The 1920s were an era of dramatic social and political change. Jazz blossomed, art deco flourished, and speakeasies thrived during Prohibition. This decade of prosperity, excess, and cultural transformation left an indelible mark on architecture, design, and entertainment that continues to captivate our imagination a century later.
While much has changed in the modern world, certain places have preserved or recaptured the distinctive charm of the Roaring Twenties. Here is a list of 20 destinations around the world where you can still experience the glamour, innovation, and spirit of this transformative decade.
The Cotton Club, Harlem, New York
The Cotton Club remains one of Harlem’s most iconic venues, though it has changed locations since its 1920s heyday. The modern incarnation still captures the essence of the Jazz Age with its art deco interior and live performances.
Visitors can enjoy dinner and drinks while listening to jazz and big band music that would make Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway proud.
Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai, China
Originally known as the Cathay Hotel, this magnificent art deco building on Shanghai’s Bund was the epitome of luxury in the 1920s. The hotel’s Jazz Bar features the world’s oldest jazz band, with musicians averaging 80 years of age.
The meticulously restored copper-sheathed octagonal roof, Italian marble floors, and Lalique glass artwork transport visitors back to Shanghai’s golden age.
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Napier, New Zealand
After a devastating earthquake in 1931, Napier was rebuilt almost entirely in art deco style. The concentration of pristine 1930s buildings makes it feel like a movie set frozen in time.
In February, the annual Art Deco Festival transforms the streets with vintage cars, fashion parades, and outdoor concerts, creating an immersive 1920s experience thousands of miles from America and Europe.
Bar Hemingway at The Ritz, Paris, France
Named after its famous patron Ernest Hemingway, this intimate bar in Paris offers a glimpse into the expatriate experience of 1920s Paris. The wood-paneled walls are adorned with Hemingway memorabilia, and bartenders in white jackets mix classic cocktails according to traditional recipes.
It’s easy to imagine Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein engaged in lively conversation at nearby tables.
The Edison, Los Angeles, California
Housed in a former power plant, this downtown LA nightclub features stunning industrial architecture with art deco accents. With its strict 1920s dress code on weekends, vintage cocktail menu, and burlesque performances, The Edison recreates the atmosphere of a high-end Prohibition-era speakeasy.
The multi-level space includes original generators and boilers that serve as industrial sculptures among the plush seating areas.
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Café Central, Vienna, Austria
This grand café served as the intellectual hub of Vienna in the early 20th century. The vaulted ceilings, marble columns, and tuxedoed servers maintain the ambiance of the 1920s coffee house culture.
Patrons can enjoy traditional Viennese pastries while sitting where luminaries like Freud, Trotsky, and Stefan Zweig once debated the ideas that shaped the era.
Cicada Club, Los Angeles, California
Located in the historic Oviatt Building, the Cicada Club offers one of America’s most authentic 1920s nightlife experiences. The venue features original art deco detailing from 1928, including hand-painted murals and elaborate ceiling designs.
Weekly events feature live orchestras playing period music while patrons dance in vintage attire, creating an atmosphere straight out of a Fitzgerald novel.
The Savoy Hotel, London, England
The American Bar at The Savoy pioneered cocktail culture in Europe during the 1920s and remains largely unchanged today. The hotel’s art deco styling, legendary service, and traditional afternoon tea experience preserve the British upper-class experience of the Jazz Age.
Many cocktails still served at the bar were invented by legendary bartender Harry Craddock during this period.
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The Great Gatsby Mansion, Sands Point, New York
This estate on Long Island’s Gold Coast reportedly inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald’s description of Gatsby’s mansion. The sprawling property with waterfront views exemplifies the extravagant homes where the wealthy hosted lavish parties during Prohibition.
Visitors can tour the grounds and mansion to experience the setting defining the era’s excesses.
The Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables, Florida
Built in 1926, this Mediterranean Revival masterpiece hosted royalty, celebrities, and gangsters during its heyday. The hotel’s tower was modeled after the Giralda in Seville, while its pool—once the largest in the world—hosted synchronized swimming performances.
Al Capone reportedly maintained a speakeasy on the 13th floor during Prohibition, and the original elevators and loggia remain intact.
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France
This museum houses one of the world’s finest collections of art deco furnishings, jewelry, and interior design. The extensive exhibits showcase how the 1920s revolutionized everything from fashion to household objects.
Visitors can see authentic furniture, clothing, and decorative items that defined the aesthetic of the age of modernism and prosperity.
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Quebec City, Canada
The fortified old city features numerous buildings with distinctive 1920s architecture and design elements. The Château Frontenac hotel dominates the skyline with its copper-topped towers and grand public spaces that exemplify the era’s luxury.
The nearby Quartier Petit Champlain features boutiques and restaurants in buildings that maintain their 1920s character despite centuries of history.
The State Theatre, Sydney, Australia
This perfectly preserved 1920s movie palace features gold leaf details, crystal chandeliers, and elaborate ceiling murals. The grand staircase and marble foyer remain exactly as they were when the theater opened in 1929.
Today’s visitors can experience films and performances in the same setting that amazed audiences during the final days of the silent film era.
Casa Mila, Barcelona, Spain
Though built slightly before the 1920s, Gaudí’s masterpiece apartment building embodied the spirit of modernism that flourished during the decade. The undulating stone facade, wrought iron balconies, and sculptural chimneys influenced art deco architecture worldwide.
Tours of the preserved apartments show how progressive residents lived during the early 20th century in spaces that still feel futuristic today.
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Claridge’s, London, England
The landmark hotel underwent a complete Art Deco transformation in 1929, and those design elements remain its signature feature. The black and white checkered lobby, geometric mirrors, and chrome detailing epitomize high-style 1920s luxury.
Afternoon tea at Claridge’s follows the same ceremonial service developed for fashionable society during the Jazz Age.
The Carlyle Hotel, New York City, New York
Opening in 1930, The Carlyle captured the final moments of art deco’s golden age. The hotel’s Bemelmans Bar features original Ludwig Bemelmans murals from 1947 but maintains the intimate 1920s style with its leather banquettes and classic cocktail service.
The discreet atmosphere continues attracting celebrities seeking the privacy valued by elite patrons during Prohibition.
Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
This ocean liner, launched in 1934, features interiors designed at the height of the art deco movement. Now permanently docked as a hotel and museum, the ship’s wood-paneled first-class dining room, etched glass panels, and grand ballroom showcase the luxury ocean travel experience of the period.
The Observation Bar retains its original 1930s fixtures and panoramic views.
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Raffles Hotel, Singapore
The colonial-era hotel was already famous by the 1920s when it became a favorite of literary figures like Somerset Maugham. The Long Bar, the birthplace of the Singapore Sling cocktail in 1915, maintains its original rattan furniture and ceiling fans.
The tradition of serving the iconic pink drink in the same glassware design has continued uninterrupted for over a century.
Michelberger Hotel, Berlin, Germany
Unlike other entries, this modern boutique hotel doesn’t preserve 1920s architecture but instead captures the experimental spirit of Weimar-era Berlin. Located in a former factory in the city’s creative district, the hotel’s design references Berlin’s legendary cabaret culture with playful, slightly risqué details.
Live music performances and artistic events echo the boundary-pushing creativity that defined 1920s Berlin.
Grand Central Terminal, New York City, New York
The majestic transportation hub epitomizes the grandeur of 1920s public architecture. The celestial ceiling mural, Beaux-Arts detailing, and iconic four-faced clock continue to impress travelers just as they did a century ago.
The Oyster Bar restaurant in the lower concourse has operated continuously since 1913, serving seafood in its vaulted space to generations of commuters and visitors.
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Timeless Elegance in the Modern Age
These destinations demonstrate how the distinctive style and innovative spirit of the 1920s continue to influence our aesthetic sensibilities today. Whether through meticulous preservation, thoughtful restoration, or creative reinterpretation, these places offer more than nostalgia—they provide a tangible connection to an era that fundamentally shaped modern culture.
The enduring appeal of these 1920s-inspired environments speaks to our ongoing fascination with a decade that, despite its challenges, embraced beauty, progress, and joy with unparalleled enthusiasm.
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