World’s Best Bars Release List Ahead of Announcement

Ahead of the announcement of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023, sponsored by Perrier, the extended 51-100 list has been revealed for the seventh year. The annual list is decided by a voting panel comprising 680 independent drinks experts, from renowned bartenders, educators and consultants to drinks writers and cocktail specialists.

The 51-100 list includes bars spanning 34 different cities across the world. There are 14 new entries on the list, with three cities featuring for the first time: Tulum, Guadalajara and Tirana. The United States leads the list with six bars across New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, whilst the United Kingdom leads in Europe with five bars out of a total of 17 across the continent. Albania saw its first-ever entry in Nouvelle Vague from Tirana, and the list included 14 bars in Asia, five of which are in Singapore.

The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 will see the prestigious awards event leave Europe for the first time as it continues its mission to spotlight the world’s great cocktail cities. Now in its 15th annual edition, this marks another important milestone for the awards as it continues to recognise the achievements of the past year and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of the global bar community. The extended 51-100 list strives to showcase a wider selection of the most excellent bars and destinations around the world.

William Drew, Director of Content, 50 Best, said when the organisation launched the extended list of The World’s 50 Best Bars, its intention was to shine a light on an even greater cross-section of the most exceptional destinations for cocktail lovers. 

“Now, in its seventh year, we are delighted to recognise the remarkable hospitality experiences offered by these establishments across 34 incredible cities. As we once again take to the road, leaving Europe for the first time in our history to celebrate the greatest cocktail bars in the world in the iconic city of Singapore, we extend our warmest congratulations to each and every one of the superb teams whose bars have been named on the list,” said Drew.

Elsewhere in North America, Mexico saw four new entries, including two new cities, with Tulum’s Arca at No.60, closely followed by El Gallo Altanero, Guadalajara at No.65. Further new entries include Mexico City’s Rayo at No.72 and Kaito del Valle at No.81. Canada also re-joins the list for the first time since 2020 with new entry Civil Liberties from Toronto at No.73.

In South America, Lima’s Lady Bee enters the extended list for the first time at No.52 and is joined by São Paulo’s Tan Tan (No.56) and SubAstor (No.58), with Bogotá’s La Sala de Laura at No.80.

Europe retains its crown as the continent with the most entries, with five of 17 in the United Kingdom. London’s Lyaness (No.54) and Artesian (No.100) both re-enter the list and are joined by Swift at No.76 and Donovan Bar at No.92. Elsewhere in the UK, Schofield’s in Manchester is at No.95.

Following the United Kingdom is Greece with two Athens bars on the list – Barro Negro (No.70) and new entry The Bar in Front of the Bar at No.98. Further new entries include Velvet, Berlin at No.77; Svanen, Oslo at No.84, and Mirror Bar, Bratislava at No.90. 

Denmark took to the list for the first time in five years with Ruby, Copenhagen, returning at No.87. Also featured are Danico (No.51) in Paris, Milan’s Camparino in Galleria (No.85), Lisbon’s Red Frog (No.88), Tjoget (No.93) in Stockholm and Nicosia’s Lost & Found (No.96).

Singapore has five bars on the list out of a total of 14 across Asia. 28 HongKong Street leads at No.59, followed by Manhattan at No.63, Nutmeg & Clove at No.64, Analogue Initiative at No.78 and Native at No.83. Hong Kong’s Penicillin (No.71) and Darkside (No.97) are joined by Hope & Sesame (No.74) in Guangzhou. Japan and Thailand have two bars apiece: Tokyo’s The Bellwood is at No.53 and High Five at No.79, alongside Bangkok’s Vesper (No.55) and Tropic City (No.66). New Delhi’s Sidecar is at No.67, while Seoul made a triumphant return with new entry Bar Cham at No.75.

Hero Bar in Nairobi continues to climb the list, moving up six places to No.62, and Johannesburg’s   Sin + Tax comes in at No.94. Dubai's new entry Ergo is at No.69, and Melbourne’s Byrdi has re-entered the list at No.61.

The list of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023, sponsored by Perrier, will be revealed at a live awards ceremony in Singapore on 17 October 2023. The countdown of the list will also be broadcast live to a global audience who are not able to attend in person, from 8.20 pm local time. Bars and cocktail lovers are invited to join through The World’s 50 Best Bars Facebook page and 50 Best Bars TV channel on YouTube.

The list is compiled by votes from The World’s 50 Best Bars Academy, which comprises 680 drinks experts with gender balance, including renowned bartenders and consultants, drinks writers and cocktail specialists from around the world. The Academy of Voters is spread across 28 global geographic regions, each headed by an Academy Chair who selects their region’s voters, with the distribution of voters designed to reflect the relative development and sophistication of the drinks sector, and the concentration of quality bars, in each region. Each voter casts seven votes based on their best bar experiences of the previous 18 months, although if they have been unable to travel, they are asked to provide five votes from their home country or SAR. Voters are required to remain anonymous, and voting is confidential, secure and independently adjudicated by Deloitte.

The Full List: