The 2016 World's 50 Best Bars: Rankings and Geographic Breakdown

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Clumsies is a strong Athens pick for a cocktail-first night, especially for guests who care about internationally recognized bars. Treat food as a supporting part of the evening rather than the reason to go, compare alternatives if wine, easier access, or a looser room matters more.

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.

A serious Singapore cocktail booking for guests who want a polished, award-recognised hotel-bar experience rather than a casual drink. Go for the cocktails and service, not as a substitute for a full restaurant dinner; smaller parties and planned nights are the better fit.

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.

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.

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.

Speak Low is the Shanghai cocktail pick to prioritize when reputation matters: a small-occasion, drinks-led bar with World's 50 Best, Top 500 Bars, Tatler recognition. Choose it for a date or visitor night; pick a lounge-style alternative if the group is large or the plan needs easier logistics.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Little Red Door is the Paris cocktail booking to prioritise when the drinks list is the main reason for going. Its World's 50 Best Bars, Top 500 Bars, Pinnacle Guide recognition make it a stronger fit for dates and serious cocktail drinkers than for large spontaneous groups or food-led plans.

Tjoget is worth booking when you want a relaxed Stockholm night that can cover dinner and drinks without a formal tasting-menu commitment. The Mediterranean direction, easy booking signal, OAD Casual in Europe recognition make it a strong first-timer choice, especially for groups choosing between a restaurant reservation and a bar-led evening.

Central Station is a compact, walk-in-only bar on Armenia Street that opens at 4 PM daily and holds a steady local crowd through midnight (1 AM on weekends). The room is loud, the drinks list leans toward gin and vodka cocktails, the vibe is casual groups splitting bills rather than lingering dates. Worth a drop-in if you need something reliably open, but <a href="https://joinpearl.co/restaurants/baron">BARON</a> offers more space for the same energy.

Lobster Bar is a strong Central pick for a polished two-person drinks night, especially if you value proven bar recognition and a hotel-adjacent setting. It is less useful as a last-minute fallback, so plan ahead and treat it as a focused cocktail stop rather than a casual group gathering.

Book Mace when the night calls for a serious cocktail bar rather than a casual fallback. Its World's 50 Best Bars and North America's 50 Best Bars recognition make it a strong date-night choice in New York City, but plan early and do not rely on it for dinner, outdoor seating, or a flexible group hang unless those details are confirmed separately.

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.

Bar Termini is a strong Soho pick when the plan is focused Italian-style cocktails in a compact room, not a loose group night. Go for aperitivo energy, coffee-bar precision, a short, high-intent stop; choose somewhere roomier if the evening needs space, flexibility, or a long sit-down format.

La Factoría is the San Juan bar to choose when the night needs energy, recognition, a crowd-forward room rather than a quiet drink. It is better for couples or groups who want atmosphere and momentum than for anyone planning a calm conversation or food-led stop.

Book Oriole for a cocktail-led Covent Garden night, especially as a date or small-group plan. Its bar-world recognition gives it more weight than a casual tourist-area stop, but food should be treated as secondary. If snacks and group flexibility matter more, compare it with Mr Fogg's Games Parlour instead.

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.

Dante NYC is worth prioritizing if you want a recognized Greenwich Village cocktail address with serious bar-awards credibility. Treat it as a planned early-evening stop rather than a casual late-night fallback, especially if conversation or seating certainty matters.

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.

ABV is the Mission pick for a drink-led date or small celebration when cocktail credibility matters more than a full dinner plan. The late hours help, but the smarter move is early evening if conversation matters; choose Little Star Pizza or Poc-Chuc Restaurant instead when food value is the priority.

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.

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.

Baba au Rum is Athens' dedicated rum bar on Klitiou, open until 3 AM most nights with a tight cocktail program and enough counter space for walk-ins. The format suits post-dinner drinking when you need something more focused than a wine bar but less formal than a tasting-menu venue. Come for the rum flights, stay because the bartending holds up through the late shift.

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.

Himkok is the Oslo bar to prioritize when cocktails are the main event and the booking effort is part of the plan. Its Top 500 Bars Best Bars #6 ranking in 2025 and World's 50 Best Bars #10 placement in 2023 make it a high-confidence pick for serious drinks, but it is less useful for a casual, last-minute night out.

Book Lost & Found when the night calls for a serious cocktail bar rather than a wine-led hangout or dinner-first venue. Its clearest trust signal is the World's 50 Best Bars #25 ranking from 2018, which puts it above a casual drop-in choice for date nights or celebrations in Nicosia.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.