2020 World's 50 Best Bars: Complete Rankings

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.

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.

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.

Book ATLAS when the occasion calls for a polished Singapore bar rather than a full restaurant meal. It is strongest as a celebration, date, or client-drinks stop in Bugis, especially if the group values setting and easy central logistics over a chef-led dining format.

Book Tayēr + Elementary for a cocktail-first night in London, especially if the group cares more about drink craft than a wine list or full dinner format. It is a stronger fit for small groups and bar-led pacing than for a long seated meal, with credible external recognition and an easy booking profile.

Kwant is worth targeting if you want a serious Mayfair cocktail booking with strong international recognition, not a casual fallback. The booking difficulty makes it better for dates or focused two-person drinks than for groups, walk-ins, or value-led nights.

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.

Coa is the Hong Kong pick for a cocktail-led celebration in Central, especially for a date or small group that cares more about the drinks than dinner, wine, or views. The catch is access: treat it as a planned booking with backup options, not a casual walk-up or happy-hour play.

Jigger & Pony is worth prioritizing when the brief is a serious Singapore cocktail night with a lively room and strong awards credibility. It is less useful for rooftop views, outdoor space, or an easy last-minute plan, so book early and use it as the anchor rather than a backup stop.

A serious Shibuya cocktail choice for travellers who want the bar to anchor the night, not just follow dinner. The SG Club is worth prioritising for its international bar-list recognition, especially for pairs, but groups looking for a looser lounge setting should compare it with TRUNK(LOUNGE) or Trump Room.

Maybe Sammy is worth prioritising for a two-person cocktail night in The Rocks when the drinks are the main event. It is a stronger choice than a casual fallback bar, but less suited to quiet conversation or last-minute ease. Plan around it, then keep dinner or wine nearby rather than stacking the night with another high-commitment cocktail stop.

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.

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.

Book The Old Man when the bar is the point of the night, not just a stop after dinner. Its awards history makes it a serious Central cocktail pick, but it is better for couples or small groups than loose larger parties. If you want wine, James Suckling Wine Central is the cleaner alternative; for another cocktail-led night, compare Coa and Bar Leone.

A strong West Village pick when the cocktail bar is the point of the night, especially for pairs or a group of four that can arrive early and stay flexible. Larger groups should have a backup, because the recognition that makes Katana Kitten worth targeting also makes it harder to treat casually.

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.

Native is worth booking for a focused cocktail occasion in Singapore, especially for two people or a small celebration group. Its Amoy Street address makes it easy to pair with dinner nearby, but larger parties should plan early and avoid treating it like a casual walk-in group bar. Recognition from World's 50 Best Bars and Asia's Best Bars supports the case for prioritising it.

Paradiso is worth choosing when the night is about cocktails rather than a full meal. It works best for solo visitors, pairs, small groups who want a drinks-led Barcelona stop in Ciutat Vella; choose Cal Pep or Oaxaca Cuina Mexicana instead if dinner is the priority.

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.

Ranked #77 on the 2026 OAD South America list, Carnaval is a San Isidro cocktail bar led by Aaron Diaz, emphasizing Peruvian botanicals in bright, herbaceous builds. Reservations open four to six weeks out, walk-ins are possible midweek before 9 PM, the format suits special occasions without the booking scramble of Lima's top-tier spirits addresses.

Salmon Guru is central Madrid's most credible cocktail destination, with an OAD Casual Europe ranking and. Diego Cabrera's bar doubles as a dinner venue at $$ pricing, with a wine list of 165 selections that outpaces most bars in its class. Book for a special-occasion drinks evening or as a strong opener before a tasting-menu dinner elsewhere in the city.

Zuma in Dubai's DIFC is a high-energy, sharing-format contemporary Japanese restaurant with a Michelin Plate, a MENA 50 Best ranking of #19, a booking difficulty that demands three to four weeks' lead time for weekend dinners. Best suited to groups of three or more who want robata grill, sashimi, a room that runs late; not for intimate or solo dining.

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.

A serious Milan cocktail pick for readers who care more about drink quality and room control than easy access or a full food plan. 1930 is worth prioritising for a cocktail-led date or small night out, but not as a dinner substitute; plan food separately and treat the bar as the main event.

TWO SCHMUCKS is worth choosing for a relaxed, drinks-led night in central Barcelona, especially if the plan needs late hours and low ceremony. It is not the right pick for a formal dinner or menu-driven meal; first-timers should use it as an easy after-dark stop in Ciutat Vella.

El Copitas is worth prioritising if the night is about cocktails and the group is small enough to handle a hard-to-secure bar plan. Its World's 50 Best Bars #8 recognition gives it a stronger case than casual St. Petersburg café-bars, but groups of four or more should have a backup if seating certainty matters.

Cantina OK is worth targeting for a compact, drinks-first Sydney night, especially as a late stop before or after dinner. It has a credible awards signal from Tatler's 2025 Best Bars Asia-Pacific list, but food is not the reason to choose it; pair it with a proper restaurant if dinner matters.

Lyaness is worth prioritising when the night is built around serious cocktails on London's South Bank. Its awards profile puts it in the city's destination-bar tier, so plan ahead rather than treating it as an easy walk-in. For views and open-air energy, 12th Knot is the cleaner alternative; for drink-led focus, Lyaness is the stronger call.

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.

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.

Panda & Sons is worth booking when the night calls for a central, drinks-led Edinburgh stop rather than a full restaurant meal. Go early for easier conversation or later after dinner; for takeaway, burgers, or a larger casual meal, compare it with Butta Burger Edinburgh, Badger & Co, or The Honours instead.

Swift is the Soho cocktail bar to prioritise when drinks are the main plan, not a filler stop between dinner and a show. Book for a compact date or small-group night with serious cocktail intent; cross-shop if the plan needs outdoor seating, a food-first format, or an easier last-minute table.

Three Sheets is a strong pick for a small, drinks-focused date or celebration in Dalston, especially if the group values cocktail credibility over food, space, or a casual pub feel. Its Top 500 Bars and World's 50 Best Bars recognition makes the booking effort easier to justify, but larger groups should compare more flexible London options.

Book The Bamboo Bar if you want a polished Bangkok hotel-bar experience with serious cocktail recognition, not a bargain round. It is strongest for first-timers, dates, one focused drink in Bang Rak; groups and deal-seekers should compare other Bangkok bars first.

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.

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.

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.

Book Bar Benfiddich if the night is about a serious, bartender-led cocktail experience rather than dinner or a loose group hang. The recognition is strong, the format is intimate, the value makes sense when drinks are the main event, not a pre-meal add-on.

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.

Sober Company is a strong Shanghai pick when the priority is a recognized cocktail bar rather than an easy, casual drink. Book it for a focused date or small-group night in Huangpu; do not rely on it as a dinner substitute, since the confirmed food details are thin.

A strong pick for a planned cocktail night in Taipei, especially for first-timers who want a bar with serious international recognition rather than a casual drop-in. It works best for couples or small groups making Da'an the centre of the evening; choose a simpler peer if flexibility matters more than the cocktail program.

Book Bar Trigona if you want a serious Kuala Lumpur cocktail bar with major global recognition and a polished hotel-bar crowd. It is better for dates, small groups, cocktail-focused travellers than for spontaneous drinks or food-led plans; treat reservations as difficult and keep a fallback ready.

Drink Kong is worth prioritizing for a cocktail-led night in Rome, especially if you want a bar with recognized credentials rather than a casual aperitivo stop. Its awards profile, including Top 500 Bars Best Bars #27 (2025) and World's 50 Best Bars #45 (2020), makes it a stronger choice for serious drinks than for food, wine-list browsing, or daytime café energy.

Room by Le Kief is worth pursuing for a polished, drinks-first night in Taipei, especially for a date or small celebration. Its World's 50 Best Bars and Asia's 50 Best Bars recognition makes the effort easier to justify, but it is not the practical choice for large groups or food-led plans.

Alquímico is worth prioritizing when your Cartagena night is built around cocktails rather than views, dinner, or a casual crawl. Its World's 50 Best Bars recognition makes it the serious drinks choice in El Centro, but the better fit is a small group or date that can plan around demand.

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.

Charles H. at the Four Seasons Seoul offers seasonally rotating craft cocktails in a quiet, hotel-lounge setting. Keith Motsi's program earned a 2026 OAD Asia Recommended nod for its technical execution and ingredient-focused approach. Best for travelers seeking a calm, conversational cocktail before or after dinner in Gwanghwamun; not Seoul's most experimental bar, but reliably polished and easy to book.

Presidente is the Buenos Aires cocktail pick for a polished Recoleta night, especially for dates, celebrations, or business-adjacent drinks. Its World's 50 Best Bars recognition makes it worth planning around, but casual groups may prefer an easier, lower-pressure option.