The World's Bars For 2018

What makes the World’s Best Bar? Well, it seems in 2018, that would be a mix of innovation, botany and the unexpected.

And that mix has certainly worked for acclaimed London bar, Dandelyon, who have taken out the honour of being voted number one in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2018.

Dandelyan first entered the list at No. 50 in 2015, before jumping to No.3 in 2016 and placing second last year. In grabbing the top spot, it toppled the American Bar, at the Savoy hotel in London.

The win shows the continued return to form for London, who dominated the list with ten bars, four of which were in the top 10.

But if you are looking to travel to London and see the Dandelyon for yourself, then you’re going to have to hurry. Only days before the award, the bar’s owner, Ryan Chetiyawardana, announced that the venue was set to close.

Next year’s closure of Dandelyan, which occupies the ground floor of uber cool but weirdly named Mondrian London Hotel at Sea Containers, will disappoint legions of fans who flock to the low-lit if somewhat brash venue to guzzle signature botanic creations.

“In a way, it’s the most fitting thing,” he added. “We have worked so hard and with so much passion and we’re now at the pinnacle of the industry.”

London’s closest rival, New York, managed six bars on the list with NoMad, the buttoned-up cocktail venue set in a hotel of the same name, coming in at number four.

Behind it at nine is cherished Greenwich Village legend Dante, Attaboy at 15, former winner The Dead Rabbit at 16, list stalwart Employees Only at 26 and BlackTail at 41.

One of the most interesting and exciting cities on the list was Singapore, which leads Asia’s ranking with five bars featured.

Asia’s growing presence on the Best Bars rundown was enhanced by Hong Kong’s Hemingway-themed Old Man at number 10, the list’s highest new entry. Other notable bars from the region included Tokyo’s High Five at 12, and classic Shanghai speakeasy Speak Low at 20.