The World of Cocktails - Trends that we hope last a little longer

When temperatures start to rise, what better way could there be to enjoy summer than with a cool drink, colourfully garnished for visual appeal and with plenty of ice. So once you’ve found a place in your favourite bar, you can settle down for the hard part. Shaken or stirred? The famous question from the James Bond films was yesterday. Today, our barkeeper Hans Höfer reveals the hottest cocktail trends of the summer season and those we hope will be trending for a little while longer:

Barkeeper Hans Höfer

For the Adventurous: Fresh Herbs and Spices

What has long been commonplace in the kitchen can now be found in cocktail mixers: fresh herbs and spices in fruity cocktails. Adventurous barkeepers are reaching for basil, ginger, thyme and sage to create a trend that not only tastes good, but is healthy as well. The reason is that herbs contain many valuable substances like minerals, trace elements and chlorophyll. 

For the Hard-Bitten: Booze Infusions

If you’re the sort of person who only uses a teabag when you have a cold, then you’ve obviously never heard of the latest trend: Booze infusions. Take a common or garden teabag and let it steep in vodka or gin. Topped with lime juice, ginger ale or cucumber, there’s no better way to cool down on hot summer days. 

For Real Royals: Sparkling Wine Cocktails

Cocktails with sparkling wine or champagne are once again at the top of the summer hit list. And as well as the famous Kir Royal, there are plenty of new flavours to be enjoyed. Purée some fresh berries and then top up the mixture with champagne. And if you like, you can also add a dash of spirits to the fruity drink. 

For Hotheads: Lemonade Cocktails

Admittedly, lemonade cocktails are not really cocktails. But if we follow the definition that a cocktail is a mixed drink made of two or more ingredients, then lemonade cocktails certainly deserve a place on our list! As real all-rounders they offer refreshment on hot summer days and also provide the body with liquids. How about a homemade elderberry or lime and ginger lemonade? Simple recipes that you can try out at home can be found on chefkoch.de.
 

Cocktail Happy Hour @ U-ONE Bar 
Every day between 10.00 p.m. and 11.00 p.m. you can enjoy all cocktails for just EUR 5.10!

Do not miss the summer in Zagreb and hotel ARCOTEL

With its seductive charm, numerous bars and restaurants, Zagreb as one of the major shopping destinations and cultural sites offers more than expected. Are you a lover of cultural events or you cannot resist the shopping tours in Zagreb? Zagreb offers not only numerous cultural attractions, but also urban and modern architecture that creates the perfect balance for a perfect visit to this versatile and interesting city.

To avoid the summer heat, Zagreb offers many parks such as Maksimir, the main Zagreb park, with its 316 hectares of land. Within the park you can visit the zoo which is the oldest Croatian zoo. The first design hotel in Zagreb – ARCOTEL Allegra strongly recommends that you visit this natural oasis.

Only one weekend is enough to get to know the Croatia’s capital. The symbol of West European culture and the seductive charm of the Mediterranean will be good enough reason to pack your bags and set off to visit Croatia’s capital.

We recommend these attractions worth visiting during your stay in Zagreb:

-          Botanical Garden

-          numerous museums in old town core

-          old town core with richly decorated facades and palaces

-          numerous bars, restaurants and designer shops in the city centre

Simply a hit

Once again this year crazy outfits, brightly coloured hair and colourful glasses captured Hamburg's inner city – and the ARCOTEL Onyx Hamburg was right in the middle of it all. Every summer since 1997 the Schlagermove Festival has made its way through the famous St. Pauli district. This year's "colourful festival of love" took place on June 28th, 2014. The world's largest Schlager (hit music from the 1970s and 1980s) party delights Schlager fans from all over Germany, and recorded approx. 500,000 visitors this year despite the rainy weather.

The heart of the festival was a procession of 45 colourfully decorated floats, which made their way from Heiligengeistfeld to the Landungsbrücken and the Millerntorplatz, then back to Heiligengeistfeld. The ARCOTEL Onyx Hamburg, with its location at the start of the Reeperbahn, is directly in the middle of the action, and at the same time was a small rest area for stranded Schlager fans, to who we were happy to open our doors as a meeting point or as an oasis for refuelling. In the middle of the action, not just a spectator – the party atmosphere infected the whole building; guests and employees celebrated the festival together. 

Following the Schlagermove there was, as always, a large Aftermove party on the Heiligengeistfeld, in a party space of over 6,000 square meters and with five party tents. A colourful DJ program and live performances from Heino and others ensured a great atmosphere until deep into the night.

We are already looking forward to the Schlagermove in 2015!

ARCOTEL Onyx

20359 Hamburg | Reeperbahn 1 A

T +49 40 209 409-0 | F +49 40 209 409-2550

E onyx@arcotelhotels.com | www.arcotelhotels.com/onyx

A culinary journey through the long and hot summer

Summer is already here, and with it our new culinary offer, which will be at your disposal until the end of August. Since something light, refreshing and nice is necessary with the arrival of the warm summer months, our offer is designed to keep your mind and body vital and healthy. It does not matter whether you are on your way to the Adriatic or returning to your place of residence, and you want to make a break in Zagreb or you have plans to visit the Croatian capital, our great summer offer will make your stay in Zagreb even more beautiful and interesting.

Our chef Ivan Simončić and his team created the following just for you:

"Summer light cuisine" – various light salads (from EUR 4,60) & selected Croatian wines (from EUR 2,70)

"Pasta Italiana" – delicious pasta meals at exceptional prices from EUR 6,20

"Fresh & healthy collection" – freshly squeezed juices & refreshing homemade lemonades from EUR 2,60

In addition to this offer, our menu also features other fine Croatian and Austrian specialties, as well as the best cocktails in Croatia prepared by officially the most creative cocktail master of Croatia, our very own Roman Rabik!

We will reveal some of the most important summer events in the city so you can have lasting memories of Zagreb. What is happening in the Croatian capital during the summer months:

Zagreb Time Machine
26. 4. - 5. 10. 2014.

Summer at Štros - STROSSMARTRE 2014
29. 5. - 15. 9. 2014.

Top Gear Live
3. 7. 2014.

International Fireworks Festival
4. 7. - 6. 7. 2014

48^th International Folklore Festival 
16. - 20. 7. 2014.

Since the ARCOTEL Allegra hotel is just a few minutes’ walk from the main square and the picturesque old town centre, it presents the ideal starting point to visit the aforementioned events, explore the cultural sights of the city and shopping tours. Enjoy our culinary journey and discover the beauties of the Croatian capital. The ARCOTEL Allegra team invites you and looks forward to your visit!