The 2011 World's 50 Best Bars: Rankings and Analysis

Once the most-awarded bar on the planet, PDT operates out of a phone booth inside a St. Marks Place hot dog shop, and that physical fact still defines the experience. Its run of consecutive World's 50 Best placements through 2016, including the number-one position in 2011, established the East Village phone-booth format as a reference point for the global cocktail bar conversation. A 4.3 Google rating across 2,313 reviews confirms that the concept continues to land.

The Connaught Bar has appeared in the World's 50 Best Bars list every year since 2010, twice claiming the top position, and remains the benchmark against which London's hotel bar category is measured. Housed within Mayfair's Connaught hotel, the David Collins-designed space marries Cubist geometry with a service programme of rare technical precision. The bespoke Dry Martini trolley service, led by Agostino Perrone and Giorgio Bargiani, is the bar's most replicated and least reproducible signature.

Artesian at The Langham London held the World's 50 Best Bars number one position four consecutive years from 2012 to 2015, a run that placed it at the centre of London's cocktail conversation for a generation. The bar carries a Google rating of 4.6 from 865 reviews and has maintained a presence in the Top 500 Bars list through 2025. It remains one of the most award-documented hotel bars in Europe.

Death & Co on East 6th Street helped define the modern American cocktail bar format when it opened in the East Village in 2006, and its award history — four consecutive years inside the World's 50 Best Bars top ten between 2009 and 2012 — marks it as one of the most consequential bars of its era. The 4.5-star Google rating across more than 2,000 reviews reflects a reputation that has outlasted the hype cycle.

The American Bar at the Savoy has spent more than a decade inside the World's 50 Best Bars rankings, reaching number one in 2017. Anchored on the Strand in central London, it occupies a specific tier in the city's cocktail hierarchy: hotel bars with a verifiable international award record and a clientele that spans regulars, professionals, and informed visitors. It is one of the few bars in any European capital that functions simultaneously as a London institution and a global benchmark.

A compact, technically serious bar on a quiet Islington residential street, 69 Colebrooke Row built its reputation through a methodical approach to cocktail construction rather than theatrical staging. Ranked as high as #7 in the World's 50 Best Bars, it holds a 4.6 Google rating across 715 reviews and sits in the tier of London bars where programme discipline and drink precision define the offer.

Drink Boston pioneered the no-menu cocktail experience in Fort Point's subterranean setting, where James Beard Award-winning mixologists craft entirely bespoke cocktails through intimate conversations with guests. This minimalist sanctuary has influenced the national cocktail scene since 2008, offering personalized luxury bar service that transforms every visit into a unique discovery.

Few bars in the Asia-Pacific region carry a decade-long presence in the World's 50 Best Bars rankings. Black Pearl on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy has held that ground continuously, peaking at #7 globally in 2013 and returning a 4.6 Google rating from over 700 reviews. Open nightly until 3am, it sits at the serious end of Melbourne's cocktail spectrum without the velvet-rope posturing that often accompanies that status.

Audrey Saunders' legendary Pegu Club New York City ignited America's cocktail renaissance from 2005-2020, training a generation of master bartenders while serving impeccably crafted classics and innovations in an intimate colonial-inspired setting above West Houston Street.

Few bars in Europe carry the kind of sustained award record that Dry Martini has accumulated on Carrer d'Aribau. Ranked inside the World's 50 Best Bars every year from 2009 to 2015, and returning to the Top 500 in 2025, it occupies a different tier from Barcelona's newer cocktail openings — a reference-point bar that the city's broader scene measures itself against.

One of Australia's most decorated cocktail bars, Eau de Vie occupies a basement on Wynyard Lane in Sydney's CBD, where its track record on the World's 50 Best Bars list — including a peak ranking of #13 in 2011 — places it among a small tier of Australian bars with genuine international recognition. A 4.6 Google rating across nearly 700 reviews confirms that standing has held over time.

Bramble has occupied a basement on Edinburgh's Queen Street since 2006, accumulating a run of World's 50 Best Bars placements that few UK venues can match. The programme sits in the serious cocktail tier: technique-driven, spirit-forward, and built for repeat visitors who track what's in the glass rather than what's on the walls. It ranks #177 in the 2025 Top 500 Bars list, with peak recognition reaching #7 globally in 2009.

Employees Only has held a place in the World's 50 Best Bars rankings every year since 2009, peaking at #4 globally in 2015. The West Village address on Hudson Street operates as one of New York's most consistently recognised cocktail programs, drawing on a European apéritif and spirits tradition that sits apart from the speakeasy-revival bars that followed in its wake. In 2025, it holds #18 in North America and #95 globally.

La Capilla is a bar in the town of Tequila, Jalisco that earned consecutive placements on the World's 50 Best Bars list between 2011 and 2014, peaking at number 16. It holds a 4.7 Google rating across 35 reviews and sits at the centre of one of the most historically loaded drinking towns on earth. For anyone serious about agave spirits in their native context, it is a reference point rather than a detour.

The Merchant Hotel's bar entered the World's 50 Best Bars list at number 17 in 2011, placing Belfast firmly in the same conversation as London and New York for serious cocktail culture. Housed in a Victorian merchant building in the Cathedral Quarter, it operates a programme that prioritises technique and provenance over novelty, drawing both local regulars and visitors crossing the city specifically for the bar.

One of London's most decorated cocktail bars, Nightjar on City Road has held a place inside the World's 50 Best Bars since 2011, reaching number two globally in 2013. The bar operates nightly until 3am, drawing a committed crowd to its subterranean setting where the drinks program has consistently defined what serious cocktail craft looks like in the capital. A 4.6 Google rating across more than 2,500 reviews confirms the reputation holds.

Smuggler's Cove at 650 Gough St has held a position in the World's 50 Best Bars every year from 2011 through 2016, reaching as high as #16 globally, and earned a Pearl Recommended designation in 2025. Open seven nights a week from 5pm to 1:45am, it remains one of the most decorated rum-focused bars in the United States, drawing from a deep catalogue of spirits and tiki-adjacent tradition.

One of the most recognised bars in Europe through the early 2010s, Buddha Bar occupies a palatial space on Rue Boissy d'Anglas in Paris's 8th arrondissement. Its World's 50 Best Bars placements — including a third-place ranking in 2009 — reflect a period when the venue set the template for large-format, Asia-inflected cocktail culture. With over 5,700 Google reviews averaging 4 out of 5, it remains a reference point in the city's bar scene.

Perched on the 27th floor of the Burj Al Arab, Skyview Bar ranked among the World's 50 Best Bars three consecutive years — reaching No. 21 in 2011. The setting frames the Arabian Gulf and the Jumeirah coastline in ways that few hotel bars anywhere can match. Booking in advance is advisable, particularly for weekend evenings and peak travel seasons.

The Varnish Los Angeles pioneered the city's craft cocktail renaissance from a hidden speakeasy behind Cole's historic saloon. Eric Alperin's intimate bar transforms classic cocktails through personalized service and meticulous technique, establishing the authentic speakeasy experience that influenced an entire generation of LA mixologists.

Tippling Club has held a place on the World's 50 Best Bars global list every year since 2011, making it one of the most consistently recognised cocktail bars in Asia. Located on Tanjong Pagar Road in Singapore's former warehouse district, the bar operates at the intersection of technical precision and theatrical presentation. A 4.6 Google rating across nearly 740 reviews reflects sustained performance over more than a decade of competition.

The legendary Milk & Honey London pioneered the modern speakeasy movement from its unmarked Soho location, where Sasha Petraske's exacting cocktail methodology and strict house rules created London's most exclusive drinking sanctuary. This members-only institution trained a generation of world-class bartenders while perfecting classic cocktails in an atmosphere of refined intimacy.

878 Bar arrived in Villa Crespo before the neighbourhood had a scene, and it helped build one. Opened by sommelier Julián Diaz and designer Florencia Capella, it has earned placement on the World's 50 Best Bars list and retains a Top 500 Bars ranking in 2025. The crowd skews industry, the drinks programme runs deep, and the room still carries the low-key authority of a place that never needed to announce itself.

Mathew Bax's Der Raum revolutionized Melbourne cocktail culture through innovative design featuring suspended bottles on bungee cords and a minimalist program of ten rotating classic cocktails. This sophisticated Eurocentric bar operated until 2012, establishing benchmarks for luxury cocktail experiences that continue influencing Melbourne's drinking scene today.

Callooh Callay has held a position in the World's 50 Best Bars rankings since 2011, peaking at number nine globally in 2012 and returning to the Top 500 in 2025. Located on Rivington Street in Shoreditch, the bar sits at the heart of East London's cocktail corridor and operates across an evening-into-late-night format that distinguishes it from destination-only peers.

Clover Club has held a place in the global cocktail conversation since 2008, with consistent World's 50 Best recognition and a 4.6 Google rating across more than a thousand reviews. Located on Smith Street in Brooklyn's Carroll Gardens, it operates at the intersection of pre-Prohibition technique and contemporary bar craft — a reference point for serious drinking in New York City.

Door 74 has held a place in the World's 50 Best Bars rankings across four separate years, peaking at number 15 in 2013, and still draws a global crowd to its unmarked address on Reguliersdwarsstraat. Amsterdam's cocktail bars have moved on from the speakeasy novelty that once defined this street, but Door 74 remains the reference point against which the city's serious drinking scene is measured.

Tommy's Mexican Restaurant on Geary Boulevard has earned a place among the world's most recognized bars, appearing in the World's 50 Best Bars list across six editions from 2009 to 2018. The bar's reputation rests on a decades-long commitment to 100% agave tequila and mezcal, placing it firmly in the specialist tier of San Francisco's drinking culture. A 4.5 Google rating across 890 reviews reflects a loyal, well-informed crowd.

Floridita is Havana's most globally recognised bar, appearing at #40 in the World's 50 Best North America's Best Bars in 2022 and previously ranked #31 globally in 2011. Its Daiquiri programme anchors the Old Havana experience, drawing a crowd that ranges from serious cocktail travellers to first-time visitors arriving on Obispo Street. Few bars in the Caribbean carry this weight of competitive recognition.

City Space appeared twice on the World's 50 Best Bars list, holding the #32 position in both 2010 and 2011, placing it among a select tier of Moscow bars with internationally recognised credentials. Located along the Moskva River on Kosmodamianskaya Naberezhnaya, it draws a 4.5-star rating from over 700 Google reviewers. For a deeper look at Moscow's bar scene, see our full guide.

Wellington's most influential cocktail destination since 1963, Matterhorn seamlessly blends European sophistication with local creativity. This legendary venue features an innovative 42-strong cocktail menu, atmospheric design by Allistar Cox, and the iconic Falling Water cocktail that has achieved international recognition across New Zealand's luxury bar scene.

Among Tokyo's most decorated cocktail bars, Bar High Five has appeared in the World's 50 Best Bars rankings every year since 2011, peaking at number three globally in 2013. Situated in a basement space on Ginza's Chuo-dori, it represents a specific strain of Japanese bartending — classical technique, guest-led service, and an absence of theatrical gimmickry — that has given Ginza its international standing in bar culture.

Le Lion Bar de Paris has held a place in the World's 50 Best Bars rankings continuously since 2009, making it one of the most consistently recognised cocktail programmes in Germany. Located on Rathausstraße in central Hamburg, it draws a mix of regulars and informed visitors who know that longevity in that list requires more than a strong opening year. A 4.6 rating across more than 1,600 Google reviews suggests the reputation holds in practice, not just on paper.

LAB London revolutionized Soho's cocktail scene from 1999-2016 as the legendary birthplace of the Porn Star Martini and training ground for industry legends. This pioneering mixology laboratory transformed London's bar culture through innovative cocktails, theatrical service, and boundary-pushing experimentation that continues to influence the city's luxury cocktail establishments today.

One of Barcelona's most enduring cocktail addresses, Boadas has held a position on the World's 50 Best Bars list across multiple years, most recently ranking #85 in 2025. The triangular corner bar on Carrer dels Tallers operates in a classic European aperitivo tradition, with a short, precise drinks list and a back bar built on decades of accumulation. Google reviewers rate it 4.3 across more than 2,200 entries.

A Queens cocktail bar that placed on the World's 50 Best Bars list in both 2011 and 2012, Dutch Kills brought serious bar craft to Long Island City before the neighbourhood attracted wider attention. The program draws on classic American techniques with a disciplined approach to ice and spirits. Google reviewers rate it 4.5 across more than 1,200 scores.

Worship St Whistling Shop revolutionized London's cocktail scene through its immersive Victorian gin palace concept and award-winning mixology. This underground Shoreditch speakeasy earned three consecutive years on the World's 50 Best Bars list, serving theatrical cocktails like the Zazel in an atmospheric setting that transported guests to 19th-century London's clandestine drinking dens.

Thad Vogler's BarAgricole San Francisco revolutionizes luxury cocktail culture through single-origin spirits, exclusive producer collaborations, and an integrated bottle shop. This architecturally stunning Mission District destination combines award-winning mixology with sustainable design, offering discerning guests both exceptional cocktails and rare spirits to take home.

Papa Doble earned a place on the World's 50 Best Bars list in 2011, ranking 41st globally — a credential that has defined its position in Montpellier's bar scene ever since. Located on Rue du Petit Scel in the city centre, the bar draws a loyal following with a 4.3 Google rating across 342 reviews. For a city better known for wine than cocktails, it represents a clear outlier.

A Soho institution with documented cocktail credentials, Quo Vadis at 26-29 Dean Street earned three consecutive placements on the World's 50 Best Bars list between 2009 and 2011, peaking at number 39. The bar operates within one of London's most historically layered buildings, where the dining room and bar have served as a meeting point for Soho's creative and literary circles for decades. Lunch runs Tuesday through Friday, with Saturday evenings the week's late anchor.

A Shoreditch drinking institution with a 2011 World's 50 Best Bars ranking (No. 43) and a reputation for serious, theatrically presented cocktails in a compact, dimly lit basement space. Lounge Bohemia sits at the intersection of London's pre-craft revolution bar culture and its more studied successor, making it a useful reference point for the city's cocktail canon. Rated 4.3 across 569 Google reviews.

The Vazquez family's Mayahuel New York City transforms Astoria into a temple of Mexican tradition, where house-made tortillas crafted through ancient nixtamalization meet premium agave spirits in an atmosphere of genuine familia hospitality that honors the Aztec goddess of maguey.

Mutis on Carrer de Còrsega has ranked among the World's 50 Best Bars three years running, peaking at number 16 in 2012, which positions it in the same conversation as Barcelona's most technically rigorous cocktail programs. Sitting in the Eixample grid, it draws a crowd that treats the bar as destination rather than pitstop, with a Google rating of 4.4 across 318 reviews confirming durable local standing.

One of Copenhagen's most decorated cocktail bars, Ruby has held a place in the World's 50 Best Bars rankings across multiple years, peaking at number 22 in 2013. Set inside a 18th-century townhouse on Nybrogade, the bar operates across several intimate rooms that reward quiet conversation over carefully built drinks. It is a strong reference point for anyone mapping the city's cocktail scene.

Rules on Maiden Lane has been a fixture of Covent Garden since 1798, making it London's oldest restaurant and a longstanding gathering point for the city's legal, literary, and theatrical set. Ranked 47th in the World's 50 Best Bars in 2011 and carrying a 4.6 Google rating across more than 3,000 reviews, it operates Monday to Saturday until 11:30pm and Sunday until 10:30pm.

Inside the Ritz Paris on Rue Cambon, Hemingway Bar has held a position in the World's 50 Best Bars rankings across four consecutive editions and carries a 4.5 Google rating from over 700 reviews. The bar operates in the upper tier of Paris hotel bar culture, where program discipline and historical weight set the competitive standard. It draws both serious cocktail travellers and guests staying at the Ritz.

One of Dubai's most decorated bar and dining addresses, Zuma at DIFC has held a position in the World's 50 Best Bars multiple times since 2011 and continues to collect Star Wine List awards across multiple categories. The izakaya-style format — Japanese sharing plates, serious sake, and a wine program with genuine depth — sits at the premium end of the DIFC dining circuit and draws a crowd that treats it as a default reference point for the neighbourhood.

Few bars in Tokyo carry a ranking history as consistent as Star Bar Ginza, which appeared on the World's 50 Best Bars list across multiple years between 2010 and 2014, and on Asia's Best Bars through 2021. Set in a basement in Ginza's 1-chome, it operates as a reference point for the classic Japanese bar tradition — serious, unhurried, and built around technique rather than spectacle.