It seems this is a year of firsts for the World’s 50 Best Bars. Not only has the award ceremony moved away from its usual London location to Barcelona, but the awards have also crowned a bar located outside of the historic cocktail capitals of New York and London, as the best in the world for the first time also.
Barcelona’s “Paradiso” was named The World’s Best Bar (No.1), which is the first time in the list’s history that the Catalonian capital has claimed the top spot.
The 2022 list features bars from 26 cities, including 14 new entries spread across Athens, Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Dubai, Florence, Hong Kong, Lisbon, London, Naples and New York.
Regional Awards
Among the honours, the Best Bar in North America went to Licorería Limantour (No.4), Mexico City, Mexico; the Best Bar in South America went to Alquímico (No.10), Cartagena, Colombia; the Best Bar in Asia went to Jigger & Pony (No.12), Singapore; the Best Bar in Australasia went to Maybe Sammy (No.29), Sydney, Australia and the Best Bar in the Middle East and Africa went to Zuma (No.38), Dubai, UAE.
But the night was very much dominated by the host city, Barcelona, which solidified its place in the cocktail firmament, not only with the top award but also Sips (No.3) and Two Schmucks (No.7)
“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,” said Mark Sansom, Content Director of The World’s 50 Best Bars.
“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,” Sansom continued. “It is an honour to name it The World’s Best Bar, and the win is credited to Paradiso’s outlandishly inventive cocktail programme, sustainable ethos, work in the global bar community and brilliant sense of fun.
“Paradiso” Found
Offering a truly masterful take on the speakeasy, Paradiso combines technique, precision and creativity with an unwavering sense of fun. With an understated exterior, hidden behind an antique refrigerator in the back of an unassuming pastrami shop in Barcelona’s trendy El Born district, the 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 Giannotti and Margarita Sader and their outstanding team showcase their unwavering commitment to ongoing sustainability, both within Paradiso and the wider industry.
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
“A big congratulations to the team at Paradiso for being voted The World’s Best Bar, sponsored by Perrier, as well as all the bars that made The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022 list,” said Elisa Gregori, Perrier Global Business Unit Director.
“We are very honoured in 2022 to be able to support 50 Best in organising the largest ceremony to date in Barcelona, and thereby mark the kickstart of international travel for The World’s 50 Best Bars event, sponsored by Perrier. At Perrier, we believe that human progress relies on the endless creativity of people that dare to see the world differently.”
Sansom points out that the diversity of bar types has also been a highlight of this year’s awards. “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,” he continued. “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.”
New York & London
Double Chicken Please was just crowned the top bar in the U.S. at The World’s 50 Best Bars ceremony in Barcelona. In its first year on the list, Double Chicken Please skyrocketed to No.6 in the world, earning it the Highest New Entry honor. As well as Double Chicken Please, New York had another five bars in the list with Katana Kitten (No.9), Attaboy (No.22), Overstory (No.34), Dante (No.36) and Employees Only (No.47).
Over the pond, London retained its prominence with five bars on the list, including Tayer + Elementary (No.2), Connaught Bar (No.8), Satan’s Whisker’s (No.23), Swift (No.30) and A Bar with Shapes for a Name (No.37).
Special Awards
The ceremony began with Röda Huset in Stockholm named as the Campari One To Watch, while the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu went to Juliana of Guayaquil, which takes the accolade for its outstanding Diverso cocktail list.
Italian-born, London-based Agostino Perrone is named Roku Industry Icon. As Director of Mixology at London’s iconic Connaught Bar, Perrone’s masterful leadership has led to his bar to appearing on every list since 2010, including twice topping the ranking in 2020 and 2021. His exceptional hospitality is world-renowned, as is his creativity, mentorship and innovation behind the bar.
Coming into the list for the first time at No.6, New York’s Double Chicken Please is awarded the Disaronno Highest New Entry.
BKK Social Club in Bangkok is named London Essence Best New Opening, entering the list in the highest position during the voting period. Sips in Barcelona secures the Nikka Highest Climber Award, having moved up 34 places within the 1-50 list to No.3.
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. And Paris’ acclaimed Little Red Door has won the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award for its revolutionary urban bar sustainability and innovative farm-to-glass approach.
In the lead up to the awards, Hanky Panky, Mexico City was named the winner of the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award, and Jean Trinh was voted winner of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award.
For more information and the full list, go to worlds50bestbars.com
