The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023: Sips, Barcelona Crowned Best Bar, BKK Social Club is Best in Asia
PUBLISHED October 17th, 2023 10:00 pm | UPDATED October 23rd, 2023 04:26 pm
This week, the 15th edition of The World’s 50 Best Bars took over Singapore by storm. In the programme’s 15-year history, this was the first time it was ever held in Asia with Singapore living up to its name as an epicentre of cocktail innovation, collaboration and creation, thanks to a buzzing line-up bar guest shifts from the best bartenders around the world.
As usual, the awards and the brand-new list of outstanding drinking destinations were voted for by the recently expanded 680 industry experts including drink writers, educators, well-trained cocktail experts as well as bartenders and bar owners from 28 regions around the world.
Who Came Up On Top
No doubt, this year’s ceremony promised a surprise after another, giving way to many new entries – 11 to be exact. Nonetheless, Sips, Barcelona has been crowned as The World Best Bars 2023 and the Best Bar in Europe. The bar is known as an approachable yet dark and sultry hideaway where drinks are crafted with precision for nothing but perfection. Not to mention the bar-within-a-bar concept known as Esencia, that offers a tasting-menu-like experience.
New York’s Double Chicken Please (No.2), came up as the first runner up, and has also been given the title of The Best Bar in North America, after just 3 years in operation. Whilst Handshake Speakeasy (No.3) from Mexico City secured its spot as third overall. Paradiso from Barcelona which was last year’s winner, dropped to No.4 this year, whilst Tayēr + Elementary, London also dropped to No.8.
Where Do Asia & Singapore’s Bars Stand
Amongst the rising names of Asia were BKK Social Club, Bangkok (No.13) which was also deemed the Best Bar in Asia, as well as names like Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, Bangkok (No.19), Coa, Hong Kong (No.20), Argo, Hong Kong (No.34), The SG Club, Tokyo (No.36), and Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo (No.37). Zest, Seoul (No.18) also took away the title of the Highest New Entry as the only Korean bar on the list.
Singapore’s very own Jigger & Pony ranked No. 14, whilst Sago House proved its on the rise taking up the spot of No.32. Atlas also made the list, coming in at (No.48).
Honourable Mentions
Needless to say it has been a big night for Mexico (North America) & Latin American cities. Benjamin Padrón and José Luis Leon’s Licorería Limantour (No.7), from Mexico City made it to them top 10 along with Alquímico, Columbia (No. 9) which claimed themselves as the Best Bar in South America.
Athens was also amongst the cities to watch, along with London, with three entries and five entries respectfully. Highlights from Athens include Line, Athens (No.12) which was voted the Best New Opening, as well as The Clumsies (No.47), which were given the Rémy Martin Legend of The List award, only given to an establishment once in its lifetime. From Europe, we witnessed five new entries including Wax On (No.29) from Berlin, and Röda Huset (No.31) from Stockholm who, in addition, walked away with the Kettle One Sustainable Bar Award.
Sydney’s Maybe Sammy (No.15) also won the Best bar in Australasia, and Japanese Restaurant-bar Mimi Kakushi (No.40) from Dubai took the throne as the Best Bar in Middle East & Africa. Himkok, Oslo (No.10) was also revealed as the Nikka Highest Climber, after climbing up 33 spots from 2022.
Awards & More
When it comes to the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2023, another Asian face has been named as the winner. GN Chan, co-founder of Double Chicken Please in New York, USA, has been voted in by the bartenders on this year’s list of The World’s 50 Best Bars for pushing the limits of what it means to be a great bartender. Additionally, the Roku Industry Award was swooped by the Argentinian legend, Renato ‘Tato’ Giovannoni who started in the F&B industry when he was just 12 years old.
The Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award 2023, was snagged by Tres Monos from Buenos Aires. The bar has indeed risen to be a triple threat, ran by three partners at the helm with three distinct concepts under one roof (a bar, a studio and a consultancy). On the other hand, the prestigious bar awards also unveiled a brand-new award this year called the The Bareksten Best Bar Design Award, celebrating the very best in bar design. After all, ambiance matters. This was secured by home-grown bar, Night Hawk by Peter Chua, chosen from over 200 submissions.
Here’s the full list:
- Sips, Barcelona – Best Bar in Europe
- Double Chicken Please, New York – Best Bar in North America
- Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
- Paradiso, Barcelona
- Connaught Bar, London
- Little Red Door, Paris
- Licorería Limantour, Mexico City
- Tayēr + Elementary, London
- Alquímico, Columbia – Best Bar in South America
- Himkok, Oslo – Nikka Highest Climber
- Tres Monos, Buenos Aires – Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award 2023
- Line, Athens – London Essence Best New Opening
- BKK Social Club, Bangkok – Best Bar in Asia
- Jigger & Pony, Singapore
- Mabe Sammy, Sydney – Best Bar in Australasia
- Salmon Guru, Madrid
- Overstory, New York
- Zest, Seoul – Disaronno Highest New Entry
- Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, Bangkok – New Entry
- Coa, Hong Kong
- Drink Kong, Rome
- Hanky Panky, Mexico City
- Caretaker’s Cottage, Melbourne – New Entry
- Café La Trova, Miami
- Baba au Rum, Athens
- CoChinChina, Buenos Aires
- Katana Kitten, New York
- Satan’s Whiskers, London
- Wax On, Berlin – New Entry
- Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires
- Röda Huset, Stockholm – New Entry, Kettle One Sustainable Bar Award
- Sago House, Singapore – New Entry
- Freni e Frizioni, Rome – New Entry
- Argo, Hong Kong
- A Bar With Shapes For A Name, London
- The SG Club, Tokyo – Re-Entry
- Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
- The Cambridge Public House, Paris – New Entry
- Panda & Sons, Edinburgh – Re-Entry
- Mimi Kakushi, Dubai – New Entry, Best Bar in Middle East & Africa
- Scarfes Bar, London – New Entry
- 1930, Milan
- Carnaval, Lima
- L’Antiquario, Naples
- Baltra Bar, Mexico City
- Locale Firenze, Florence
- The Clumsies, Athens – Rémy Martin Legend of The list
- Atlas, Singapore – Re-Entry
- Jewel Of The South, New Orleans – New-Entry
- Galaxy Bar, Dubai
Highlights From The Extended List
Besides those mentioned above, the extended 51-100 list of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 also saw an exciting 14 entries from Asia, five of which are in Singapore – 28 HongKong Street (No. 59), Manhattan (No. 63) Nutmeg & Clove (No. 64), Analogue Initiative (No.78) and Native (No. 83). Additionally the list spanning 34 different cities across the world also showcased 14 new entries on the list, with three cities featuring for the first time: Tulum, Guadalajara and Tirana.
On the other hand, The Campari One To Watch award, given to the one of the bars that currently sits in the extended 51-100 but is definitely up and coming was awarded to Lady Bee (No. 52) from Peru, known for its iconic honeybee motifs present throughout the decor and drinks (including the glassware and garnishes).
Top Image: Sips, Barcelona
