St. Croix has mainly two types of venues: Hoity-Toity Resort or Our Lady of Perpetual Spring Break. But there is now a third way: Head to Zebos, a French-accented, burgundy and crème-colored oasis with low lights, women in jewelled chokers and good stemmed glasses. The wine list is eclectic and well priced for an island restaurant, with smart picks such as a Montes Alpha Syrah at $32. For dinner, have greens from farmer Luca Gasperi and duck breast in its crispy sweater of fat. You'll almost forget you're at the beach.

—Kae Denino

Zebo's, 1117 Strand St., St. Croix; 340-692-2864

Michelin (star) man Gordon Ramsay may be known as a firebrand, but at his first West Coast venture, Gordon Ramsay at the London West Hollywood, the vibe is cool, calm and collected. Glide up to the restaurant's elegant white marble bar and sip a signature London cocktail (Plymouth Gin, Lillet, fresh grapefruit juice and a float of Champagne) or the London Iced Tea-Tanqueray Gin infused with Earl Grey tea and fresh lemon juice. To complement the bar's sushi menu, there's also a respectable sake list, with poetic names like Yuki No Bosha, "Cabin in the Snow."

—Maria Vitulli

Gordon Ramsay at The London W. Hollywood; 1020 N. San Vicente Blvd., W. Hollywood; 310-358-778; thelondonwesthollywood.com

Sel de la Terre roosts on two floors of the stylish and much-anticipated new Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the middle of Boston's shopping and business district. Its Francocentric signature cocktail collection complements chef Louis Dibacarri's menu of ever-changing charcuterie and rosemary-laced frites, with drinks like the Fleur de Poire (St. Germain, vodka and Belle de Brillet)–while the Boston Flip (a soothing blend of Bourbon and Madeira, with a warming grind of nutmeg) reminds us we are still in Beantown.

—Annie B. Copps

774 Boylston St., Boston, 617-266-8800; seldelaterre.com

...more from Boston

Spur calls itself a gastropub but actually specializes in small plates paired with classic cocktails. Reflecting the décor, a seamless blend of wild west and techno club, bartender David Nelson fuses the classic and the modern in cocktails like the Broken Spur #2, a reworked Sidecar with Bourbon, Cointreau, lemon juice and amaretto sipped through a sweet citrus foam. Key to Spur's success is its understated ambitions: While dishes like black cod cooked sous-vide with mussels and English peas combine innovation and seasonality, Nelson's Foreigner combines rye with Ramazotti Amaro, Strega and peach bitters; a challenging ingredient list, yet it drinks smooth and easy.

—Jonathan Kauffman

Spur, 113 Blanchard St., Seattle; 206-728-6706,spurseattle.com

...more from Seattle

The team behind the Rojo Lounge at the new Palms Place Hotel & Spa set out to redefine the traditional Vegas lobby bar. No poker machines here, just a swanky alcove serving classic cocktails. Robert Parekh gives each drink a sophisticated twist: Try the French Quarter (Bourbon, Cognac and orange bitters with a Grand Marnier rinse) or his bold stab at the classic gimlet, the Absinthe Minded (absinthe, Rangpur lime gin, velvet falernum and fresh lime juice).

—Dean Blaine

Rojo Lounge, 4381 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas; 702-932-7777; palmsplace.com