The 2012 World's 50 Best Bars: London's Artesian Takes the Crown

Artesian is worth prioritising for a polished London cocktail occasion, especially dates, celebrations, or business drinks where awards history and room quality matter. It is a weaker fit for bargain drinking, large casual groups, or food-led plans; book it as the drinks anchor, not the whole night.

Please Don't Tell (PDT) is worth the effort for cocktail drinkers who care about bar pedigree and want a date-friendly East Village booking. It is a poor fit for loose group plans or anyone needing easy access, flexible timing, or outdoor seating.

Nightjar is a strong London choice for a planned cocktail night, especially for two to four people who want a seated, late-running bar near Old Street. It is less useful for big groups, spontaneous plans, or anyone prioritising outdoor space over a focused room and serious drinks credentials.

A serious Mayfair cocktail booking for polished dates, visiting bar obsessives, late-evening hotel-bar energy. The Connaught Bar is worth the effort when recognition and setting matter; skip it for casual groups or value-led rounds.

A formal Strand hotel bar with major bar-world recognition, American Bar is worth targeting for a polished cocktail occasion rather than a value-led food stop. Treat the food as support, not the reason to book; if dinner matters, pair drinks here with a dedicated restaurant plan.

Death & Co NYC is worth planning around if the night is specifically about cocktails and an intimate indoor room. It is not the right pick for rooftop drinking, large groups, or a flexible last-minute plan; choose it when access and atmosphere matter more than ease.

Prioritise The Baxter Inn for a drink-led CBD night rather than a full dinner plan. Its World's 50 Best Bars #6 recognition from 2015 gives it stronger credibility than a casual fallback, but booking friction means small groups should keep Old Mate's Place or Cantina OK in mind as backups.

A serious Islington cocktail booking for drinkers who care more about precision than pub looseness. Its World's 50 Best Bars #7 recognition from 2011 is the trust signal, but the practical verdict is simpler: book for a focused two-person drinks plan, not a large group night or dinner-led evening.

Callooh Callay is worth choosing for a drinks-led Shoreditch evening, especially when booking needs to stay easy and flexible. It is not the right answer for brunch, lunch, or a full dining occasion; pair it with a nearby restaurant if food is the priority.

Book Bramble if cocktails are the point of the night and the group is small enough to handle a high-demand Edinburgh bar. Its global awards history makes it a stronger pick than a casual fallback, but it is not the right choice for a food-led evening or a loose large-group plan.

28 HongKong Street is worth booking for a focused two-person cocktail night in Singapore, especially if bar pedigree matters more than skyline views or a full dinner format. It is less suitable for spontaneous groups, bargain-led happy hour plans, or guests who want food to drive the evening.

Employees Only NYC is worth the booking effort if you want an award-backed West Village cocktail bar where the food can carry a full evening. The drinks have the deeper reputation, but the listed steak tartare, cavatelli, burrata, ribeye make it more useful than a one-round stop.

Happiness Forgets is a strong London date-night pick if the goal is serious cocktails in a compact Hoxton room rather than dinner or a big group plan. Recent bar recognition supports the credibility, but the practical reason to go is simpler: it suits two people who want conversation, a focused drinks stop, an East London setting without hotel-bar formality.

Book Zetter Townhouse when the room matters: it is a Clerkenwell choice for dates, small catch-ups, a planned round rather than a cheap, casual stop. The 2012 World's 50 Best Bars listing gives it useful pedigree, but the real value is the townhouse atmosphere and central London location.

Nottingham Forest is worth targeting if the night is about cocktails rather than dinner. Its international bar-list recognition gives it real pull in Milan, but the smarter move is to plan food elsewhere and treat this as a focused drinks stop for two, with a backup ready if access proves difficult.

Mutis is the Barcelona choice for a deliberate cocktail date, not a casual backup plan. Its strongest signal is serious bar credibility, including a World's 50 Best Bars #29 ranking in 2013, but the better reason to go is the intimate, conversation-first fit for two people.

Black Pearl is the Fitzroy pick for a cocktail-led night, not a food-first booking. Its World's 50 Best Bars history and 2025 Top 500 Bars placement make it stronger than a casual late-night fallback, but diners who want serious food should compare Napier Quarter, Bar Olo, or Bar Liberty first.

Clover Club is the Brooklyn pick when the night needs a polished cocktail room rather than a quick bar stop. Recognition from Top 500 Bars and World's 50 Best Bars lists gives it real credibility, but the practical case is simpler: book it for dates, small groups, cocktail-led evenings where the room is part of the value.

Dry Martini is the Barcelona pick for a composed cocktail stop rather than a loose party bar. The case is strongest for two to four guests who want a classic drink-led room in Eixample, with Javier de las Muelas attached and 2026 European recognition adding credibility. Larger groups should plan ahead rather than assume easy seating.

La Capilla is worth prioritising for drinkers who want a recognised Tequila bar with real awards history, not for anyone trying to organise a full dinner or polished group night. Couples and small parties are the safer fit; groups of 4+ should keep a backup and treat it as one stop on a wider crawl.

Palmer & Co. is worth prioritising if the night is about cocktails and central Sydney access, not a flexible dinner plan. Its World's 50 Best Bars #21 ranking from 2012 gives it real credibility, but first-timers should plan ahead and treat it as a drinks-led stop rather than a guaranteed easy seat.

Book Bar High Five if the priority is a serious Ginza cocktail stop with global recognition, not a food-led night or casual group drinks. It works best as a focused pre- or post-dinner plan, with food handled elsewhere and a backup bar kept in mind.

Le Lion Bar de Paris is the Hamburg pick when a cocktail round needs to feel deliberate and occasion-worthy, not casual. Its World's 50 Best Bars history and 2025 Top 500 Bars listing make it a stronger choice for dates and business drinks than for happy-hour hunting or large groups.

Smuggler's Cove is worth targeting when the night calls for a serious, rum-focused cocktail bar with real recognition behind it. It is strongest for dates and small celebrations; groups of 4+ should only choose it if they are comfortable with a compact, high-energy setting rather than a lounge-style hang.

Book Eau de Vie when the night is about serious cocktails rather than easy group logistics. Its international bar recognition gives it real credibility, but the better use case is a small, drinks-focused CBD plan near Wynyard, not a casual fallback for a large party.

Experimental Cocktail Club is a stronger pick for cocktail-focused nights than for dinner, happy hour, or a big group plan. Its Flatiron location is convenient, its bar recognition gives serious drinkers a reason to make the effort, but wine-first guests should compare it with La Compagnie Wine Bar Flatiron before committing.

Portobello Star is a stronger pick for a drinks-led date or small celebration than for a full dinner plan. Its past World's 50 Best Bars recognition gives it credibility, but the practical move is to go early and treat it as a focused Portobello Road cocktail stop rather than a flexible group fallback.

Schuman's Bar is the Munich pick for a serious, classic cocktail evening when the room matters as much as the drink. Its World's 50 Best Bars #23 recognition from 2013 gives it real credibility, but the practical move is to treat it as a planned date or celebration stop, not an easy fallback.

Goldene Bar is worth targeting for a polished Munich bar night near the Haus der Kunst, especially for dates or small groups that care about room feel. Its World's 50 Best Bars #31 recognition from 2012 gives it a real credential, but choose it for atmosphere over menu specificity.

Pegu Club is worth booking when the brief is credible cocktails without a high-friction destination-bar plan. It is a better fit for small groups, solo drinkers, regulars who want an easy East Village stop; choose Double Chicken Please or Bar Contra instead if the night needs a more high-concept cocktail room.

Angel's Share is a strong West Village choice when the night calls for a wine-focused evening rather than a full restaurant production. Booking is easy, the fit is strongest for dates or small groups, the safer move is to go early for conversation or later for a looser nightcap feel.

Dutch Kills is worth targeting when the night is cocktail-led and Queens fits the plan. Its past World's 50 Best Bars recognition gives it credibility, but the practical move is to go early, keep the group small, have a backup if timing is tight.

Book Frank's for a polished Buenos Aires cocktail occasion, especially a date or celebration where the room matters more than a confirmed food or wine program. Its World's 50 Best Bars #36 ranking from 2012 is the key trust signal, but wine-focused drinkers should compare Naranjo, Lardito, Anchoita Cava before committing.

Beaufort Bar is a polished Strand cocktail choice for dates, pre-theatre drinks, visitors who want a serious London hotel-bar setting. Book it for the room and drinks first; treat food as secondary. Recognition from Top 500 Bars in 2025 and World's 50 Best Bars in 2015 gives it credible bar-world context.

Hemingway Bar is worth targeting for a polished, intimate Paris hotel-bar night, especially for a date or a focused cocktail stop. Its recognition, including Top 500 Bars Best Bars #303 (2025) and World's 50 Best Bars #39 (2010), makes it a credibility-led choice, but not the right fit for casual groups or deal-seekers.

META is the Louisville bar to pick when the evening is about cocktails and conversation rather than a big group meal. Its Pearl Recommended Bar 2025 status and past World's 50 Best Bars ranking make it a serious date-night choice, especially for two people who want a downtown stop with more intent than a default drink.

Plan Boutiq'bar as a cocktail-first Budapest stop, not a full dinner replacement. Its 2025 Top 500 Bars Best Bars #284 listing and 2012 World's 50 Best Bars #43 placement make it a credible pick for serious drinks, especially for two people, but groups and view-seekers may be better served elsewhere.

Book Chainaya, Tea & Cocktails if the night is about a focused cocktail room rather than a loud group outing. Its 2012 World's 50 Best Bars #44 recognition gives it a real credibility marker, but the fit is narrow: better for small parties, dates, drinkers who care about the bar itself than for dinner-led plans or easy walk-in logistics.

Candelaria is worth prioritizing for a small-party cocktail night in Paris, especially if the goal is a recognized bar rather than a spacious lounge. Its awards history supports the hype, but the compact setup means it is better for dates or pairs than groups.

Ruby is a strong Copenhagen pick when the night is built around cocktails rather than dinner. The 2026 Opinionated About Dining recognition gives it a credible signal, but the smartest plan is a small-party drinks stop before or after a restaurant booking, with food handled elsewhere.

Stagger Lee is worth targeting for a serious cocktail-led night in Berlin, especially for a date or small celebration where drinks are the main event. Do not use it as a dinner substitute, have a backup if timing is tight; the appeal is the spirits focus and recognized bar pedigree, not broad all-purpose flexibility.

Book La Bar du Plaza Athénée for a polished Paris hotel-bar occasion, not for deal hunting or a casual group night. The Avenue Montaigne address and World's 50 Best Bars #49 recognition in 2012 give it a stronger case for dates, client drinks, celebrations than for by-the-glass wine exploration.

Asoka is worth booking when you want a lively Kloof Street bar with recognised cocktail credibility and a social, late-night feel. It is less suited to quiet conversation or a food-first plan, so first-timers should use it as a drinks-focused stop in Gardens rather than the anchor for the whole evening.