The world's best bar is once again from Barcelona, with Sips taking home the highest honour this year
The heat was on at Pasir Panjang Power Station on the evening of October 17 when more than 1,000 luminaries from the global cocktail scene gathered at the cavernous hall to witness the awarding of The World’s 50 Best Bars this year. Sips from Barcelona was declared The World’s Best Bar 2023, knocking off Paradiso (which is also located in Barcelona) from the top spot. It dropped to No. 4
Amidst cheers and applause from industry friends, Sips bartender-owners (and industry veterans) Simone Caporale and Marc Álvarez took to the stage to accept the award and thank everyone for supporting the bar industry. Shared Caporale: “We are a small bar that opened during uncertain times (2021), but we wanted to prove to ourselves that we could do something. When you can impress yourself, that’s the most important thing in this industry.”
Meanwhile, New York’s pride and joy, Double Chicken Please, moved up four spots and landed at No. 2. It’s an impressive feat for a young watering hole which has only been around for three years. Moreover, its co-founder GN Chan took home the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award, an honour voted for by fellow bartenders and given to an individual who pushes the limits of great bartending.
Rounding off the top three is Handshake Speakeasy from Mexico City, which jumped eight places from last year’s No. 11 spot.
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ASIAN PRIDE
Asian cities were well represented in the prestigious ranking with a total of 10 entries—three from Singapore, two each from Hong Kong, Bangkok and Tokyo, and one from Seoul. BKK Social Club from Bangkok bested the rest when it moved one spot up to No. 13, thus taking home the Best Bar in Asia Award.
Singapore fared better this year with its total of three entries, as compared to last year’s two. While Jigger & Pony dropped two spots to No. 14, it still remained the highest ranking bar in the Lion City. Joining the aforementioned stalwart are Sago House, which entered the Top 50 ranking at No. 32, and Atlas, which settled comfortably at No. 48.
Hong Kong’s Coa, Asia’s Best Bar for three consecutive years, also impressed with its No. 20 spot, while Seoul’s sustainable bar Zest earned the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award by jumping to No. 18.
Special awards were also given out at the ceremony, including the inaugural Bareksten Best Bar Design Award (Nighthawk, Singapore); Campari One to Watch Award (Lady Bee, Lima); and Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award (Tres Monos, Buenos Aires).
This is the first time that The World’s 50 Best Bars was held in Asia, and these bars were voted for by 680 industry experts comprising renowned bartenders and consultants, drinks writers and cocktail specialists from across the globe. The results were independently adjudicated by professional services consultancy Deloitte.
The World’s 50 Best Bars list this year also consists of establishments from 28 cities, thus proving how the drinks scene around the world continues to grow and evolve.