City was founded, 1608 Bar offers one of the largest varieties of top Quebec cheeses in Canada, coupled with the top wine selections that the world has to offer. Overlooking the St. Lawrence River, the 1608 Bar showcases one of the province’s most stunning views. Inside, the room is lit by a sparkling handcrafted chandelier, which illuminates the circular brass bar and marble countertop. Old Quebec City’s 1608 Bar offers guests tranquil, timeless elegance in which to savor regional charcuterie and cheeses and gourmet light bites. Guests can sit at the sleek bar or cozy up by the inviting fireplace. Although the 1608 Bar is a recent addition to Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, the bar is located in a historic lounge space with an original wood-paneled ceiling. The interior designer was inspired by the heritage of the space to create a unique destination bar that feels like a clock stopped in time; guests can see a Canada goose frozen mid-flight in a corner of the bar. The lounge’s original bookshelves and leather sofas allude to its former role as a quiet reading and writing room for guests. Wine lovers should make 1608 Bar a drink stop on their way to or from the hotel’s signature restaurant, Champlain, which has a phenomenal wine collection and has received Wine Spectator’s “Best of” Award of Excellence annually since 2016. Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2012 and dates to 1893.
Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten (1897) Hamburg, Germany Jahreszeiten Bar Tucked beside the grand entrance of the historic Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, the iconic Jahreszeiten Bar is not only Hamburg’s smallest bar, but is also one of its most storied. Located in what was once the private office of the hotel’s founder, Friedrich Haerlin, the bar exudes turn-of-the-century elegance. Original vintage Rolls-Royce leather seats invite guests into a space of refined intimacy, while the sweeping mahogany counters and antique mirrored shelves recall a bygone era of European glamour. Among the architectural and interior design highlights of the Jahreszeiten Bar is the two-story design, with views over the Inner Alster Lake, and a bespoke gallery cabinet containing some of the rarest single malt whiskeys in the world—each bottle is a collector’s item, with a story. Visitors should take a moment to look for the wooden pineapple, which has been discreetly placed in the bar. In fact, the pineapple motif can be found throughout the hotel, which is a traditional symbol of hospitality. A longstanding commitment to hospitality is a tradition at the hotel. The beverage manager at Jahreszeiten Bar, Enrico Wilhelm, is a master bartender with over 20 years of service, who curates not just drinks, but unforgettable memories. From the cocktail menu, guests can enjoy more than 70 carefully selected whiskeys and 25 gins, many of which are historic or limited-edition bottlings. Classic cocktails are served with precision, and occasionally, stories of visiting dignitaries or local legends fill the air—making each visit feel like stepping into a living piece of Hamburg’s hospitality history. Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2023 and dates to 1897.
Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan (1899) Aswan, Egypt The Bar Set within the timeless grandeur of Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan’s historic palace wing, The Bar is a cultural landmark in its own right—where travelers, writers, royalty, and diplomats in Aswan, Egypt, have gathered for more than a century. It was here that Agatha Christie sipped cocktails while writing Death on the Nile (1937), and where Winston Churchill paused for moments of quiet reflection. The Bar’s heritage is steeped in such moments, serving as a backdrop for conversations that shaped both literature and politics. The Bar’s signature drink, the Nubian Sunset, is a vibrant blend of hibiscus syrup, date purée, fresh lemon juice, and a hint of gin—crafted in honor of the local landscape and first introduced by a veteran bartender seeking to capture the essence of twilight over the Nile. The Bar retains original Edwardian design features, from hand-carved wood paneling and antique mirrors to the art-lined walls and arched windows overlooking the Nile. The ambiance of The Bar is refined and elegant, where Moorish and Victorian design influences enhance the rich textures, soft lighting, and the quiet sophistication of The Bar. The Bar offers more than just a drink—The Bar invites guests to relive the Golden Age of travel, to walk in the footsteps of legends, and to become a part of a story that is still unfolding, in one of Egypt’s most iconic settings. Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2014 and dates to 1899.
The Caledonian Edinburgh (1903) Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom The Court Drinks at The Court inside The Caledonian Edinburgh take guests on a journey through time, to an era when this historic Scottish hotel was a stop on the Caledonian Railway. This historic bar embodies the history and character of its rich past, combining vintage luxury and Midcentury Modern-style design elements. The Court is brimming with railway-era memorabilia and architecture, thoughtfully preserved over the past 120 years. The sandstone archways leading to The Court were once the hotel’s direct entry to the railroad station’s concourse and ticket office. Within the bar, guests can discover artifacts like the hotel’s Roll of Honour, a historic document listing the names of seventy Caledonian Station Hotel employees who fought in World War I. Discovered by the hotel’s concierge team in 2015, the Roll of Honour has hung in The Court ever since. Guests can enjoy this history, as well as a traditional bar experience. Renovated in 2024, The Court features a grand cocktail bar, exceptional all-day dining, as well as a patisserie, lounge, and live music, ranging from jazz to harp music, depending on the time of day. The Caledonian Edinburgh was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2018 and dates to 1903.
Raffles London at The OWO (1906) London, England, United Kingdom The Spy Bar Deep underground, in the clandestine depths of the luxurious Raffles London at The OWO, The Spy Bar offers a unique experience worthy of the historic building’s espionage past. “OWO” refers to the Old War Office, once the primary headquarters for the influential British War Office, and the epicenter of British intelligence and military strategy in the early-20th century. The Spy Bar is a subterranean speakeasy hidden away from the rest of the hotel. This atmospheric cocktail bar serves intoxicating drinks with a dash of mystery. One can almost imagine James Bond being a patron of The Spy Bar—in fact, author Ian Fleming was very familiar with rooms #006 and #007, where The Spy Bar is now located, when he worked in the building for the British Naval Intelligence Division during World War II. The entrance lobby to The Spy Bar was once a guard room, and other rooms along this corridor were used for briefing, debriefing and interrogating spies who were working behind enemy lines in occupied Europe during the Second World War. The bar’s signature drink is the crisp Vesper Martini, à la Casino Royale, and the bar is stocked with bottles inspired by the fictional spy. Mounted on the wall behind the backbar is half an Aston Martin DB5, an ode to British craftsmanship, timeless design, and secrecy. The bar sustains its secretive and exclusive allure in large part through its no-photography policy, and is only accessible by request. The bar hosts monthly takeovers with renowned international bars and features a DJ for weekly Vinyl Nights on Thursdays, enhancing the multisensory experience. Raffles London at The OWO was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2023 and dates to 1906.
The Grand York (1906) York, England, United Kingdom The 1906 Bar Guests at The Grand York, a historic former North Eastern Railway administrative building in York, England, can sink into one of The 1906 Bar’s comfortable lounge chairs and allow its expert bartenders to serve a fantastic menu of drinks, from classic and signature cocktails, to a collection of premium spirits and whiskeys. The Grand York’s whiskey collection has favorite labels from Scotland, Wales, the United States, Japan, and Sweden. Located in Yorkshire, The 1906 Bar also serves a variety of quality lagers and the region’s finest ales. Reminiscent of luxury clubs, and named for the year that the building opened, The 1906 Bar boasts high-backed leather chairs and loungers in front of palatial fireplaces. On Friday and Saturday evenings, The 1906 Bar becomes energized by live music. Guests can see evidence of the hotel’s historic past through details around the bar and hotel. Guests can look for the honeybee motif and green tile in the lobby, as well as the color choices throughout—including in the bar—which reflect the colors and symbols used by the North Eastern Railway: reddish brown and cream buff. Combining history and heritage, The Grand York is a luxurious choice for a stay in York, and The 1906 Bar offers guests a place to relax after a day of sightseeing. The Grand York was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2018 and dates to 1906.
Villa Copenhagen (1912) Copenhagen, Denmark T37 Located in what once was the Central Post & Telegraph Head Office in Copenhagen, Denmark, today, Villa Copenhagen offers luxurious and unique accommodations in the heart of the ancient Nordic city. The hotel’sT37 bar is a popular spot for both locals to enjoy afterwork drinks, and for travelers to relax after a day spent exploring around the city. “T37” was used as a secret code for social events taking place in the room, where postal workers at the central post office would gather, surrounded by letters and packages. The entrance to the bar is original to the central post office. Visitors will notice that the entrance is unusually tall and wide; this is because horse-drawn carriages would have to fit through the entrance to pick up the mail to be delivered around the city. Hanging from the ceiling around the bar area, visitors can see satchel straps from post bags. T37 exudes sophistication and elegance, and its historic heritage is evident in both its drinks and distinctive ambiance. The bold color scheme honors the bar’s past, while creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere for visitors to relax with a refreshing drink. Villa Copenhagen was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2019 and dates to 1912.
Rosewood London (1914) London, England, United Kingdom Scarfes Bar Scarfes Bar, located inside the luxurious Rosewood London in Holborn, is a sophisticated cocktail lounge that blends British heritage with contemporary flair. Scarfes Bar opened in 2013 and is named after the English satirical cartoonist and illustrator, Gerald Scarfe. Since the 1960s, Scarfe’s work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Sunday Times, and even on the album cover of Pink Floyd’s The Wall (1979), among many other popular publications, ephemera, and animations. His satirical artwork adorns the walls of the bar named in his honor and have even inspired the bar’s menu. Alongside the tongue-in-cheek illustrations, Scarfes Bar is defined by its elegance, with its roaring fireplace, plush velvet armchairs, and shelves lined with over 1,000 vintage books. Inspired by Gerald Scarfe’s Long Drawn Out Trip: A Memoir (2019), the Long Drawn Out Sip menu explores his work through the medium of dreams, both whimsical and nightmarish, in which cocktails serve as liquid doorways to his surreal outlook on the world. With a cocktail menu that pays tribute to Scarfe’s whimsical imagination, and a curated selection of refined small bites, Scarfes Bar offers a uniquely immersive experience, where art, music, and mixology converge. Rosewood London was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2015 and dates to 1914.
Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo – Panama City (1917) Panama City, Panama Ammi Located in the center of Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo- Panama City is an iconic waterfront hotel offering an unmatched luxury experience for heritage and cultural travelers and business travelers alike. Perched atop the historic hotel, Ammi sky bar offers guests an energetic and sophisticated atmosphere. A vibrant rooftop retreat with views of the Pacific Ocean and the city’s glittering skyline, Ammi offers guests private terraces, live Latin music, and an open kitchen. At night, the bar transforms into a pulsating social hub, where expertly crafted cocktails—such as the Margarita al Pastor and the Golden Fashioned-complement the rhythmic energy of the space. Whether sipping under the stars or dancing to tropical beats, Ammi invites guests to celebrate life in one of the most iconic locations in the city. Guests can enjoy dazzling city and ocean views in all directions. With six separate terraces, Casco Viejo’s best rooftop bar draws locals and hotel guests alike, to enjoy alfresco dining, as well as DJs and live music. Originally Club Unión of Panama City, the hotel—which has hosted guests including Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, and Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom—offers guests an immersive experience into Panamanian culture, heritage, and history. Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo – Panama City was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2022 and dates to 1917.
Amerikalinjen (1919) Oslo, Norway Pier 42 One of Oslo, Norway’s most historic hotels, Amerikalinjen offers guests a chance to unwind at Pier 42. The luxury hotel was once the headquarters of the Norwegian America Line, established in 1919, a shipping company that carried thousands of Norwegian emigrants across the Atlantic in search of new lives in the United States. This landmark building served as a gateway to dreams, opportunities, and exploration—a spirit that Pier 42 proudly honors today. In fact, the bar takes its name from Pier 42 in New York, where these Norwegian ships would dock after their long ocean crossings. Inspired by the Golden Age of transatlantic travel, diplomacy, and adventure, Pier 42 offers a modern cocktail experience rooted in this rich maritime history. The spirit of exploration and connection that once defined this building lives on throughout the hotel and its bar, welcoming travelers, locals, and adventurers alike. Pier 42 features original architectural elements from the Norwegian America Line building. The walls are decorated with historical photographs, authentic maritime memorabilia, and ship blueprints. Throughout the space, guests will find tributes to notable passengers and crew who crossed the Atlantic Ocean, including engraved brass plaques and interpretive storytelling integrated into the design of the bar. The bar’s signature cocktail is the Emigration, blending ingredients from all continents—Tequila, lemongrass, Rooibos, wine, citrus, and ice—symbolizing a safe journey and new beginnings. The atmosphere at Pier 42 is elegant yet welcoming, blending New York City’s Art Deco-style with Nordic minimalism. Soft leather banquettes, nautical brass details, and warm lighting help to create a space that feels both timeless and comfortable, reflecting the romance of a bygone era of travel combined with modern luxury. Visiting Pier 42 allows guests to truly drink in history, making it a must-visit destination for guests seeking an authentic cultural experience in Oslo. Amerikalinjen was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2019.
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore (1924) Singapore Rooftop Bar at The Lighthouse Once the site of a functioning lighthouse that illuminated Marina Bay in Singapore, guiding ships into the port, the rooftop bar at The Lighthouse restaurant now serves as a beacon of refined luxury with panoramic views at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore. The lighthouse’s history dates to December 14, 1958, when the Fullerton Light opened atop the Fullerton Building. Local officials intended the new signal to replace the century-old lighthouse on Fort Canning Hill. The aerobeacon was so bright that its beams could be seen by ships as far as 20 miles away. Decommissioned in 1979, the Fullerton Light is now the home of The Lighthouse restaurant and its rooftop bar. The bar crowns the original lighthouse structure, part of the colonial-era General Post Office building, which was transformed into The Fullerton Hotel Singapore in 2001. With unobstructed 360-degree views of Marina Bay and the city skyline, The Lighthouse’s ambiance is both intimate and majestic—perfect for sunset cocktails or celebratory toasts. The open-air setting, complemented by soft white awnings and a curated menu of Italian-inspired cocktails and tapas, creates a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere that pays homage to the bar’s maritime past, while embracing modern luxury. Please note that the bar and restaurant are currently only open to city guests for dining in on select holidays, such as New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, and National Day. The bar and restaurant spaces are available to reserve for private events throughout the year. The Fullerton Hotel Singapore was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2011 and dates to 1924.
Hotel New Grand (1927) Yokohama, Japan Sea Guardian II Since opening in 1927, Hotel New Grand has witnessed the history of the port city of Yokohama, Japan. The Main Building, which dates to 1927, has welcomed many notable figures, including General Douglas MacArthur, Charlie Chaplin, and Babe Ruth. From the guestrooms, restaurants, and banquet halls in the Tower adjacent to the Main Building, guests can enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Port of Yokohama, such as the Bay Bridge, Osanbashi Pier, as well as spectacular nighttime views of the Minato Mirai district. The must-try bar at Hotel New Grand is Sea Guardian II, a British-style lounge located on the first floor of the historic Main Building. The bar is known for its intimate, club-like atmosphere, with comfortable leather and velvet upholstered chairs, dark wood accents, and low lighting. At the black marble bar top, guests should look for their fellow visitors enjoying a sunset-colored drink in a Martini glass. The Yokohama cocktail was invented in the late-19th century by bartender Louis Eppinger at the Yokohama Grand Hotel. In fact, Hotel New Grand is considered to be the successor to Yokohama Grand Hotel, hence the hotel’s name. Made with gin, vodka, absinthe or pastis, orange juice, and grenadine, the orange-pink hue is said to have been inspired by the view over Yokohama Bay at twilight. Hotel New Grand was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2012.
Raffles Hotel Le Royal (1929) Phnom Penh, Cambodia Elephant Bar The Elephant Bar at Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is a legendary bar with a rich history and unique charm. Built in 1929 as part of the hotel’s original east wing, the bar has welcomed illustrious guests—from Charlie Chaplin to W. Somerset Maugham—and famously hosted Jacqueline Kennedy during her 1967 visit to Cambodia. In her honor, the Elephant Bar created its signature cocktail, the Femme Fatale, a luxurious blend of sparkling wine, cognac, and crème de fraise des bois, which is still served today. The Elephant Bar’s ambiance blends historic charm and tropical sophistication, with wicker chairs, leather sofas, and large French windows framed by arched colonnades. Guests can sip on a Femme Fatale or another expertly mixed cocktail while enjoying live music in a refined yet relaxed atmosphere. Alongside its history, glamour, and connection to the former First Lady, the bar is known for its gin collection. The Elephant Bar at Raffles Hotel Le Royal offers over 200 different types of gin, including the legendary Sipsmith Raffles 1915, as well as the hotel’s own locally crafted, signature Elephant Bar Gin. On the Elephant Bar’s menu is a special two-hour Gin Experience, where guests can sample unlimited gin cocktails, drawing from 50 gin labels, and enjoy a curated gin tasting. Raffles Hotel Le Royal was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2018.
Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello (1930) Montebello, Quebec, Canada Bar Le Foyer More than just a bar, Bar Le Foyer is at the very center of this historic resort, where special memories are made, true to the spirit of hospitality that has defined Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello for generations. This historic bar is located near the very heart of the resort’s historic log chateau: a monumental six-sided fireplace, a true architectural feat that dominates the space, with a hexagonal hearth featuring six blazing faces, and towering 65 feet/20 meters over the chateau’s lobby. Nestled within this space, steeped in history and warmth, is Bar Le Foyer. Family-friendly, Bar Le Foyer offers spaces for multigenerational guests to play board games and sip on hot chocolate served from the bar. Guests can also enjoy reading in cozy armchairs, lulled by the crackling fire. Bar Le Foyer is a natural extension of the ambiance of the chateau’s lobby—a place of warmth, human connection, and comfort, deeply rooted in Canadian heritage. The signature cocktail, the Old Fashioned Montebello, made with Maker’s Mark bourbon, pure Quebec maple syrup, a twist of orange, and a few dashes of bitters, perfectly embodies this spirit. Like the space, the drink is an invitation to slow down, savor the moment, and reconnect with what truly matters, in a setting that has stood the test of time without losing its splendor. For travelers seeking authenticity, Bar Le Foyer is more than a sensory experience; it is a living testament to the Canadian art of living—a place where exceptional architecture meets contemporary hospitality. Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2017 and dates to 1930.
Alvear Palace Hotel (1932) Buenos Aires, Argentina Lobby Bar and Alvear Roof Bar Since opening in 1932, Alvear Palace Hotel has been a beacon of excellence for discerning travelers who desire French-inspired elegance during their stay in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Located in La Recoleta, a fashionable neighborhood with the city’s best restaurants, antique shops, boutiques, and cultural centers, the hotel has attracted locals and tourists alike for nearly a century. The hotel’s architectural design is inspired by the majesty of the Second French Empire, which is evident in the renowned Lobby Bar. Embracing warmth and refined hospitality, Alvear Palace Hotel features opulent interiors, premier amenities, and careful attention to the comfort of every guest. The Lobby Bar is the beating heart of the Recoleta neighborhood, and is a long-favored spot by influential business leaders and socialites, where polished French oak paneling and a graceful ambiance sets the tone. Here, guests and visitors alike can enjoy gourmet bites and masterfully crafted cocktails, in a setting that honors the Golden Age of mixology and the spirited heritage of Buenos Aires’s high society. Another must-see bar at the hotel is the Alvear Roof Bar, located on the 11th floor and offering unforgettable views of the city. Both signature bars are luxurious, but the Lobby Bar provides a more elegant setting for guests, whereas the Alvear Roof Bar offers guests a more stylish and modern option. Inside or out, Alvear Palace Hotel offers travelers ideal spaces to relax in style. Alvear Palace Hotel was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2014.
SO/ Berlin Das Stue (1938) Berlin, Germany Stue Bar Within the bustling embassy district of Berlin, historic SO/ Berlin Das Stue borders the lush Tiergarten Park and the Berlin Zoo. In fact, one wing of the hotel faces the zoo’s outdoor exhibits, which feature ostriches, antelopes, and Przewalski’s horses. The hotel’s bar, the Stue Bar and terrace, is an extraordinary destination in the heart of Berlin’s Tiergarten district, which delights guests with its eclectic décor and unique atmosphere. Built in 1938, the original building served as the Royal Danish Embassy for the better part of four decades. Its rebirth as a hotel in 2009 turned the aging office building into a stylish and exciting hotel, with a focus on art and luxurious amenities. This heritage-rich setting gives the bar its unique ambiance, blending classic grandeur with contemporary flair. Guests can unwind at the Stue Bar, relaxing in stylish lounge chairs or sitting at the bar, while enjoying views of the Berlin Zoo. The sounds of animals occasionally drift in, adding a whimsical touch to the experience. Stepping out onto the shady, verdant terrace enhances the experience. The bar is known for its refined cocktail menu, including the signature SO/ Martini, and a wide selection of whiskey and vermouth. Occasionally, the space transforms into a live music venue, showcasing Berlin’s vibrant jazz and soul music scene. The combination of historic architecture, refined interior design, and whimsical surroundings creates a truly distinctive and immersive experience in the heart of Berlin’s Tiergarten district. SO/ Berlin Das Stue was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2018.
Half Moon (1954) Montego Bay, Jamaica Lester’s Bar Lester’s Bar at Half Moon resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, is a refined and culturally rich destination bar named in honor of Michael Lester (1906-1972), a Polish-born artist who made Jamaica his home. His bold, expressive depictions of the Jamaican people and the country’s landscapes took the Jamaican art scene by storm in the mid-20th century, and one of his most iconic pieces, Junkanoo, is displayed prominently above the bar. An integral part of the Half Moon experience, Lester’s Bar is both a gathering place and a celebration of Jamaican artistry and hospitality. This intimate bar offers a quiet retreat where art, conversation, craft cocktails, and music all come together. The bar’s ambiance is accented by polished wood, elegant finishes, and a sense of timeless Caribbean sophistication. The cocktail menu includes a mix of international favorites, as well as locally inspired creations, such as the Junkanoo Sour, which features Jamaican rum, tropical fruit, and a touch of flamed cinnamon. Vibrant, smoky, and layered with warmth, the Junkanoo Sour is the signature cocktail of Lester’s Bar at Half Moon. The cocktail honors the art and spirit of Lester’s Bar in equal measure. For lucky guests, cocktails are often complemented by the soothing sounds of live music. Half Moon has been a fixture of Jamaica’s picturesque North Coast since 1954 and was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide in 2023.
“Congratulations to the selections for this year’s inaugural Top 25 Historic Hotels Worldwide Most Historic Bars and Lounges list. These elegant and timelessly fashionable historic settings have been preserved or reimagined, as places where heritage and cultural travelers can relax and enjoy a night off in luxury,” said Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Vice President, Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. “Each of the bars and lounges on the list celebrates the history of its hotel or region, all united by impeccable hospitality, fascinating stories, unique surroundings, and expertly crafted drinks.”
Historic Hotels Worldwide® is a prestigious and distinctive collection of historic treasures, including luxury historic hotels built in former castles, chateaus, palaces, academies, haciendas, villas, monasteries, and other historic lodging spanning ten centuries. Historic Hotels Worldwide represents the finest and most distinctive global collection of more than 320 historic hotels in more than 46 countries. Hotels inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide are authentic historic treasures, demonstrate historic preservation, and celebrate historic significance. Eligibility for induction into Historic Hotels Worldwide is limited to those distinctive historic hotels that adhere to the following criteria: minimum age for the building is 75 years or older; historically relevant as a significant location within a historic district, historically significant landmark, place of a historic event, former home of a famous person, or historic city center; hotel celebrates its history by showcasing memorabilia, artwork, photography, and other examples of its historic significance; recognized by national preservation or heritage buildings organization or located within a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and presently used as a historic hotel. For more information, visit HistoricHotelsWorldwide.com.
