Can Muslims stay in a hotel that serves alcohol?
Yes. Muslims can stay in a hotel that has a bar, a minibar or a restaurant serving wine. Almost every hotel in Europe and the USA does, and staying there isn't taking part in it. What matters is that you don't drink, buy or sit at a table where alcohol is being served.
Why staying is fine
You're paying for a room, a bed and a shower, which are all permissible. The hotel selling alcohol to other guests is their responsibility, not yours. Scholars compare it to shopping at a supermarket that also stocks beer: your transaction is for halal things. Expecting new Muslims or travelers to avoid every hotel with a bar would make travel nearly impossible, and Islam doesn't place that kind of hardship on people.
The prohibition itself is clear: alcohol is something to stay away from.
The minibar
A minibar stocked with beer and wine in your room isn't a problem in itself; you just don't drink from it. If having it there bothers you, you can:
- Ask the front desk to empty it or switch it off. Many hotels do this on request.
- Use it only for your own water, juice or snacks, if the hotel allows.
- Simply ignore it. Not touching something isn't a sin.
Watch the small print: some hotels charge automatically when an item is moved, so don't shift bottles around to make space.
The bar and the restaurant
The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not sit at a table where wine is being passed around (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2801, graded hasan). So the hotel bar isn't a place to hang out, even with a soft drink. See Can I go to a bar with friends if I only drink soda?
Eating breakfast or dinner in the hotel restaurant is different. Other guests ordering wine at their own tables doesn't make your meal haram; just make sure no alcohol is on your table, and check the food itself. See Can Muslims eat at non-halal restaurants?
If you're traveling for work and colleagues gather in the bar, you can join them in the lobby, at dinner or for coffee instead.
Halal-friendly hotels
If you'd like to avoid alcohol altogether, look for "halal-friendly" or "Muslim-friendly" hotels. They're common in Turkey, Malaysia, the Gulf and parts of Spain and the UK, and usually offer alcohol-free rooms, halal food, a qibla marker and prayer mats. Some booking sites let you filter for them. They're a nice option, not an obligation. See Can I still go on a cruise as a Muslim?
- Staying in a hotel that serves alcohol is permissible.
- Don't drink from the minibar; ask for it to be emptied if you like.
- Avoid sitting at the bar or at a table where alcohol is served.
- Halal-friendly hotels are a good choice when available.
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