The World’s 50 Best Bars have been unveiled with Paradiso in Barcelona being ranked as number one, the first time a bar outside of New York or London has taken out the top honour.
The 2022 list was revealed at a live awards ceremony in Barcelona on Tuesday 4 October and this year featured bars from 26 cities, including two from Sydney.
Maybe Sammy has once again been named as the Best Bar in Australasia at 29 on the list; it’s the fourth consecutive year it has taken out the prize. Maybe Sammy was joined in the top 50 by Cantina OK!, which was ranked 41 – both bars are finalists in Bar of the Year at this year’s Australian Liquor Industry Awards.
Speaking about the recognition of being Best Bar in Australasia, Co-Founder Stefano Catino said: “When we opened Maybe Sammy in 2019 we never would have dreamed we’d be one of the World’s 50 Best bars four years in a row, let alone the best bar in Australasia each four years in a row.
“We’re so grateful the bar and our team continues to be recognised for the brilliant work they do. Having spent the last two years stuck in Australia and not able to attend the event, we’re really excited to be able to be in Barcelona with our friends and colleagues from all over the world and to see everyone together.
“It’s really very special to be among the community we love. And a special mention goes out to our friends from Australia who made the Top 100 list – we’re proud to be with such good company.”
Overall London regains its position as the cocktail capital of Europe with a total of five bars in the list. Tayēr + Elementary maintains its place at Number Two, with Connaught Bar at Eight and a re-entry from Swift at 30. The city also sees new entries from Satan’s Whiskers at 23 and A Bar with Shapes for a Name at 37.
In host city Barcelona, not only has Paradiso risen two places to Number One, but it is joined in the top 10 by Sips at Number Three, which is this year’s Nikka Highest Climber, and Two Schmucks at Seven, which has risen 4 places. Elsewhere in Spain, Madrid’s Salmon Guru is at No.15.
While no longer host to the world’s best bar, New York does have more bars in the Top 50 than any other city in the world, with six, including two in the top 10. Double Chicken Please is at Number Six and was also awarded the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award, and Katana Kitten climbed one place to Number Nine. The city also has Attaboy at 22, Overstory at 34, Dante at 36 and Employees Only at 47. Chicago returns to the list for the first time since 2018 with Kumiko at 25 and Miami’s Café La Trova has risen seven places to 21.
But the night belonged to Paradiso and in describing the bar and why it is the world’s best, The World’s 50 Best Bars said: “Hidden behind an antique refrigerator in the back of an unassuming pastrami shop in Barcelona’s trendy El Born district, Paradiso offers a truly masterful take on the speakeasy, combining technique, precision and creativity with an unwavering sense of fun.
“In stark contrast to the understated exterior, the majestic front bar welcomes guests into a strikingly playful space, complete with dramatic glass light fittings and Gaudi-inspired curved-wood ceiling.
“At the bar, myriad meticulously crafted cocktails served in outlandish vessels take centre stage. Paradiso signatures, such as the Supercool Martini, uses ‘supercooled’ gin to build an iceberg in the glass before tailoring the final product tableside for a uniquely personal guest experience. From creating coasters and bar tools from single-use waste to hosting the first Paradiso Sustainability Summit, owners Giacomo Giannottiand Margarita Sader and their outstanding team showcase their unwavering commitment to ongoing sustainability, both within Paradiso and the wider industry.”
Mark Sansom, Content Director of The World’s 50 Best Bars, says: “The fact that this is the first time we have crowned a bar outside New York or London as The World’s Best Bar is a testament to the huge achievements of Giacomo, Margarita and their team. Since being named One To Watch in 2017 a year after opening, Paradiso has been a firm fixture of the 50 Best list, enhancing its ranking year after year.
“It is an honour to name it as The World’s Best Bar and the win is credit to Paradiso’s outlandishly inventive cocktail programme, sustainable ethos, work in the global bar community and brilliant sense of fun. Our heartfelt congratulations go out to each and every bar on the list and we are delighted to once again be able to showcase the incredible diversity of the global bar sector, from grand hotel bars and dive bars to neighbourhood speakeasies and stunning rooftop spaces.
“The consumer appetite for quality cocktail bars just keeps on growing and to be able to introduce 14 new entries to help sate this and encourage travel plans couldn’t make us happier.”
Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong each have two bars in the list, with Singapore’s Jigger & Pony at 12) named The Best Bar in Asia. It is joined by Manhattan at 33. Bangkok boasts new entries BKK Social Club, winner of London Essence Best New Opening at 14, as well as new entry Tropic City at 24 and Hong Kong’s Coa comes in at 17 alongside new entry Argo at 28.
Other awards on the night included Röda Huset in Stockholm, being named the 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.
The winner of Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu is Juliana of Guayaquil, which takes the accolade for its outstanding Diverso cocktail list. The World’s 50 Best Bars said: “The menu is not simply a drinks list, but a reflection of the bar’s ethos and mission to champion the produce and people of its country.”
Italian-born, London-based Agostino Perrone wass named Roku Industry Icon. For this award, all 650 members of the voting Academy are asked to name the person who has done more for the progress of the bar industry than any other individual. As Director of Mixology at London’s iconic Connaught Bar, Agostino’s leadership has led to the bar to appearing on every list since 2010, including twice topping the ranking in 2020 and 2021.
Licorería Limantour in Mexico City at No.4 claims the title of Rémy Martin Legend of the List, an award which is given to a bar that has performed most consistently in the list since its inception and can only be won once.
Paris’ acclaimed Little Red Door has won the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Awar and the inaugural 50 Best The Blend Scholar has been announced as Drew Fleming of Kiki Lounge, Isle of Man, Drew will now complete two bar stages (internships) at London’s Connaught Bar and New York’s Katana Kitten.
The World’s 50 Best Bars:
1 Paradiso Barcelona
2 Tayēr + Elementary London
3 Sips Barcelona
4 Licorería Limantour Mexico City
5 Little Red Door Paris
6 Double Chicken Please New York
7 Two Schmucks Barcelona
8 Connaught Bar London
9 Katana Kitten New York
10 Alquímico Cartagena
11 Handshake Speakeasy Mexico City
12 Jigger & Pony Singapore
13 Hanky Panky Mexico City
14 BKK Social Club Bangkok
15 Salmon Guru Madrid
16 Drink Kong Rome
17 Coa Hong Kong
18 Florería Atlántico Buenos Aires
19 The Clumsies Athens
20 Baba au Rum Athens
21 Café La Trova Miami
22 Attaboy New York
23 Satan’s Whiskers London
24 Tropic City Bangkok
25 Kumiko Chicago
26 Sidecar New Delhi
27 Tres Monos Buenos Aires
28 Argo Hong Kong
29 Maybe Sammy Sydney
30 Swift London
31 Line Athens
32 Baltra Bar Mexico City
33 Manhattan Singapore
34 Overstory New York
35 1930 Milan
36 Dante New York
37 A Bar with Shapes for a Name London
38 Zuma Dubai
39 Locale Firenze Florence
40 Red Frog Lisbon
41 Cantina OK! Sydney
42 CoChinChina Buenos Aires
43 Himkok Oslo
44 Carnaval Lima
45 Galaxy Bar Dubai
46 L’Antiquario Naples
47 Employees Only New York
48 Bar Benfiddich Tokyo
49 Lucy’s Flower Shop Stockholm
50 Bulgari Bar Dubai
