Bar 59, Intercontinental Hotel

Located on the city’s main boulevard, Königsallee, Bar 59 is for those who value luxury. The menu includes more than 150 vodkas, a 130-strong cocktail list and whiskies from the best Scottish and Japanese distilleries. Equally strong is the ultra-stylish and visually playful interior: the seats are a striking deep wine-red, the counter is mottled lemon and the backlit bar gives off a glow of Schiaparelli pink.

Bar 59, InterContinental Hotel, Königsallee 59, 40215 Düsseldorf, +49 (0)211 82850

Capella Bar, Breidenbacher Hof

The Breidenbacher Hof’s Capella Bar has always possessed a level of quality that separates it from the rest. Its zebra-print armchairs and black marble are matched in creativity by a cocktail menu that draws together ingredients as varied as agave syrup and homemade celery vodka. If that wasn’t enough, the adjoining cigar lounge offers 124 Cuban and Dominican cigars, all from a walk-in humidor richly panelled in wood.

Capella Bar, Breidenbacher Hof, Königsallee 11, 40212 Düsseldorf, +49 (0)211 160900

Bar Ellington

Don’t be fooled by the location of this speakeasy-style bar: the cocktail menu is one of the most impressive and distinctive in Düsseldorf. Owner Robert Potthoff is widely known for his ability to conjure up exotic cocktails and has been nominated for a number of awards. His instincts are to explore possibilities and concoctions, such as the Gin Red Basil Smash, show a masterful understanding of flavour and texture. Learn the art of mixology at one of the courses hosted here each month.

Bar Ellington, Scheuren Strasse 5, 40215 Düsseldorf, +49 (0)211 311 3900

Chillout Düsseldorf

There’s a Buddhist tone to the décor at this lounge bar and restaurant, which is overhung by a line of red globe lanterns. Chillout offers a range of classic cocktails alongside 14 flavours of shisha, including blackberry, coconut and orange. Even more imaginative are the bar’s own creations: consider the Touchdown, a signature blend of vodka, apricot brandy, lime, grenadine and passion fruit.

Chillout Düsseldorf, Bolkerstrasse 15, 40213 Düsseldorf, +49 (0)211 862 9314

Riverbar, Swissôtel Düsseldorf

Set on the banks of the Rhine, the Riverbar at the Swissôtel Düsseldorf pairs a cool ambience with clean lines and a lighting concept that switches from turquoise to heliotrope. From early morning until the small hours, this spacious bar serves a very good selection of drinks and small plates, making it a popular meeting point for a catch-up over coffee, a business meeting or an impromptu aperitif.

Riverbar, Swissôtel Düsseldorf, Neuss Rheinallee 1, 41460 Neuss, Düsseldorf, +49 (0)213 17700