The 50 Best Bars 2026 - 51-100

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, and 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 Boadas if the goal is a serious Barcelona cocktail stop with proven recognition, not a rooftop scene or food-led night. It is strongest for first-timers, couples, and small groups who care more about bar credibility than space; larger groups or outdoor-seating seekers should compare terrace options first.

Double Chicken Please is a cocktail bar on Allen Street in New York City's Lower East Side.

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

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.

Book CoChinChina when the night is about cocktails and Franco-Vietnamese cooking, not a casual group hang. Its international bar recognition makes it one of the stronger Buenos Aires choices for a date or small-party drinks plan, while wine-focused readers should cross-shop Lo de Joaquin Alberdi (JA!) or Pain et Vin instead.

Choose Boilermaker for a cocktail-led night in North Goa, especially for a date or small celebration where drinks matter more than dinner. Its Asia's Best Bars 2025 ranking gives it a stronger credibility signal than a casual Goa bar crawl stop, but food, pricing, hours, and booking details should be checked before making it the whole plan.

LPM Restaurant & Bar Dubai holds a 3-Star World of Fine Wine accreditation, making it one of the stronger wine-forward dining choices in the DIFC. The French-Mediterranean format works best for groups of two or more, and booking is currently easier than most peers at this tier. Go for the wine list as much as the food.

Form + Matter is a strong Roma Norte choice when the night is built around cocktails rather than casual bar-hopping. It works better for two to four people than for a larger group, especially given the demand signaled by 2026 bar recognition. Go with a plan, not as a last-minute backup.

Superbueno is a cocktail bar on First Avenue in New York City.

Prioritise Freni e Frizioni if you want a lively Trastevere aperitivo stop with recognised cocktail-bar credibility. It is better for a social first round than for a quiet date or tightly planned seated evening, so go in with a flexible backup if the room is packed.

Licoreria Limantour is a cocktail bar on Avenida Álvaro Obregón in Mexico City's Roma Norte.

A smart French Quarter New American pick for diners who have already done the obvious New Orleans classics and want a more current, food-led meal. Dinner is the stronger play for occasion energy; lunch, if offered, is the lower-commitment option. Recognition from Opinionated About Dining in 2026 adds a useful trust signal without making this feel overly formal.

Svanen is a practical central Oslo pick for drinks before or after dinner, especially if location and late hours matter more than a defined food program. Treat it as a bar stop rather than a dinner anchor; for a meal-led plan, compare Brasserie France, Mamma Pizza, Baltazar Ristorante e Enoteca, or Mantra by Mr India instead.

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.

ARCA is a contemporary Mexican restaurant in Tulum centered on open-fire cooking.

Bar Gabriel is worth choosing for a relaxed Suadiye cocktail night when conversation matters more than spectacle. Expect a cozy, retro-influenced neighborhood bar with snacks, walk-in-friendly access, $$ pricing, and a casual adult crowd rather than a full restaurant or high-energy nightlife format.

A focused Central cocktail bar for date nights and small celebrations, Penicillin is worth prioritising when drinks are the main event rather than a pre-dinner afterthought. Its 2026 Opinionated About Dining Casual in Asia ranking gives it a credible quality signal, but larger groups should plan carefully.

Kumiko is a Japanese dining bar in Chicago's West Loop.

Bar Cham is the Seoul pick for a focused cocktail night in Jongno, especially for two people who care more about drink credibility than a big-room scene. It is a stronger fit for a planned after-dinner stop than a loose group hang, with regional bar recognition giving it a clear quality signal.

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

Three Sheets Soho is the right Soho pick for a polished cocktail stop, especially for dates, small celebrations, or visitors who want a recognised London bar without turning the night formal. It is less suited to big groups or casual pub-style drinking, so have a nearby backup if flexibility matters.

Bar Trench is a strong Ebisu pick when cocktails are the reason for the night, not when food needs to carry the booking. Go as a pair or on a date, plan dinner separately, and treat the reservation as difficult enough to require a backup. The value is in a focused, internationally recognised bar experience rather than a full evening meal.

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.

Naked is a sensible Athens pick for a lively, casual drinks-led stop at about $30 per person. The Top 500 Bars 2026 recognition gives it credibility, but the smarter move is to treat it as a flexible walk-in option rather than a fully planned cocktail or dining destination.

Scarfes Bar is a strong central London pick when the night calls for cocktails, polish, and conversation rather than a full restaurant booking. It suits couples, small groups, and repeat guests who want a more intentional second visit: go earlier, keep the party compact, and treat food as support for the drinks-led plan.

Employees Only NYC is a cocktail bar on Hudson Street in New York City's West Village.

Vender is the Taichung bar to prioritize when cocktails are the reason for the night, backed by 2025 recognition from World's 50 Best Bars and Asia's Best Bars. Do not treat it as a food-first dinner pick; use it as the anchor for a small-group evening and keep a backup ready because bookings can be difficult.

Book Front/Back when the plan is a serious Accra drinks night, not a quiet lounge sit-down. Its 2025 Top 500 Bars Best Bars ranking and 2026 Tales Spirited Awards regional bar-team honor make it a stronger pick for cocktail-focused groups than for diners looking for a full food-led evening.

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.

Otro Bar works when a San José night needs a flexible, casual cocktail stop rather than a heavily planned reservation. The $$ pricing, walk-in-friendly access, and inclusion in The Top 500 Bars 2026 global ranking make it a practical date or post-dinner option, especially if the group does not need confirmed food or a published menu in advance.

Röda Huset is a Modern Scandinavian restaurant and wine bar in central Stockholm, recognised by Opinionated About Dining (Casual Europe 2025) and holding a Star Wine List White Star. Booking is easy by Stockholm fine-dining standards, making it the practical choice when Frantzén and AIRA are fully booked. Best visited on a midweek evening when the wine-forward room is at its most focused.

Three Horses works for a casual cocktail-led night in Melbourne’s CBD, especially if you want an easy, social room rather than a formal lounge. The 2026 Tales Spirited Awards Best New International Cocktail Bar Top 10 Nominee signal gives it credibility at about $30 per person, but it is less suited to dinner plans, outdoor seating, or wine-first drinking.

G.O.D is worth targeting if the night is about Bangkok cocktail credibility and you are comfortable planning around limited public detail. It is a stronger fit for couples or small groups than for large parties, and it works better as part of an old-Bangkok or Chinatown-adjacent bar route than as a fully predictable dinner-and-drinks plan.

Smoke & Bitters is the Hiriketiya pick when the night is about cocktails rather than a casual beach drink. Its awards profile makes it a stronger first choice than lower-commitment bar options, but couples and small groups are the cleaner fit than large parties needing guaranteed seating or a quieter room.

La Borracha is an easy Accra option for a casual celebration, date, or flexible group meal rather than a high-ceremony dining plan. Cross-shop The Grillroom for a more polished occasion, Cedar Garden or Chinese Restaurant for a clearer cuisine call, and ASANA Bar & Kitchen if the room and drinks matter as much as dinner.

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.

Offtrack is worth prioritising if the night is about cocktails rather than general nightlife. Its Asia's 50 Best Bars and Top 500 Bars recognition make it a serious Singapore bar choice, especially for couples or small groups who want a focused drinks stop. Larger groups should compare alternatives before committing.

FOCO is a practical Gràcia pick for an easy Barcelona evening rather than a research-heavy destination meal. Choose it when neighborhood, timing, and flexibility matter; cross-shop first if the occasion needs a confirmed chef, cuisine, awards, price range, or tasting-menu structure.

Book Gucci Giardino` if you want a polished, recognition-backed cocktail stop in Florence's historic center and can plan ahead. It is a stronger pick for dates and first-time visitors than for groups or value-led drinking, and the food should be treated as secondary unless the current menu is your specific reason for going.

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.

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, and 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.

La Sala de Laura is a smart Bogotá pick when the night should revolve around cocktails, small plates, and flexibility rather than a formal dinner. Go early with a date, solo plan, or small group, and treat it as a first stop that can stretch into the evening. Its 2026 OAD South America #42 ranking gives it real credibility for this hybrid format.

A serious Soho bar pick for date-night drinks or a celebration where recognition matters. The Savory Project is a stronger choice for small parties than groups, and it needs advance planning because booking difficulty is high. Do not choose it solely for outdoor seating unless that has been confirmed for your visit.

Opium is the Bangkok pick for cocktail-focused travelers who want a recognised Chinatown bar rather than a casual fallback. It works better for couples or small groups with a planned night; parties of four or more should treat it as the anchor stop and keep a backup from the same neighborhood in mind.

Bar 1661 is the Dublin pick when cocktails are the reason for the night, not a side order before dinner. Go with two to four people, use it as the main drinks stop, and cross-shop Piglet Wine Bar only if the group would rather drink wine with food.

Vesper is worth prioritizing when the night is about cocktails rather than a loose group hang. Its recognition includes Top 500 Bars Best Bars #172 in 2025 and World's 50 Best Bars #55 in 2023, which puts it in Bangkok's serious-drinks set. Best fit: dates, two-person crawls, and visitors staying around Si Lom.

Should you plan a Shibuya dinner around The Bellwood? Yes, if you want a sushi-focused Tokyo stop with a current city-center feel and recognized culinary credibility. It is less suited to diners who need confirmed pricing, seat count, or a published service format before choosing.