The 2014 World's 50 Best Bars: Full Rankings and Analysis

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.

Book The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog when cocktails are the point of the night and the group is small enough to handle a high-demand bar. The awards history is strong, including World's 50 Best Bars #1 in 2016 and a Pinnacle Guide 1 Pin in 2026, but easier alternatives make more sense for loose group plans.

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.

Attaboy NYC is worth the access hassle for a two-person cocktail date built around bartender-led drinks and serious New York cocktail history. It is less useful for groups, dinner, or a tightly scheduled night, but the long World’s 50 Best Bars record and Pearl Recommended Bar status make it one of the city’s more defensible high-effort bar picks.

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.

Canon anchors Seattle's Capitol Hill with one of the city's deepest whiskey inventories and late-night hours that stretch to 2 AM on weekends. The cocktail bar rewards return visitors with a spirit-forward program and bar team that refines recommendations over time, though the room gets loud after 10 PM on busy nights. Best visited Wednesday or Thursday before 8 PM for conversation, or post-dinner when most Seattle options have closed.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Aviary is worth booking when cocktails are the main plan, not a casual add-on. In Chicago's Fulton Market, it makes the most sense for a date, small celebration, or return visit where a highly designed drink experience matters more than easy drop-in flexibility.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Book Buck & Breck when the night calls for a serious, tightly focused cocktail stop in Berlin rather than a loose group bar. It is strongest for two people or a planned solo drink, less useful for flexible arrivals or loud social drinking. Global bar recognition gives it a clear trust signal.

Broken Shaker is the Miami Beach pick for a lively, drinks-first night when a serious cocktail program matters more than a formal room. Its awards history gives it credibility, but the practical appeal is simpler: go for energy, small groups, a bar-led evening rather than a quiet dinner replacement.

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.

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.

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.

Door 74 is worth targeting for a planned Amsterdam cocktail date, especially if you want a darker, more intimate room with serious bar-world recognition. It is less useful for groups or food-led plans, the booking friction means it should be treated as the main drinks stop rather than a casual backup.

A strong Chicago choice for groups that want a drinks-first celebration rather than a quiet lounge. Three Dots & a Dash is better for birthdays, visitor nights, late plans than for business drinks or low-volume dates, with World's 50 Best Bars recognition giving it more credibility than a generic downtown cocktail stop.

Book Jerry Thomas Speakeasy if the Rome night is about cocktails, not convenience. Its international bar recognition makes it a serious choice for drink-focused travellers, but the format is better for small groups and planned evenings than casual walk-ins or food-led plans.

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.

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.

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.

Chef Josh Harris runs a focused hot dog operation in San Francisco's Mission District, open from 4 pm daily. Easy to walk into, well-credentialed for its price tier, a smart counterpoint to the city's tasting-menu circuit.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Florería Atlantico is the Buenos Aires bar to pick when the night needs atmosphere and a clear sense of occasion, especially for two people who want energy over privacy. Demand is serious, so treat it as a planned anchor rather than an easy walk-in. For quieter conversation or larger groups, keep a calmer backup in mind.

A strong Ginza pick when cocktails are the point, not dinner. STAR BAR GINZA is priced for a serious bar stop and carries a Tabelog 100 signal, making it better for dates, solo drinkers, or two-person after-dinner plans than casual groups chasing a low-cost night out.

Book Delicatessen if the night is about serious cocktails rather than hotel-lounge comfort. Its World's 50 Best Bars #50 recognition from 2013 makes it a credible Moscow choice, but the booking difficulty means it is better for small, planned-out evenings than casual walk-ins or group drinks.

Quinary is worth prioritizing for a first Hong Kong cocktail night if drinks are the main event and the group is small. Do not make it the core dinner plan: the safer move is to eat elsewhere, then treat this Central address as a focused bar stop with serious awards credibility and high demand.

Cure is the New Orleans choice for a cocktail-led night with a more composed room than the city's louder bar options. Prioritize it for dates or small groups that care about drinks; choose Le Bon Temps Roule or The Delachaise Wine Bar instead if the night needs looser energy or a wine-first pace.

Tales & Spirits is the Amsterdam pick for a cocktail-led night with some occasion value, especially for first-timers who want a central bar rather than a casual beer stop. Its World's 50 Best Bars #35 recognition from 2017 gives it a credible signal, but the better decision is format-based: choose it for cocktails, not for a loose large-group crawl.

Maison Premiere is a strong Williamsburg choice when the cocktail program and room are the reason for the night. It is better for dates and celebrations than loose group drinks, the booking difficulty makes it a plan-ahead venue rather than a casual fallback.

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.

Licoreria Limantour is the Mexico City cocktail institution to plan around if the goal is a high-recognition Roma Norte night with real energy. Go for award-backed drinks, Mexican-rooted signatures, a lively room; choose a smaller peer like Baltra or Brujas if conversation matters more than the scene.

Choose Shady Pines Saloon for an easy, late-running CBD drinks stop rather than a tightly planned date-night dinner. It suits two people who want flexibility after dinner, with less certainty around menu detail, pricing, reservations than more structured hotel or restaurant bars.

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.

Williams & Graham is worth planning around when the goal is a serious Denver cocktail night for two or a small party. It is less useful for loose group plans, dinner-led evenings, or anyone who needs an easy fallback. The 2014 World's 50 Best Bars recognition gives it credibility, but the real reason to book is fit: focused drinks, tighter planning, a guest who cares about the bar itself.