Tales Spirited Awards 2026: Best New International Cocktail Bar Nominees

Cave De Vie works for an easy, intimate drinks stop in Paris when the group wants wine-bar flexibility with cocktail options. Treat it as a casual early-evening choice rather than a full dinner anchor, especially if the decision depends on a documented food menu or named signature drink.

Book Montana for a drinks-first Central night, especially if you want a Hong Kong cocktail bar with 2026 SCMP 100 Top Tables Bars recognition and a Tales Spirited Awards Best New International Cocktail Bar Top 10 Nominee signal. Skip it as a dinner substitute unless food details are part of your plan.

Despacho Margarita is worth prioritizing if the group wants a focused agave-spirits bar rather than a generic cocktail stop. The room is compact and casual, the Margarita program has real technical depth, the bottle-shop format makes it useful for guests who want to learn while drinking.

Shakerato works for an evening-led Amsterdam plan when atmosphere matters more than a documented chef, menu, or price signal. It is a practical pick for a casual return visit or small-group night out, but less convincing for dietary-sensitive dining, a major occasion, or anyone who wants a clearly defined tasting-menu experience.

Chow Chow House works for a casual Mexico City night when the group wants cocktails, Chinese restaurant energy, a dim, lively room without committing to a formal dinner. At $30 per person, it is a low-friction pick for dates or small groups, with 2026 international cocktail-bar nominee recognition adding a useful credibility signal.

Waltz is a good Shoreditch pick for a small, cocktail-focused stop rather than a big group night or formal private event. The strongest reason to consider it is the 2026 Opinionated About Dining recognition, which gives this newer London bar a credible quality signal without enough public detail to justify over-planning an entire evening around it.

Three Horses is a smart Melbourne CBD pick when the brief is easy cocktails in a compact, social room rather than a formal lounge. Go for a low-friction drink, especially as a first stop or casual meet-up; choose somewhere more structured if you need guaranteed seating, a quiet date setting, or a menu-led destination.

Mius is a Central cocktail pick for drinkers who want a current Hong Kong bar with 2026 recognition, not a fully mapped dining plan. It is easiest to recommend for dates, two-person bar crawls, or late-evening drinks; wine-first guests should compare it with James Suckling Wine Central before committing.

Pop City x Pony is a Japanese-inspired collaboration bar in Singapore with an easy booking profile and a drinks-first identity. It rewards return visits more than first-timer bar-hopping. If you've already been once, go back and work further into the menu. For a date or a group with more structural needs, Atlas or 28 HongKong Street may serve you better.

Abstract Bistrot is a smart Paris cocktail pick if you want a newer, award-noticed room rather than a predictable hotel-bar night. The 2026 Tales Spirited Awards Best New International Cocktail Bar Top 10 nomination is the main trust signal. Go for a drinks-led evening in the 2nd arrondissement, especially with a small group or date-night plan.