Tales Spirited Awards 2026: Top 10 Best International Cocktail Bars

Caretaker's Cottage is the Melbourne CBD bar to prioritise when the night is cocktail-led and likely to run late. Its awards profile makes the booking effort easier to justify, but it is a better fit for small groups and date-night drinking than for loose, food-first plans.

Bar Mauro is worth prioritizing for cocktail-focused travelers in Roma Norte, backed by major bar awards in 2025 and 2026. It is a stronger fit for dates or small groups than for loose parties of four or more, especially given the hard booking profile and lack of confirmed food or pricing details.

Bar Nouveau is the Paris pick for a cocktail-led date when drink credibility matters more than dinner, outdoor seating, or easy group planning. Its 2025 recognition from World's 50 Best Bars and Top 500 Bars makes it a high-demand choice, so treat it as the anchor of the evening and keep food plans separate.

Bar Us is a cocktail bar on Sukhumvit 26 in Bangkok.

Satan's Whiskers is a cocktail bar on Cambridge Heath Road in London.

A high-conviction Guadalajara cocktail pick for a date, celebration, or visiting drinks fan, especially if the night should revolve around the bar rather than a casual crawl. Recognition from major international bar lists makes it worth planning around, but it is a poor fit for loose groups or anyone prioritising guaranteed outdoor seating.

Handshake is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar in Mexico City's Juárez neighborhood.

Panda & Sons is a cocktail bar on Queen Street in Edinburgh.

ZEST SEOUL is worth booking if the goal is a polished Gangnam cocktail bar with a sustainability-forward drinks program and a minimalist, prep/lab-style room. It suits dates, after-work drinks, small group outings better than patio plans, live-music nights, or food-first evenings.

Coa is a cocktail bar on Shin Hing Street in Central, Hong Kong.