The 50 Best Bars in the World, According to a New Ranking

For the first time ever, if you want to visit the best bar in the world, you’ll have to head to Mexico.

Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy was crowned the best cocktail bar on the planet by the World’s 50 Best Bars. Overseen by bar director Eric van Beek, the bar is the very first in Mexico to occupy the top spot on the annual list, which is in its 16th edition. The full ranking was announced on Tuesday evening at a ceremony in Madrid.

“To be the first ever No.1 from Mexico is an outstanding achievement, of which Eric van Beek and his team are hugely deserving,” Emma Sleight, the head of content for the World’s 50 Best Bars, said in a statement. “The bar’s impressive rise through the list of The World’s 50 Best Bars over the years is a testament to their unique combination of flawless hospitality, innovative technique and truly excellent cocktails.”

While Handshake Speakeasy moved up from the No. 3 spot last year, a whopping 16 bars appeared in the top 50 for the first time. The highest new entry is Hong Kong’s Bar Leone, which joined the list as an impressive No. 2. Only two bars fell out of the ranking completely, not even being downgraded to the runner-up list of Nos. 50 to 100—Sago House, which was ranked No. 32 last year, and Galaxy Bar, which was No. 50.

A handful of cities each saw four spots make the grade this year: London, New York City, and Singapore. In the British capital, the highest-ranking bar is Tayēr + Elementary at No. 4. In the Big Apple, Double Chicken Please takes the cake at No. 14 (dropping from No. 2 last year). And Singapore’s Jigger & Pony ranks at No. 5. The highest climber from last year, meanwhile, is the Cambridge Public House in Paris, which rose to No. 19 from No. 38.

The World’s 50 Best list is voted on by more than 700 experts in the beverage industry, including bartenders, consultants, writers, and cocktail specialists. This year, that voting body has decided that there may be no better drinks than those being served up at Handshake Speakeasy.

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The World’s 50 Best Bars list for 2024