WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Courtesy of The World’s 50 Best Bars
The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list features bars from 28 cities with 16 new entries spread across Bangkok, Bogotá, Guadalajara, Hong Kong, Lima, Melbourne, Mexico City, Milan, New York, Paris, São Paulo, Singapore, and Tokyo.
The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 were unveiled at the glittering ceremony in Madrid Spain last night, with Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy taking the top honour as The World’s Best Bar for 2024. This is the first time a bar from Mexico has claimed the No.1 spot on the prestigious list.
No.1: Handshake Speakeasy
Tucked away in the Colonia Juárez neighbourhood 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.
While the atmospheric black marble, rich brass detailing and moody lighting of the interior are akin to stepping back a century, the innovative cocktail menu is rooted firmly in the future. Bar Director Eric van Beek effortlessly melds tradition and innovation, elevating the classics through cutting-edge techniques developed in the on-site lab, revolutionising familiar recipes with unexpected flavours and a complex palate. Homemade tinctures and infusions add signature Art Deco flare alongside the use of considered rare and aged spirits.
The Top 5 for 2024
Joining Handshake Speakeasy in the top five are Bar Leone in Hong Kong, Sips in Barcelona, Tayēr + Elementary in London, and Jigger & Pony in Singapore.
Special Award Mentions
Campari One To Watch Award: Cat Bite Club, Singapore
An honour bestowed on a bar outside of the 1-50 ranking, Singapore’s Cat Bite Club is known for its relaxed, approachable yet sophisticated interior, with a hint of mischief inspired by the “personality traits of a cat”—excitable, curious, and a bit cheeky.
Bareksten Best Bar Design Award: Himkok, Oslo
The Himkok building is considered part of Oslo’s architectural heritage, a unique, multi-storey space that embodies the principles of functionality, sustainability and cultural heritage. The design creates a unique and immersive experience for guests, inviting them to be part of the Himkok story and engaging them in a journey that goes beyond the surface of a typical bar.
Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award: Lyaness, London
Perched on the South Bank with epic views of the Thames, Lyaness combines comfort with a dash of whimsy. Designed by Jacu Strauss and the Lore Design team, the bar sports an electric blue palette paired with Dandelyan’s original green marble bar. Offering guests a stripped-back approach to mixology, blending storytelling and flavour creation for a multi-layered drinking experience, the menu pulls stories from across the world that centre on flavour with eighteen one-of-a-kind ingredients at its core.
Roku Industry Icon: Monica Berg of Tayēr + Elementary, London
A London-based multi-award-winning bartender and entrepreneur, her bar Tayēr + Elementary has been a firm fixture of The World’s 50 Best Bars top ten since 2020. The venue is divided into two distinct, industrially-designed spaces connected by a shared ethos and creative spirit. Elementary is the front room, arranged around a long communal table and, as the name suggests, expertly delivers drinking simplicity. Tayēr is the boutique cocktail bar. Dominated by a huge, hexagonally-divided bar station, the innovative space has a test-kitchen feel.
Disaronno Highest New Entry Award: Bar Leon, Singapore
Bar Leon exudes true Roman-inspired Italian romance, blending both interior and exterior elements to transport guests to Italy. With the ethos of ‘cocktail popolari’ at its heart, Bar Leone offers a carefully curated selection of classic cocktails, with some featuring a simple yet intriguing twist, all while maintaining a deep respect for the original recipes.
London Essence Best New Opening: Superbueno, New York
A vibrant ode to Mexican-American culture, Superbueno is an elevated cantina on the Lower East Side of Manhattan from industry veterans Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Jimenez and Greg Boehm. Decked out in festive primary colours and neon lights, the bright space comes to life daily with a diverse crowd of after-work revellers.
Nikka Highest Climber Award: The Cambridge Public House, Paris
Inspired by a classic British pub blended seamlessly with elements of a chic Parisian cocktail bar, The Cambridge Public House delivers world-class drinks with the down-to-earth and warming environment of everyone’s favourite local. The world’s first B-Corp bar, sustainability is at the heart of everything they do, and their ‘Community Plan’ initiative aims to build a more sustainable future by helping local communities around the world implement meaningful change.
Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award: Florería Atlántico, Argentina
This iconic Buenos Aires basement bar has long told the stories of Old World migrants through Giovannoni’s cocktails, many using the various editions of his own Príncipe de los Apóstoles yerba mate gin. The blooming bouquets and wooden shelves stocking a largely natural wine selection add to the enchanting atmosphere.
Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award: Zest, Seoul
Zest stands out for its striking facade and big, welcoming, street-level window. Inside, a golden glow lights a minimalist room of stone, clay and wood, where the only bottles on view are the homemade gins distilled from local, seasonal produce. The bar’s name is a portmanteau of ‘zero’ and ‘waste,’ which underpins the team’s focus on sustainability in all their cocktail recipes.
The World’s 50 Best Bar 2024 List
The list of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 winners ranked from 50 to 1:
- No.50 1930, Milan
- No.49 Danico, Paris
- No.48 El Gallo Altanero, Guadalajara
- No.47 Analogue Initiative, Singapore
- No.46 Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires
- No.45 Röda Huset, Stockholm
- No.44 La Sala de Laura, Bogotá
- No.43 Atlas, Singapore
- No.42 Virtù, Tokyo
- No.41 Bar Us, Bangkok
- No.40 Mimi Kakushi, Dubai
- No.39 Bar Nouveau, Paris
- No.38 Moebius Milano, Milan
- No.37 Scarfes Bar, London
- No.36 Locale Firenze, Florence
- No.35 Byrdi, Melbourne
- No.34 Jewel of the South, New Orleans
- No.33 Drink Kong, Rome
- No.32 Licorería Limantour, Mexico City
- No.31 Tan Tan, São Paulo
- No.30 Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
- No.29 Satan’s Whiskers, London
- No.28 Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore
- No.27 Superbueno, New York
- No.26 Maybe Sammy, Sydney
- No.25 Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
- No.24 Martiny’s, New York
- No.23 Salmon Guru, Madrid
- No.22 CoChinChina, Buenos Aires
- No.21 Caretaker’s Cottage, Melbourne
- No.20 Tlecān, Mexico City
- No.19 The Cambridge Public House, Paris
- No.18 Coa, Hong Kong
- No.17 Baba au Rum, Athens
- No.16 Lady Bee, Lima
- No.15 Overstory, New York
- No.14 Double Chicken Please, New York
- No.13 Connaught Bar, London
- No.12 BKK Social Club, Bangkok
- No.11 Himkok, Oslo
- No.10 Paradiso, Barcelona
- No.9 Zest, Seoul
- No.8 Alquímico, Cartagena
- No.7 Tres Monos, Buenos Aires
- No.6 Line, Athens
- No.5 Jigger & Pony, Singapore
- No.4 Tayēr + Elementary, London
- No.3 Sips, Barcelona
- No.2 Bar Leone, Singapore
- No.1 Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
The 16th edition of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024, sponsored by Perrier, took place in Madrid, Spain on 22 October 2024.
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