68 Bars and counting…
Cocktail bars are how I understand cities.
When you travel solo, bars aren’t just places to drink — they’re where you observe a city’s rhythm, design, confidence, and social rules. Over the last few years, I’ve visited 68 cocktail bars across 18 countries, mostly, alone.
This page is a living guide to the best cocktail bars I’ve personally experienced — organised by city — with a focus on places that are:
- welcoming to solo travellers
- design- and concept-led
- known for well-executed classics or thoughtful originals
This isn’t a sponsored list.
Every bar here is somewhere I chose to walk into myself.
If you’re planning a trip and want to know where to drink well — alone or not — start here.
🌏 Asia
Delhi, India
Delhi’s cocktail scene has quietly evolved into one of the most creative in Asia — blending Indian ingredients with global technique.
➡️ Best Cocktail Bars in Delhi
Style: ingredient-driven, bold flavours
Solo-friendly? Yes — especially early evenings
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
KL punches far above its weight when it comes to cocktails — discreet entrances, serious bartenders, and strong regional identity.
➡️Bar Trigona – Is it worth it?
Style: speakeasies, storytelling menus
Solo-friendly? Very — bartenders are conversational without being intrusive
Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
➡️ Best Cocktail Bars in Hong Kong
🌍 Europe
Milan, Italy
Aperitivo culture meets modern mixology — Milanese bars are social, stylish, and time-specific.
➡️ Best Cocktail Bars in Milan (coming soon)
Style: aperitif-forward, elegant
Solo-friendly? Best earlier in the evening
London, UK
London remains one of the world’s most consistent cocktail cities — classics done properly, everywhere.
➡️ Best Cocktail Bars in London (coming soon)
Style: classic, technique-led
Solo-friendly? Extremely
🌎 Americas
New York City, USA
From high-volume classics to experimental menus, NYC bars are intense — much like the city itself.
➡️ Best Cocktail Bars in New York City (coming soon)
Style: diverse, fast-paced
Solo-friendly? Yes, but choose bar seating
🌎 Australia
➡️ Best Cocktail Bars in Melbourne and Sydney (coming soon)
Style: diverse, fast-paced
Solo-friendly? Yes, but choose bar seating
✨ What Makes a Bar “Solo-Traveller Approved”
Every bar featured here meets at least one of these criteria:
- Comfortable bar seating
- Bartenders who engage without pressure
- Menus that don’t require group ordering
- An atmosphere where being alone feels intentional, not awkward
If a bar is beautiful but uncomfortable alone — it doesn’t make the list.