Cortina is changing and, if observed today from above the construction sites—those racing to be completed before the start of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games (February 6–22)—the hospitality map it presents tells the story of a destination suspended between transformation and anticipation, with openings on the horizon, historic properties undergoing restyling and an increasingly high-end approach to welcoming guests.
Paola Mencarelli Recommends the Best Cocktail Bars in Cortina
Paola Mencarelli, already at work on the third edition of her Cortina Cocktail Week scheduled for December 2026, confirms it: “Cortina has always been successful but, with the Olympics, it is also opening up to the international elite. Over the next two years, in fact, up to 12 new five-star hotels are planned, complete with their bars, between new openings and major renovations. A dynamic shift toward luxury and a cosmopolitan audience, especially Asian, proves that this destination has a strong outlook, frequented by travelers who see it as a place that goes beyond skiing. Those arriving for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games may still come across some construction sites, but they will also find numerous addresses where they can stop for a drink and have fun.” Here, there are twelve: “Directly overlooking the slopes or very close to the lifts. All easily reachable.”
1224 Bar Lounge & Terrace – Grand Hotel Savoia
Not far from the slopes open to everyone at Col Druscié A and B (about 2 km) and from the Tofane area (around 4 km), which will host the Olympic downhill, super-G and women’s giant slalom events, the 1224 Bar Lounge at Grand Hotel Savoia Cortina, A Radisson Collection—under the aegis of DHOM Collection from 2025—occupies a strategic position throughout any skier’s day.
“Bar and terrace represent one of the central points of the property, overlooking the Dolomites and able to accompany both an informal break and more social moments. The interiors of the lounge work with warm tones and natural materials, in line with the hotel’s alpine identity. The terrace benefits from a direct view of the Dolomites.” For those feeling hungry, mini sandwiches and small pastries are paired with infusions, flavored hot chocolates and, as mixology enthusiasts know, a selection of classic cocktails designed for après-ski.
Ancora Cortina, the Cocktail Bar at Hotel Ancora
Right in the center of Cortina, the well-known five-star Hotel Ancora has reopened with a project that marks a key step for local hospitality. “A historic address in the destination, it now belongs to The Leading Hotels of the World circuit thanks to an intervention that combines entrepreneurial vision and international positioning. At the center of the hotel’s daily life is the cocktail bar, conceived as a space open to the city as well and characterized by a large wooden counter with eight seats and a fireplace that is always lit.”
The offering follows an all-day logic, with cocktails and a cross-category kitchen that pair contemporary drinks with comforting dishes. This place captures Cortina’s promenade and transforms itself into one of the reference points of the town center. Ski lovers can reach it easily via the Col Druscié and Faloria lifts (1.8 km), while those following the Olympic competitions can arrive by car, taxi, shuttle or ski bus, covering 4.3 km from the Socrepes and Olympia delle Tofane slopes.
Cocktail Bars in Cortina: Bar de Len – Hotel de Len
Inside Hotel de Len, Bar de Len stands out for its intimate dimension, with a counter reserved for those seeking a direct relationship with the bartender. The offering revolves around selected spirits, reinterpretations of classics and barrel-aged cocktails, with constant attention to local raw materials. Mountain herbs, aromatic woods and local ingredients enter the drinks and interact with a food proposal designed for aperitivo and late night, including charcuterie boards and sandwiches in an Ampezzo style. The result is the right place for a break from the town slopes, about 2 km away, and from Olympia delle Tofane—the one dedicated to competitions from February 6 to 22, 2026—located 4 km away.
Bar del Posta – Hotel de la Poste
Linked to the hotel of the same name dating back to the 19th century, Bar del Posta built its reputation starting with the 1956 Olympics. Renato Hausmann, after his experience at Harry’s Bar with Arrigo Cipriani, arrived in Cortina and turned it into a reference point for the worlds of cinema, culture, politics and international business. That season was followed by a long period of continuity under the guidance of Antonio Di Franco, lasting more than 50 years, up to the current management of Filippo Borghi.
Today the venue maintains a central role in the social life of the town, as a consistently well-frequented address located about 2 km from the town slopes and around 4 km from the Olympic ones. Not to be missed are the great international classics, such as the Bellini, and a selection of signature cocktails to sip at the counter or seated near the stube.
Cocktail Bars in Cortina: Bar Rosapetra and Terrazza 26 at Rosapetra Spa Resort
Bar Rosapetra, inside Rosapetra Spa Resort, accompanies the day from beginning to evening as a space of “continuous pause.” Here, the menu alternates twist on classics (also in reduced format) with signatures that use ingredients linked to the territory, always in dialogue with the hotel’s cuisine. Variations on the Negroni and a wide selection of spirits coexist with small snacks.
Another characteristic of the venue is its spectacular position, which allows easy movement between the town slopes of Col Druscié (2.5 km away) and the Tofane area, where the Olympic downhill, super-G and women’s giant slalom slopes are located, hosting the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games (almost 5 km away). While waiting for the milder season and the outdoor opening of Terrazza 26, which directly overlooks the Dolomites, a post-ski visit to the Spa is also recommended.
Lounge Bar at Casa Guargnè for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
The new Casa Guargnè is closer to the idea of a private luxury residence than to that of a boutique hotel. The atmosphere of its 13 rooms, furnished in warm tones of light wood, combines with that of the other spaces designed for lingering and relaxation. Among them, the restaurant and lounge bar accompany the day with a selection of dishes and cocktails (signature and classics). Distance from the slopes to the counter? About 2.2 km for the main slopes open to all and 5 km for those hosting the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.
Cocktail Bars in Cortina: Lounge Bar at Faloria Mountain Spa Resort
Between Monte Faloria and the Olympic ski jump, Faloria Mountain Spa Resort occupies a sufficiently secluded position (between 3 and 5 km away) to guarantee a top-tier holiday for those arriving in Cortina both to ski and to experience the mountains in tranquility. Rooms and suites, a restaurant and bistro, a lounge bar, a panoramic terrace and a spa of over 1,000 square meters with a 25-meter semi-Olympic pool complete the five-star property.
The aperitivo moment remains central to life at Faloria and finds its ideal setting in the Lounge Bar, also thanks to the large lava-stone fireplace in aquamarine tones and the counter where mixology focuses both on classics and on cocktails made with local ingredients.
Zelda Champagne & Cocktail Club and the New Lanterna by Zelda at Ambra Cortina
At Ambra Cortina Luxury & Fashion Boutique Hotel, you will find Zelda Champagne & Cocktail Club. Facing Monte Faloria and located approximately 2 km in a straight line from the slopes open to the public and 4.5 km from the Olympic competition slopes, the hotel has over time transformed into a sought-after place to be for holidays in Ampezzo.
A venue where art and fashion coexist with the vitality of the cocktail bar, inaugurated in 2022 as a space inspired by the unmistakable Zelda Fitzgerald and renowned for hospitality and service. On the ground floor, among visual and graphic installations by contemporary artists, a mixology proposal takes shape combining great classics, signature cocktails and a focused selection of sparkling wines. The venue’s latest addition is Lanterna by Zelda, a hi-fi lounge bar where, from afternoon to midnight, selected music can be enjoyed.
Chalet Franz Kraler and Its Club Moritzino
For ski enthusiasts, the cocktail bar overlooking the slopes has one address. Inaugurated last December 6 in Socrepes, Chalet Franz Kraler – Club Moritzino concentrates hospitality, cuisine and mixology into a single space overlooking the Tofane slopes. The project unites the vision of the Kraler family and the experience of Club Moritzino, in a format designed to host dining, events, art and music, with strong attention to architecture and the relationship with the landscape.
Designed by studio blueArch, the chalet develops across four levels integrated into the mountain, with natural materials, large glass surfaces and a panoramic terrace facing the Olympic slopes. The cuisine bears the signature of the Club Moritzino chefs, with a menu based on local ingredients. A space conceived to experience the mountain and après-ski also from the bar. Not to miss: a tasting stop at the suspended Wine Cellar, made of glass and steel.
Cocktail Bars in Cortina: Faro Cocktail Bar
Opened in 2022, Faro Cocktail Bar stands out as a youthful space. The counter immediately captures the eye and invites seating. The mixology is contemporary, with a menu that plays with house-made infusions, artisanal amari and reinterpretations of classics. From aperitivo to after dinner, the evening flows smoothly here also thanks to its short distance from the slopes: between 2 and 4 km for those following downhill races and Olympic competitions (February 6–22, 2026) in the Tofane ski area.
The Roof Cortina – Bistrot & Lounge Bar
New and worth visiting, The Roof Cortina builds its identity around the terrace overlooking the Dolomites and a food & beverage proposal that changes rhythm throughout the day. The chef offers dishes made with local ingredients, while bartenders alternate well-executed classic drinks with signature cocktails, alongside a wine selection designed to accompany aperitivi and long nights. A central address to note for the view, the dishes and the cocktails. And why not? Also for the position. In fact, The Roof Cortina is located 2 km from the town slopes and 4.5 km from the Olympic ones, all easily connected.
Cocktail Bars in Cortina, Zuma Cortina
Zuma Cortina, opened in December, has brought the Japanese format of the international group to high altitude, adapting it to the alpine context. The project, based on the idea of a “post-slope place,” features a structure inspired by the izakaya and places strong emphasis on conviviality. Interiors, designed by the Azumi team, create a dialogue between Japanese craftsmanship and mountain materials, while spaces unfold between the Main Room with robata and open sushi bar, lounge and cocktail bar.
The cuisine blends Zuma signature dishes with seasonal local ingredients, with a wine list of national and international labels, plus a selection of sake. Music, DJ sets and an immersive audiovisual system accompany the evening, transforming this space into an address that spans dinner and after dinner, with extended opening hours during the Olympic period. The town slopes, open to all skiers, are about 2 km away, while those dedicated to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games are approximately 4 km away.
Photo courtesy Italian Cocktail Weeks
