Forbes Recognizes Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto’s The Lounge & Bar as a Global Leader in Luxury Cocktail Culture
(IN SHORT) Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto’s The Lounge & Bar has been named one of the world’s top 58 Hotel Star Bars by Forbes Travel Guide. Honoured for its standout beverage artistry, refined service, and immersive storytelling, the bar offers an elevated mixology experience set against the tranquil beauty of an 800-year-old pond garden. Signature cocktails like the black sesame-infused “Oyasumi” and housemade Kyoto-inspired bar bites capture the spirit of Japanese craftsmanship, tradition, and innovation—securing its place among the best in luxury hospitality worldwide.
(PRESS RELEASE) KYOTO, Japan, 2025-Jun-9 — /Travel PR News/ — Rising above the refined hospitality scene of Kyoto, The Lounge & Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto has earned a prestigious spot among the 58 Hotel Star Bars of the world, a recognition announced by Forbes Travel Guide on June 8, 2025. This elite designation celebrates the bar’s exceptional beverage program, outstanding service, and immersive storytelling through cocktails—firmly establishing it as a global destination for luxury mixology.
Part of a select group chosen from 19 countries, this year’s honorees were identified through Forbes Travel Guide’s rigorous incognito inspections conducted during their 2024 and 2025 Star Ratings program. The recognition honors bars that provide impeccable beverage artistry and seamless guest experiences. The number of winners—58—is a nod to the founding year of Forbes Travel Guide in 1958.
“We are thrilled to be named one of the top hotel bars globally,” said Jonathan Montolieu, Director of Food and Beverage at Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto. “This recognition from Forbes Travel Guide speaks volumes about our team’s passion for personalized mixology rooted in Kyoto’s cultural legacy and seasonal beauty.”
Tucked beside the hotel’s 800-year-old Shakusui-en pond garden, The Lounge & Bar offers a tranquil yet innovative setting where cocktails become narratives. Guided by a team of local and international mixologists, the bar transforms regional stories, ingredients, and craftsmanship into memorable, multi-sensory experiences served with elegance and precision.
One of the bar’s most iconic creations is the Oyasumi (Japanese for “goodnight”) cocktail—a silky reimagining of the classic sour. Blending black sesame syrup, lemon, mango, and a base of Okinawan rum, this refined drink offers a graceful farewell to the evening, capturing the harmony and nuance of Japanese hospitality.
Complementing the drinks is a thoughtfully curated menu of artisanal bar bites, including housemade rice crackers inspired by Kyoto’s Nishiki Market, Yuzu Kosho marinated olives, and umami-rich roasted peanuts. These small plates elevate local flavors through contemporary techniques, forming perfect pairings for the bar’s distinctive beverages.
Bathed in natural light with sweeping views of the historic pond garden, The Lounge & Bar is not only a place to unwind, but a celebration of Kyoto’s artistry, elegance, and seasonal rhythms—reinterpreted through world-class mixology.
PRESS CONTACTS
Joan Pan
Senior Director of Public Relations and Communications
445-3 Myohoin Maekawa-cho, Higashiyama-ku
Kyoto, 605-0932
Japan
joan.pan@fourseasons.com
+81 75-541-8288
SOURCE: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
