The best hotel bars for a date
This article originally appeared in the September issue of Attention SL Magazine, which you can find here.. The Sept issue has a black and white theme, however I’ve included the pics in their original colour.
Introduction
Hotel bars make for good date locations. You’ve got great cocktails and drinks, high end surroundings, a hint of luxury and decadence and excellent service.
They also provide conversation material based on everything from people watching to the interior design to - in an SL context - the sometimes odd PG seating and cuddle anims.
And if you want to take that date somewhat further? Well, hotels are known for much more than their restaurants and bars, after all.
I’m Dirk Vanlager and I run SL’s only hotel reviews website.
In RL I work in the travel industry. However, before I started my website, I only had a vague idea that Second Life hotels that mimic the RL experience even exist. But there are dozens and I have stayed in close to 50.
Some are closed sims, with extensive hotel RP where you “check in” and get a group tag for the duration of your stay. Others will take you everywhere from ‘Ibiza’ to ‘Thailand.’
Some cost 5000L a night, and others 50L a night. However, many have well designed bars conducive to a date experience. And just like walking into an RL hotel foyer, visiting these will cost you nothing.
Based on the places I’ve seen, here’s my pick of Second Life’s best hotel bars for a date.
I’ve included the SLURL, a bit of information about the bar and the hotel itself, and a room price, if that becomes something you want to consider.
For each I had a friend and model pose for me, I’ve linked to each one’s Flickr page.
1 - The pool bar at Le Chateau Motel
2 - Lobby bar at the Essencia
3 - El Pulpo Restaurant and bar at Rizzi on the Beach
4 - Babylon at Le Chateau Motel
5 - The main resort bar at Bonaire Yanu Yanu
6 - The Kidaka Safari Lodge, Kidaka Resort
The Swimming Pool Bar at Le Chateau Motel
Le Chateau is a 1980s themed motel, but with two Francophone owners, it draws as much on French as American culture from that era.
The motel itself is situated in an L shaped pattern around the swimming pool. On one side you can then find a 1980s style arcade room, while on the other side of the pool features the bar.
The bar is quite small, though there are a few tables and chairs as well. Come either in 1980s wear, or in swimsuits and enjoy the pool at the same time.
I personally love Le Chateau, it’s a riot of colour and fun, and somewhere really different.
Designer Victoire, who posed for me in these shots, I think has created something special here. So much so that I have included a second bar from Le Chateau, Babylon, later in this list.
If your date has never been here before s/he will be sure to enjoy it, and the features and atmosphere provide instant ‘break the ice’ material.
If you are minded to stay here, the rooms are all individually themed, with everything from a porn star to Scarface theme, and cost 300L.
Model - Victoire Goudénoff-Montagne
The Lobby Bar at the Essencia
The Essencia Hotel is probably one of the few SL hotels that many people have actually heard about.
It does a really good job of recreating a city / resort hotel feel. In fact, when I first visited, it reminded me of a number of hotels I have been to in the Middle East in places like Abu Dhabi and Muscat, which are business orientated but also have a beach out back.
As soon as you come into the lobby you’ll see the bar area. The bar is pleasant, modern, well stocked and well designed, with a bot barman called Franklin. Tip him 1L and he will send you one of a selection of drinks.
If you want to dance, head into the restaurant, which has a fairly large dance floor.
However, to access the pool and beach you will need to be a hotel guest. Here rooms cost from 150L a night, though I think the more expensive rooms are worth it as the cheaper ones are very small.
Model - Angel Poison
El Pulpo Restaurant and bar at Rizzi on the Beach
The closest equivalent to the Essencia is probably Rizzi on the Beach. While the Essencia has more of a business feel, the Rizzi is more like a five star leisure hotel.
The Rizzi has two bars, one in the lobby and one in the main “El Pulpo” restaurant.
The latter is a better bet as it has a much grander design, a dance floor, and a restaurant around the back (RP dinner is available if you contact the owner beforehand via the front desk).
Unlike the Essencia, the pool and beach areas are open to non-residents, meaning you and your date could have a drink and then take a stroll around the hotel grounds.
Rooms at the Rizzi start at 250L a night. Like with the Essencia I think the more expensive rooms (at 500L+) are better value.
Model - Sakiko Fargis
Babylon at Le Chateau Motel
I rate the experience at Le Chateau Motel so highly that I’ve included a second out of their three bars (the third is at the adjoining airfield).
Owner and designer Victoire calls Babylon the smallest bar in SL. I am not so sure about that, but I imagine it really is the smallest hotel bar on the grid, as it’s basically a converted motel room.
Despite it being small, Victoire has packed in a bar, bar stools, sofas, a dance pole and 1980s photography along the walls.
This place is intimate but also quirky, and like the swimming pool bar, this place will give you and your plenty to talk about.
The themed rooms here cost 300L a night if you want to stay.
Model - Victoire Goudénoff-Montagne
Main bar - Bonaire Yanu Yanu
If you own a boat, you could rez it in a sailable sim with Blake Sea access and sail your date and yourself to Bonaire Yanu Yanu.
Moor your boat on the visitor pier, and have a drink or maybe dinner too.
Bonaire Yanu Yanu is a Fijian themed resort spread across three islands, which are connected via mad pea inflatable boats (there are rez points in various places).
The resort has several bars, but the best one is in the main building, as this leads out to the restaurant and pool. The owner of Bonaire Yanu Yanu is a house builder in SL with a store, and it shows in the overall design.
If you want to stay, it’s 500L in one of the Tiki huts on the furthest island, or staying in the main resort will cost 1500L+ a night (though this gives you a villa with a view and private pool).
Model - Sparklebottom Lasertits
The Kidaka Safari Lodge at the Kidaka Resort
The Kidaka Resort features an African Savannah style area, and a safari lodge complete with restaurant, bar, swimming pool and beach (the latter two areas are restricted to guests / group members).
The Kidaka is a good date location if you want to meet for a drink and then spend a few hours enjoying a beautiful sim together (or the other way around), as the Savannah area complete with wild animals is open to all, and a very popular photo spot in SL.
Of course, when you leave the bar, you and your date should bring a change of shoes as there is a lot of walking involved.
The Kidaka Resort has several classes of accommodation, there are two ‘glamping’ safari tents at 100L, these are quite hard to come by.
Then there are a number of chalets at 300L, and for greater privacy you can have a hotel room in a skybox for 250L.
Model - Sakiko Fargis
Thank you to Vic, Sakiko, Sparkle and Angel for working with me on this!
I’ll now be doing a monthly hotels feature for Attention SL, you can find out more about the magazine here.