Last night, the winners of the World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 were revealed, and Sydney bar Maybe Sammy scaled the ladder 14 places to land at No. 15 in the world. It’s the fifth time Maybe Sammy has reigned as the top bar in Australia at the prestigious global awards, having won the title every year since its launch in 2019.
Our other local shining star was a newcomer to the list, Melbourne’s cocktail pub Caretaker’s Cottage, landing at No.23.
The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 features establishments from 28 cities, with Barcelona’s Sips crowned The Best Bar in Europe and The World’s Best Bar sponsored by Perrier. It is the second time a bar from Barcelona has taken the top spot in as many years, following Paradiso’s triumph in 2022.
The 15th list of The World’s Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, was announced at a live ceremony last night in Singapore. Held in Asia for the first time in its history, the ceremony celebrated the excellence of the international drinks sector, paying tribute to the visionary bartenders, enterprising bar owners and trailblazing brands that lead the charge in shaping cocktail culture worldwide.
The 2023 list features bars from 28 cities with 11 new entries across Bangkok, Berlin, Dubai, London, Melbourne, New Orleans, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Singapore and Stockholm.
The winner Sips, located in Barcelona’s L’Antiga Esquerra de l’Eixample district, is a groundbreaking “drinkery house” founded by industry icons Simone Caporale and Marc Álvarez.
William Drew, 50 Best’s Director of Content, praised its contemporary innovation and hospitality.
London continues to shine, with five bars listed, including Connaught Bar and Tayēr + Elementary in the top 10, and Edinburgh’s Panda & Sons also making a return.
Spain secured two top-five entries, with Paradiso at No. 4 and Madrid’s Salmon Guru at No. 16. Italy had several representatives, such as Rome’s Drink Kong, and Berlin saw a strong return with Wax On.
New York’s Double Chicken Please secured the title of The Best Bar in North America, while Mexico City features several establishments in the top 50, and Alquímico in Cartagena retains its title as The Best Bar in South America.
Special awards include Campari One To Watch for Lady Bee in Lima, the Bareksten Best Bar Design Award for Night Hawk in Singapore, and the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award for The American Bar at Gleneagles.
The Roku Industry Icon Award honour went to Renato’ Tato’ Giovannoni, while Disaronno’s Highest New Entry award went to Seoul’s Zest.
London Essence’s Best New Opening award went to Line in Athens, and Nikka’s Highest Climber Award went to Oslo’s Himkok.
Clumsies in Athens won the Rémy Martin Legend of the List, and the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award went to Röda Huset in Stockholm.
Tres Monos in Buenos Aires received the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award and the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award went to GN Chan.
Apoorva Kohli of Sidecar in New Delhi received The 50 Best Bars The Blend Scholarship, winning her internships at Alquímico in Cartagena and Sips in Barcelona.
The World’s 50 Best Bars Academy, with 50/50 gender parity, contributes to the list’s compilation, reflecting a global and diverse perspective on the best bars worldwide.
The complete list of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 can be found here.
