The World's 50 Best Bars have just been announced for 2024 – this is the bucket list for drinking dens around the world to start ticking off.
For those unfamiliar with the list, The World’s 50 Best Bars is one of the most prestigious awards on the planet: a definitive ranking of the world's most outstanding places to drink. The list is updated each year at an awards ceremony, which took place in Madrid this year. It's run by the same company that produces The World's 50 Best Restaurants, widely considered to be the ultimate global restaurant ranking. The awards are compiled from The World’s 50 Best Bars Academy, which consists of 700 anonymous industry experts.
Which bar was named the best bar in the world in 2024?
Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City was named the best bar in the world for 2024.
The World's 50 Best Bars: 50-1
New entries are marked with an asterisk.
50. 1930, Milan, Italy
49. Danico, Paris, France*
48. El Gallo Altanero, Guadalajara, Mexico*
47. Analogue Initiative, Singapore
46. Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires, Argentina
45. Röda Huset, Stockholm, Sweden
44. La Sala de Laura, Bogota, Colombia*
43. Atlas, Singapore
42. Virtú, Tokyo, Japan*
41. Bar Us, Bangkok, Japan*
40. Mimi Kakushi, Dubai, UAE
39. Bar Nouveau, Paris, France*
38. Moebius Milano, Milan, Italy*
37. Scarfes Bar, London, UK
36. Locale Firenze, Florence, Italy
35. Byrdi, Melbourne, Australia*
34. Jewel of the South, New Orleans, USA
33. Drink Kong, Rome, Italy
32. Licorería Limantour, Mexico City, Mexico
31. Tan Tan, São Paulo, Brazil*
30. Panda & Sons, Edinburgh, UK
29. Satan's Whiskers, London, UK
28. Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore*
27. Superbueno, New York, USA*
26. Maybe Sammy, Sydney, Australia
25. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo, Japan
24. Martiny's, New York, USA*
23. Salmon Guru, Madrid, Spain
22. CoChinChina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
21. Caretaker's Cottage, Melbourne, Australia
20. Tlecān, Mexico City, Mexico*
19. The Cambridge Public House, Paris, France
18. Coa, Hong Kong
17. Baba au Rum, Athens, Greece
16. Lady Bee, Lima, Peru*
15. Overstory, New York, USA
14. Double Chicken Please, New York, USA
13. Connaught Bar, London, UK
12. BKK Social Club, Bangkok, Thailand
11. Himkok, Oslo, Norway
10. Paradiso, Barcelona, Spain
9. Zest, Seoul, South Korea
8. Alquimico, Cartagena, Colombia
7. Tres Monos, Buenos Aires, Argentina
6. Line, Athens, Greece
5. Jigger & Pony, Sinagpore
4. Tayer + Elementary, London, UK
3. Sips, Barcelona, Spain
2. Bar Leone, Hong Kong*
1. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City, Mexico
Which country and city has the best bars in the world?
The USA was the country with the most bars in the list in 2024, with 5 bars named: Jewel of the South in New Orleans; Superbueno, Martiny's, Overstory and Double Chicken Please in New York City. And New York and London were tied for the city with the most bars, with 4 a piece.
How many of The World's 50 Best Bars are in the UK?
In the main list, there are 5 bars from across the UK – 4 in London (Scarfes Bar, Satan's Whiskers, Connaught Bar and Tayer + Elementary) and one in Scotland (Panda & Sons). And in the 51-100 list, four are in the UK – Viajante87, Amaro, A Bar with Shapes For a Name and Kwãnt Mayfair, which can all be found in London.
Which bars placed highest in each continent?
There are also six awards, given to the bar which places highest in each continent. This year, the best bar in the Middle East and Africa went to Mimi Kakushi in Dubai. The best bar in Australasia was Caretaker's Cottage in Melbourne, Australia. The best bar in Asia was Bar Leoné in Hong Kong while the best bar in South America went to Tres Monos, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The best bar in North America was named as Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City and the best bar in Europe went to Sips in Barcelona, last year's champion.
Which bars won The World's 50 Best special awards?
There were also some special awards outside of the list of 50-1. These include the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award, which – as the name suggests – recognises a bar that provides outstanding hospitality. The 2024 award went to Caretaker's Cottage in Melbourne, Australia which opened in a 100-year-old brick cottage in 2022 and spotlights a bewitching mix of Guinness and martinis. The Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award, meanwhile, went to Iain McPherson, owner of Edinburgh bar Panda & Sons. The Campari One To Watch Award, which goes to a bar in the 51-100 list which the academy believes has the potential to break into the main list soon, went to Cat Bite Club in Singapore. The Bareksten Best Bar Design Award was awarded to Himkok in Oslo, Norway. The London Essence Best New Opening Award goes to the highest-ranking bar which has opened within the judging window. This went to Superbueno in New York, USA. The Roku Scholarship 2024, meanwhile, which awards bartending practices and attitudes that will have a positive impact on the planet and its people, went to Canadian Calliope Draper.
How many new entries were there to the list in 2024?
There were 16 new entries to the 2024 list, spanning from Danico in Paris, France to La Sala de Laura, Bogota, Colombia. The highest new entry was Bar Leone from Hong Kong, which placed at an astounding number 2 in the list.
The World's Best Bars 2024: 51-100
On 8 October, the first half of the list – that's the bars awarded numbers 51-100 on the list – were announced and are listed below.
100. Above Board, Melbourne, Australia
99. Viajante87, London, UK
98. Penrose, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
97. Employees Only, New York, USA
96. Cantina OK!, Sydney, Australia
95. Nouvelle Vague, Tirana, Albania
94. Red Frog, Lisbon, Portugal
93. Hanky Panky, Mexico City, Mexico
92. Camparino in Galleria, Milan, Italy
91. Zapote Bar, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
90. Amaro, London, UK
89. The Bellwood, Tokyo, Japan
88. Pacific Cocktail Heaven, San Francisco, USA
87. Rayo, Mexico City, Mexico
86. Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya, Sri Lanka
85. Vesper, Bangkok, Thailand
84. Attaboy, New York, USA
83. Baltra Bar, Mexico City, Mexico
82. The Savory Project, Hong Kong
81. Sin + Tax, Johannesburg, South Africa
80. Katana Kitten, New York, USA
79. Dante, New York, USA
78. L'Antiquario, Naples, Italy
77. Bird, Copenhagen, Denmark
76. LPM Dubai, Dubai, UAE
75. Hero Bar, Nairobi, Kenya
74. Night Hawk, Singapore
73. Wax On, Berlin, Germany
72. Svanen, Oslo, Norway
71. Bar Cham, Seoul, South Korea
70. Bar Pompette, Toronto, Canada
69. Carnaval, Lima, Peru
68. Barro Negro, Athens, Greece
67. Native, Singapore
66. Café La Trova, Miami, USA
65. Angelita, Madrid, Spain
64. Thunderbolt, Los Angeles, USA
63. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou, China
62. Mirror Bar, Bratislava, Slovakia
61. A Bar with Shapes For a Name, London, UK
60. The Clumsies, Athens, Greece
59. Little Red Door, Paris
58. Argo, Hong Kong
57. Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, Bangkok, Thailand
56. Cat Bite Club, Singapore
55. Arca, Tulum, Mexico
54. The SG Club, Tokyo, Japan
53. Freni e Frizioni, Rome, Italy
52. Kwãnt Mayfair, London, UK
51. The Bar in Front of the Bar, Athens, Greece