The annual list of The World’s 50 Best Bars was announced on Tuesday, 17 October 2023. Held in Asia for the first time in its history, the ceremony celebrates the excellence of the international drinks sector, paying tribute to the visionary bartenders, enterprising bar owners and trailblazing brands that lead the charge in shaping cocktail culture around the world.
The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 features establishments from 28 cities, with Barcelona’s Sips crowned The Best Bar in Europe and The World’s Best Bar, sponsored by Perrier. This is the second time a bar from Barcelona has taken the top spot in as many years, following Paradiso’s triumph in 2022.
London leads Europe and the world, but Barcelona remains on top
London retains its place as one of the world’s cocktail capitals with five bars on the list, more than any other city, including two in the top 10: Connaught Bar, rising three places to No.5, and Tayēr + Elementary at No.8. They are joined by East London neighbours Satan’s Whiskers at No.28 and A Bar with Shapes for a Name at No.35, with Scarfes Bar coming in at No.41. Edinburgh’s Panda & Sons also returns to the list at No.39.
Barcelona has two entries in the top five, with No.1 Sips alongside Paradiso at No.4, with Madrid’s Salmon Guru at No.16. In Italy, Rome’s Drink Kong at No.21 is joined by new entry Freni e Frizioni (No.33), alongside 1930 (No.42) in Milan, L’Antiquario (No.44) in Naples and Locale Firenze (No.46) in Florence.
Athens continues its ascendency with Line, winner of London Essence Best New Opening Award, at No.12, alongside Baba Au Rum (No.25) and The Clumsies (No.47), which was also named Rémy Martin Legend of The List. Elsewhere in Europe, Paris features Little Red Door at No.6 and newcomer The Cambridge Public House at No.38, while Oslo’s Himkok (No.10) bags the Nikka Highest Climber Award. Berlin sees a strong return to the list with new entry Wax On at No.29. Last year’s Campari One To Watch, Röda Huset from Stockholm, ranks No.31 and is also the recipient of the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award.
New York and Mexico City continue to battle it out
New York’s Double Chicken Please (No.2) is crowned The Best Bar in North America, with fellow Manhattan bars Overstory coming in at No.17 and Katana Kitten at No.27. Miami’s Café La Trova is at No.24 along with new entry Jewel of the South (No.49) bringing New Orleans back into the list for the first time since 2014.
In Mexico City, Handshake Speakeasy has risen 8 places to No.3, with Licorería Limantour at No.7, Hanky Panky at No.22 and Baltra Bar at No.45.
The Best Bar in South America is once again Cartagena’s Alquímico, which has risen to No.9, alongside Buenos Aires’ three entries: Tres Monos (No.11), also winner of the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award), CoChinChina (No.26) and Florería Atlántico (No.30). Carnaval in Lima is at No.43.
New entries shine in Asia
In the host city of Singapore, Jigger & Pony is at No.14 alongside Sago House (No.32) and re-entry Atlas at No.48. They are joined by Seoul newcomer Zest, winner of this year’s Disaronno Highest New Entry Award, at No.18.
Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo each feature two bars in the list, with Bangkok’s BKK Social Club taking the top spot as The Best Bar in Asia at No.13 and welcoming neighbour Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, entering at No.19. Tokyo stalwart Bar Benfiddich (No.37) is joined by The SG Club, which re-enters the list at No.36. Hong Kong is represented by Coa at No.20 and Argo at No.34.
Middle East & Australia
Sydney’s Maybe Sammy (No.15) is crowned The Best Bar in Australasia for an incredible fifth time, having won the title every year since its launch in 2019, whilst Melbourne’s Caretaker’s Cottage joins the list for the first time at No.23.
In Dubai, newcomer Mimi Kakushi storms into the list at No.40 as The Best Bar in The Middle East and Africa, joined by Galaxy Bar at No.50.
Special Awards
The ceremony kicked off the celebrations by naming Lady Bee in Lima as Campari One To Watch, an honour bestowed on a bar outside of the 1-50 ranking that the 50 Best team believes has what it takes to make future editions of the list.
1-50 List Position
1 Sips, Barcelona
2 Double Chicken Please, New York
3 Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
4 Paradiso, Barcelona
5 Connaught Bar, London
6 Little Red Door, Paris
7 Licorería Limantour, Mexico City
8 Tayēr + Elementary, London
9 Alquímico, Cartagena
10 Himkok, Oslo
11 Tres Mono,s Buenos Aires
12 Line, Athens
13 BKK Social Club, Bangkok
14 Jigger & Pony, Singapore
15 Maybe Sammy Sydney
16 Salmon Guru, Madrid
17 Overstory, New York
18 Zest, Seoul
19 Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, Bangkok
20 Coa, Hong Kong
21 Drink Kong, Rome
22 Hanky Panky, Mexico City
23 Caretaker's Cottage, Melbourne
24 Café La Trova, Miami
25 Baba au Rum, Athens
26 CoChinChina, Buenos Aires
27 Katana Kitten, New York
28 Satan's Whiskers, London
29 Wax On, Berlin
30 Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires
31 Röda Huset, Stockholm
32 Sago House, Singapore
33 Freni e Frizioni ,Rome
34 Argo, Hong Kong
35 A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London
36 The SG Club, Tokyo
37 Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
38 The Cambridge Public House, Paris
39 Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
40 Mimi Kakushi, Dubai
41 Scarfes Bar, London
42 1930, Milan
43 Carnaval, Lima
44 L'Antiquario, Naples
45 Baltra Bar, Mexico City
46 Locale Firenze,Florence
47 The Clumsies,Athens
48 Atlas, Singapore
49 Jewel of the South,New Orleans
50 Galaxy Bar, Dubai
