The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024
The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024, sponsored by Perrier, held their 16th annual awards ceremony on October 22, this year in Madrid, Spain. Supporting Madrid Cocktail Week, the two events converged at the same time to create a bartender’s haven, showcasing the best bars, cocktails, roundtables, and masterclasses.
Award winners
And the winner of The World’s Best Bar 2024 is…Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City! Also crowned the Best Bar in North America 2024, they are committed to both excellence and innovation. The bar excels in creating fine-dining drinks, with their own lab at the heart of the establishment.
Source: The World’s 50 Best Bars
The No2 ranking is also of particular note: Bar Leone in Hong Kong. Not only were they ranked at No2, an incredible feat in and of itself, but the Italian-style bar was also a new entry to the list. The bar also received the accolades of Disaronno Highest New Entry Award 2024 and The Best Bar in Asia 2024.
While the ranking is on the top of everyone’s radar, the individual awards showcase unique people and establishments of special regard across the world. For instance, the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2024 went to Iain McPherson, owner of Panda & Sons in Edinburgh, Scotland. With a dynamic personality and keen sense of fun, Iain has pioneered techniques that have spread over the bar world by storm, including switching and sous pression.
On the other hand, the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award goes to an establishment that holds the Earth at its heart. Zest, located in Seoul, Korea, derives its name from putting together “zero” and “waste”, while alluding to energy and the ubiquitous citrus in cocktail bars. From using local produce seed to skin, reusing would-be waste, recycled fabrics, local artisans, and efficiency tracking systems, Zest shows that a bar can both create amazing cocktails (the bar was ranked No9 overall) and be good for the environment.
As well, as special shout-out to Himkok, in Oslo, for the Bareksten Best Bar Design Award 2024. Himkok means homemade moonshine in Norwegian, and the bar strives to live up to its name with its house-made spirits that go into the cocktails. Their design incorporates a 200-year-old building into an establishment that exudes Norwegian warmth.
Source: The World’s 50 Best Bars
Award Events
The event officially opened with Bartender’s Feast at the Four Seasons on October 21, where all attendees were treated to the best in food and drink to start things off. The next day continued with pop-ups all over Madrid, culminating in the awards ceremony—and of course the after-party. The closing brunch on Wednesday, October 23rd, at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, was prepared by Michelin-star chefs from some of the world’s finest restaurants.
Source: The World’s 50 Best Bars
Evica Domonji, a bartender at Mirror Bar (ranked No62) in Bratislava, attended the festivities. “Held at Arena Madrid, the ceremony was spectacularly organised, bringing together bartenders from the 100 best bars globally in one venue. The experience was unforgettable, with the excitement palpable,” she said. Presenter Nikki Müller kept up the energy of the ceremony with her catching enthusiasm.
Of the bars in the top 50, 28 cities were represented and 16 bars debuted for the first time on the list. Over 700 experts across the globe had 8 votes, of which a maximum 5 could be from their own country.
Celebrating and Connecting
The World’s 50 Best Bars was not only about the awards but also a chance for bartenders from all over the world to meet, connect, and gain inspiration from each other.
On her first day in Madrid, Evica attended the seminar “Female in Hospitality – Networking and Drinks,” where some of the most influential women from top bars worldwide gathered. “It was a meaningful event fostering a safe space for discussions around industry issues, career growth, and business development in hospitality,” she recalls. “I got to talk to Yana, head bartender at Atlas Bar Singapore and her journey to the position. Our stories are similar and she really inspired me both to push and to stay humble, as I started as a barback 5 years ago and am hoping for the head bartender position soon.”
Source: The World’s 50 Best Bars
Congratulations!
The World’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, was about celebrating achievement, innovation, and hospitality all around the world. Congratulations to all the bars and their teams, for a job well done!
You can find the list with descriptions for the top 50 bars here.
