Six Cocktail Bars in Singapore Make The World’s 50 Best Bars 2017

After taking 13 spots out of 50 on the regional list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars earlier this year, it’s unsurprising that our little island city state has expanded its presence on the global list as well. The results of this annual industry poll were announced in London last night and saw the Best Bar in Asia, Manhattan at Regent Singapore, move up to a respectable No. 7 from No. 11 last year and No. 35 two years ago.

The rest of Team Singapore sees heavyweight newcomer Atlas make its debut at No. 15 as the highest new entry on the list; experimental Operation Dagger sit comfortably at No. 24 (down three spots from No. 21 last year), followed by industry favourite 28 HongKong Street at No. 25 (slipping 11 spots from No. 14). Tippling Club returns to the World’s 50 Best hall of fame at No. 31 after a three-year hiatus – it was No. 45 in 2013. Singapore son-owned Native takes No. 47 with its boundary-pushing focus on spirits and ingredients sourced from the region.

Tippling Club

The top of the list is usually dominated by established cocktail capitals of London and New York; this year is no different besides Athens’ The Clumsies at No. 6 and Shingo Gokan’s Speak Low in Shanghai rounding up the top 10. Alas, NYC’s The Dead Rabbit (No. 5) didn’t hold on to its crown for more than a year, with American Bar at Savoy Hotel London taking the top spot of 2017. Fellow London bar Dandelyan is this year’s runner up while No. 3 and Best Bar in North America goes to The NoMad in New York City in the historical NoMa (north of Madison Square) neighbourhood.

The Clumsies

We also have to congratulate our neighbours Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Taipei for bringing another five bars to the list. Ginza’s famed Bar High Five moves up 10 places to No. 13 while deserving newbie Bar Benfiddich makes a first impression at No. 36. In Hong Kong, Antonio Lai’s flagship bar on Hollywood Road Quinary stands at No. 40 while Island Shangri-La’s Lobster Bar sits at No. 49. Taipei finally scores a spot at No. 28, courtesy of Indulge Experimental Bistro helmed by Aki Wang, who’s pretty much a godfather figure in the city’s evolving cocktail community.

Quinary

Whether the results surprise you or not this year, we reckon a more exciting list to check out is the organisation’s 51-100 list, which features Bukit Pasoh cocktail bar Gibson at No. 62 and a whole lot of new entries that indicate the spread of cocktail culture in South America.

For the full list in order of ranking – new entries are in bold – please see below, or visit the World’s 50 Best Bars for more details.

  1. American Bar, London
  2. Dandelyan, London
  3. The Nomad, New York
  4. Connaught Bar, London
  5. The Dead Rabbit, New York
  6. The Clumsies, Athens
  7. Manhattan, Singapore
  8. Attaboy, New York
  9. Bar Termini, London
  10. Speak Low, Shanghai
  11. Little Red Door, Paris
  12. Happiness Forgets, London
  13. High Five, Tokyo
  14. Licoreria Mantour, Mexico City
  15. Atlas, Singapore
  16. Dante, New York
  17. Oriole, London
  18. Broken Shaker, Miami Beach
  19. Candelaria Paris
  20. Himkok, Oslo
  21. The Gibson, London
  22. Black Pearl, Melbourne
  23. Floreria Atlantico, Buenos Aires
  24. Operation Dagger, Singapore
  25. 28 Hongkong Street
  26. Trick Dog, San Francisco
  27. Sweet Liberty, Miami Beach
  28. Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei
  29. Lost & Found, Nicosia
  30. Baba Au Rum, Athens
  31. Tippling Club, Singapore
  32. Blacktail, New York
  33. Jerry Thomas Speakseasy, Rome
  34. Le Syndicat, Paris
  35. Tales & Spirits
  36. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
  37. Employees Only, New York
  38. Schumann’s, Munich
  39. La Factoria, San Juan
  40. Quinary, Hong Kong
  41. Aviary, Chicago
  42. Mace, New York
  43. Nightjar, London
  44. Linje Tio, Stockholm
  45. The Baxter Inn, Sydney
  46. ABV, San Francisco
  47. Native, Singapore
  48. Tommy’s, San Francisco
  49. Lobster Bar, Hong Kong
  50. Imperial Craft, Tel Aviv

Top Image: Atlas Singapore


Chief Editor

Emily heads the editorial team on City Nomads by being a stickler for details, a grammar Nazi, and a really picky eater. Born and bred in Singapore, she loves cats, the written word, and exploring new places. Can be bribed with quality booze across the board.