I'm a lifelong sun seeker (my husband says I have a solar-powered battery) and there are few things I love more about any destination than a great hotel pool.
Because that's an amenity that's always at the top of my priority list, I've sought out hotels and resorts with some of the best pools in the world for stays in destinations from Las Vegas to Hawaii, and far-flung destinations abroad.
But a really great pool can become a transcendent experience when you can order a cocktail without ever leaving the water. And the best pool bars aren’t just places to grab a drink. Rather, they’re attractions in their own right, whether that means sipping frozen cocktails beneath a waterfall, taking in skyline views from a rooftop infinity pool, or playing blackjack on a submerged barstool.
These seven hotels have turned the pool bar into a destination of its own.
In this article
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas
One of the most uniquely Vegas experiences I’ve ever had (and that's saying a lot) took place at Caesars Palace’s sprawling Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis.
The resort’s legendary pool complex features multiple pools spread across several acres, but one of the standout features is the opportunity to combine swimming, cocktails, and casino gaming in one gloriously over-the-top experience.
At the Fortuna Pool, guests can pull up a submerged stool, order a frozen drink, and play swim-up blackjack without ever leaving the water. During my own visit, it proved to be a remarkably efficient way to part with a few $25 chips, but the novelty factor alone made it worth it if you love to gamble, as I do.
As a practical matter, it helps that chips are waterproof, and that the pool is shallow enough to stand and walk in.
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, Maui
Grand Wailea’s Wailea Canyon Activity Pool is really a destination unto itself, complete with waterfalls, caves, rope bridges, and winding waterways; it's a 2,000-foot-long, 25,700 square-foot, 777,000-gallon pool area that consists of nine individual pools set over six different levels.
Hidden within the pool complex is the Grotto Bar, where guests can swim directly beneath a cascading waterfall and settle onto submerged barstools while ordering tropical cocktails and frozen drinks. The setting feels like a secret hideaway tucked inside the resort’s aquatic playground.
The property also holds a special place in my heart. It’s where I stayed when I got engaged, and it's perfect for couples and families, too.
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Few hotel pools are more instantly recognizable than the rooftop infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands.
Perched high above Singapore’s skyline, the massive pool appears to merge seamlessly with the city beyond, creating one of the most dramatic swimming experiences in the world.
Poolside bars and lounges ensure guests never have to leave the action when it’s time for a cocktail. Whether you’re sipping a tropical drink at sunset or enjoying a nightcap as the city lights begin to sparkle below, the combination of altitude (it's nearly 500 feet in the air), architecture, and atmosphere makes this one of the most spectacular poolside drinking destinations anywhere, not to mention a goldmine for social media snaps.
Viceroy Bali, Indonesia
This property is the hotel that got me hooked on luxury hotels forever. Once you see this stunner, there's no going back to ho-hum accommodations.
Perched above Bali’s lush Valley of the Kings, Viceroy Bali delivers the kind of peaceful, cinematic, and lush setting that makes you want to blink a few times to make sure it's real.
The luxury resort’s dramatic infinity pool appears to float above a sea of jungle greenery, while the adjacent pool bar provides the perfect vantage point for lingering over cocktails and taking in the view.
Unlike some of the larger resort pool scenes on this list, the atmosphere here is intimate and chill, with never a crowd and the sounds of nature as ambiance.
UNICO 20°105° Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
The adults-only UNICO 20°105° Riviera Nayarit takes the traditional swim-up bar concept and elevates it. Literally.
The resort’s Alto 20°105° rooftop pool bar sits adjacent to the pool high above Banderas Bay on the eighth floor, offering sweeping ocean views alongside an infinity-edge pool that seems to disappear into the Pacific, which all makes for some of the best views in the area.
Plush daybeds, private cabanas, elevated cocktails, and a menu inspired by Mexico’s Pacific Coast help create an atmosphere that feels equal parts beach club and luxury resort.
Caribe Hilton, Puerto Rico
Set on 17 oceanfront acres in San Juan, Caribe Hilton combines classic Caribbean resort charm with a bit of cocktail history.
Caribe Hilton is widely credited as the birthplace of Puerto Rico’s signature cocktail, the beloved piña colada, first created here in 1954.
So ordering a freshly blended one from the pool feels like engaging in a bit of history. (Chalk it up to continuing education!) The property’s swim-up pool bar allows guests to enjoy tropical drinks without leaving the water, all while overlooking swaying palms and ocean views.
Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas
Atlantis has never been a resort known for restraint, and its pool scene reflects that larger-than-life approach.
The sprawling Bahamian resort features multiple pools, lagoons, beaches, and aquatic attractions spread across the property, creating a water-focused playground unlike almost any other.
Several in-pool and pool-adjacent bars allow guests to order frozen cocktails and tropical drinks without venturing far from the water, while the surrounding atmosphere delivers nonstop vacation energy. At the Coral Pool, grab a drink at the swim-up bar and stay for an in-pool volleyball tournament or dance-off with live DJs.
Between the marine habitats, expansive water features, and resort-wide sense of spectacle, even a simple afternoon cocktail has theme park vibes.
The Shortcut
These hotel pool bars turn a simple cocktail into a full-fledged attraction, whether sipping drinks beneath a waterfall or floating above a city skyline.
The most unforgettable experiences include swim-up blackjack at Caesars Palace, the hidden Grotto Bar at Grand Wailea, and the gravity-defying rooftop infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands.
UNICO 20°105° and Viceroy Bali are the best picks for an adults-only, crowd-free experience. Atlantis is the opposite and owns it.
