4 Tokyo Bars Crowned in World’s Top 100
Tokyo claimed four spots on the 16th annual list of The World’s 100 Best Bars unveiled on October 22 in recognition of bartenders, owners, cocktails and brands, with Bar Benfiddich in Shinjuku at 25th; newcomer Virtú in the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi (42nd), and two from Shibuya, The SG Club (54) and The Bellwood (89).
The list features venues from 28 cities. Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy named The Best Bar in North America and The World’s Best Bar.
“Tucked away in the Colonia Juárez neighborhood of Mexico City, Handshake Speakeasy is one of the capital’s best-kept open secrets. Hidden behind a secret door in a dimly lit room stocked with an impressive array of vintage spirits, the bar’s interiors masterfully evoke the bygone age of the Hollywood speakeasy,” a press release said.
With four bars in the top 50, Singapore boasts stalwarts Jigger & Pony at 5th and Atlas at 43 joined by new entries Nutmeg & Clove (28) and Analogue Initiative (47). In Hong Kong, new entry Bar Leone has stormed into the list at second spot, taking the title of The Best Bar in Asia as well as Disaronno Highest New Entry with neighbor Coa at No.18. Bangkok’s BKK Social Club rises to 12 alongside new entry Bar Us at 41, while Seoul’s Zest is 9th and wins this year’s Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award.
Emma Sleight, Head of Content for The World’s 100 Best Bars, said: “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to each and every bar on this year’s list, which once again highlights the incredible diversity of the global bar sector. We hope that this year’s list continues to operate as a beacon for cocktail lovers the world over.”
London retains its crown as the cocktail capital of Europe with four bars out of 19 for the continent, including No.4 Tayēr + Elementary with co-founder Monica Berg also being named the Roku Industry Icon.
The Best Bar in Europe title once again goes to Barcelona’s Sips at 3rd spot, with Paradiso (Barcelona) at 10 and host city Madrid’s Salmon Guru at 23.
Rising an astonishing 19 places and winner of this year’s Nikka Highest Climber Award is Paris’ The Cambridge Public House at 19, joined by two new entries for the city: Bar Nouveau at 39 and Danico at 49.
With four bars, New York City continues its dominance in North America, with Double Chicken Please (14) and Overstory (15) joined by new entries Martiny’s (24) and Superbueno (27), this year’s recipient of the London Essence Best New Opening Award. New Orleans’ Jewel of the South is 34.
Tres Monos in Buenos Aires becomes the new The Best Bar in South America at 7, joined by fellow Porteños CoChinChina (22) and Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award winner Florería Atlántico (46).
Bars in Melbourne take the crown in Australia, while the UAE remains consistent
For the first time in five years, there is a new The Best Bar in Australasia, with Melbourne’s Caretaker’s Cottage rising two places to 21 and taking home the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award. It is joined by Sydney’s Maybe Sammy at 26 and new entry Byrdi, also in Melbourne, at 35. Dubai’s Mimi Kakushi holds its position at 40 and is named The Best Bar in the Middle East & Africa.
About The World’s 100 Best Bars
The World’s 100 Best Bars provides a definitive list of the world’s best drinking venues, voted for by an Academy of more than 700 experts worldwide. The World’s 100 Best Bars list has been published annually since 2009 and has become the most anticipated ranking for drinks professionals and cocktail aficionados across the world, with the awards the highlight of the bar industry calendar. William Reed, which owns the Best brand, is entirely responsible for the organization of the awards, the voting system and the respective lists.
How the voting works
The list is compiled by votes from The World’s Best Bars Academy, which comprises more than 700 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 eight votes based on their best bar experiences of the previous 18 months. Voters are required to remain anonymous and voting is confidential, secure and independently adjudicated by Deloitte.