In The Hour: a Cocktail Manifesto, litterateur Bernard DeVoto famously wrote, “There comes a pause in the day’s occupation that is known as the cocktail hour.”  

With the advent of the holidays (their stresses as well as their joys) our precious cocktail hour is more than a welcome respite. It’s hospitality for family and friends. Making spirits bright? It’s a gift.  

Therefore, since it’s always five o’clock somewhere, and it is the season to be jolly, Luxury Defined presents a holiday edition of homes with elegant spaces devoted to the refined consumption of spirits.  

All have club-style bars and lounges for quiet conversations at cocktail time, that magic hour when, as DeVoto wrote, “the shadows deepen along the edge of the forest and we believe that, if we watch carefully, at any moment we may see the unicorn”—or the reindeer! 

1. Modernist Villa in Benahavís, Marbella, Spain 

This expansive, 11,237-square-foot contemporary villa in the gated community of El Herrojo Alto is one of the finest homes in La Quinta, the luxury golf resort on Spain’s Costa del Sol.  

Tobal Arquitectos designed the home in harmony with the surrounding landscape, with earth-toned colors and textures, natural finishes, and walls of glass to frame the views of the Andalusian coast. 

The formal living and dining spaces are anchored by an airy, sea-view lounge, adjoining a sleek, fully accoutered contemporary kitchen. The outdoor kitchen and alfresco dining areas further elevate the luxury experience, making it an ideal space to host gatherings and enjoy the Mediterranean climate.  

For maximum enjoyment and comfort, there is a private sauna, gymnasium and an entertainment area with a pool table, stylish bar, and media lounge.  

There are seven bedrooms and nine full bathrooms in total, including a separate, self-contained apartment for guests or staff. 

The outdoor spaces include a covered terrace with lounge seating, a dining pavilion, and an infinity-edge swimming pool with another spectacular view of the coastline. 

2. Waterfront Palace in Baambrugse Zuwe, Utrecht, Netherlands

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This palatial, newly built mansion has a serene waterfront setting on Vinkeveense Plassen, a picturesque lake within 10 minutes’ drive of Amsterdam.    

The 11,840-square-foot residence is a convergence of 18th-century architecture and cutting-edge contemporary design.    

The façade, composed of glass and Jerusalem Gold limestone, is illuminated by an LED installation. The atrium-like entrance hall has a signature staircase and a glass-enclosed elevator connecting all four levels.  

Walls of glass in each room frame the views of the Vinkeveense Plassen and the formal gardens at the rear. A roof deck and numerous balconies and terraces also bring the outdoors inward.  

The kitchen has a 23-foot-long Calacatta marble island, media wall, climate-controlled wine display, and Sub-Zero appliances. Adjacent are a catering kitchen, utility room, and staff service area.   

The amenities rival those of a luxury resort. A nightclub (with cocktail bar and Champagne room), recording studio, cinema, gym, beauty salon, aquarium, indoor and outdoor pools, and a sandy beach are just a few of the highlights. 

Related: Discover Homes with Indoor Swimming Pools

3. Residence on Place François 1er, Paris, France 

This elegant Parisian apartment occupies the fifth floor of a fine Haussmannian building on Place François 1er in the heart of the prestigious 8th arrondissement. 

The 2,999-square-foot residence has been updated for contemporary tastes, yet retains all of its period character, from the Versailles parquet floors and paneled walls to the crystal chandeliers. 

The focal point of the main level is a double reception room with a separate dining space and a  lavish, Art Deco-inspired cocktail bar. Farther along are a sleek gourmet kitchen (with a breakfast space), a media lounge, and a wraparound terrace with show-stopping views of the city. 

The owner’s suite has a full en suite bathroom and a custom dressing room. The three guest rooms all have en suite shower rooms. 

The residence is air-conditioned throughout and includes an elevator, two cellars, and a staff apartment on the building’s eighth floor.   

The River Seine, the Champs-Élysées, and Avenue Montaigne—La Grande Dame of Parisian streets—are within a short stroll. 

4. Clover Hill in Hidden Hills, California 

Clover Hill is a sanctuary of refined design and tranquil living in the guarded, gated confines of Hidden Hills, just north of Los Angeles, in California’s Santa Monica Mountains.  

The foyer, with its impressive statement staircase, flows into the formal living and dining rooms, and great room, styled for effortless entertaining with an adjoining kitchen, featuring dual waterfall-edged islands and premium appliances. Fully retractable glass walls unite the fluid indoor spaces with the home’s lush outdoor environs.  

A suite of lifestyle amenities awaits on the home’s lower level; among them, a sophisticated cocktail bar and billiards lounge, a movie theater, fitness studio, and a private spa with a cold plunge pool, wet and dry saunas, and a massage room.  

All told, the home offers 16,000 square feet of living space with seven bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, including the upper-level owner’s suite—featuring dual dressing rooms and a terrace overlooking the rear gardens. 

The resort-grade amenities continue outside with a reverse infinity-edge pool and Jacuzzi spa, a terrace with a firepit, a barn-style guest house, and a four-car garage. 

Searching for a home to make the spirits bright? More stylish wet bars this way.