The world’s bar elite gathered in Milan to discover the new rankings of one of the most prestigious lists, The World’s 50 Best Bars. Hong Kong’s Bar Leone retained its title, drawing on Italian bar traditions, perfectly crafted classic cocktails and unpretentious hospitality. Europe also made a significant mark on this year’s selection: Paris overtook London for the first time in terms of the number of establishments represented, while Bratislava’s Mirror Bar joined the world’s elite in 34th place. The VisitChef editorial team was there.
Bar Leone back on top
On 7 October, Milan hosted the 18th edition of The World’s 50 Best Bars awards, one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the international bar scene. The gala evening brought together bartenders, venue owners, experts and brands that are shaping contemporary cocktail culture. As well as the ranking of the world’s 50 best bars, attention was also focused on individual category awards, emerging talent and cities that are establishing an ever-stronger position on the global gastronomic map.
The main news of the evening was clear: the title of The World’s Best Bar was won for the second year running by Hong Kong’s Bar Leone. Its founder, Lorenzo Antinori, and his team have thus confirmed that the pinnacle of the global bar scene need not rely solely on technical displays, complicated techniques and flashy presentations. Bar Leone, which opened in 2023 in Hong Kong’s Central district, draws inspiration from traditional Roman establishments, particularly the atmosphere of Rome’s Trastevere. Its ‘Cocktail Popolari’ philosophy – cocktails for the people – is based on accessibility, natural hospitality and meticulously prepared drinks. The interior evokes a sense of Italian nostalgia, featuring wooden elements and football memorabilia, and alongside the cocktails, simple snacks are served, such as smoked olives or a mortadella sandwich. It is precisely this combination of a distinctive concept, high-quality craftsmanship and an atmosphere that guests want to return to that is one of the reasons for the bar’s extraordinary rise to prominence. Bar Leone was named Asia’s best bar in 2024 and, a year later, topped the world rankings for the first time. This year’s defence of its title confirms that this is not a one-off success, but a concept capable of appealing to both guests and industry professionals in the long term.
Second place went to the Italian bar Moebius Milano, which also claimed the title of Europe’s best bar. Third place was taken by Alquímico from Cartagena in Colombia, fourth by Bar Us in Bangkok, and the top five was rounded off by Line in Athens. This ranking alone demonstrates just how diverse the current global cocktail scene is: alongside established metropolises, venues are making their mark that manage to blend local identity with international ambitions. Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy came sixth and was named the best bar in North America, while South Korea’s Zest, in seventh place, reflects Seoul’s growing prominence. London’s Connaught Bar took eighth place and Peru’s Lady Bee in Lima came ninth. Rounding off the top ten was Bar Mauro from Mexico City, which also won the award for the highest-ranked new entry. In total, bars from 26 cities made it into this year’s top 50, with 14 venues appearing in the rankings for the first time. The results are therefore not just a showcase of established names, but also a reflection of a dynamic sector in which the focus is shifting between continents and new venues are able to quickly join the world’s elite.
Bratislava’s Mirror Bar confirms Central Europe’s strength
From a Central European perspective, one of the most significant results of this year’s edition is the 34th place achieved by Bratislava’s Mirror Bar. The Slovak venue has once again secured its place among the world’s fifty highest-ranked bars, making it the most prominent representative of the regional bar scene. Competing against venues from Hong Kong, London, Paris, New York, Bangkok and Mexico City, this sends an important signal that world-class cocktail culture is not the exclusive preserve of the world’s largest cities.
Mirror Bar features in the ranking alongside other European venues, including, for example, Himkok in Norway in 24th place, Locale Firenze in Florence in 33rd place and Nouvelle Vague in Tirana in 43rd place. Bratislava’s result is all the more interesting given that this year’s ranking also highlights the growing diversity of the European bar scene. While its centre of gravity has traditionally been associated with London, other cities and venues that are building on their own unique styles are also making their mark more and more prominently. In this context, Mirror Bar is becoming one of the most prominent names in the Central European region, and its ranking may help draw the attention of international guests and industry professionals to Bratislava as a cocktail destination. The ranking is not merely a list of venues to visit for a good drink; for the entire industry, it also serves as an important platform that highlights the work of bar teams, their creativity, service and ability to create experiences that go beyond the mere preparation of a drink.
Paris is ahead of London this time
One of the most striking European stories of this year’s edition is Paris, which has overtaken London for the first time to become the European city with the most entries in the ranking. With four Parisian venues featured, the French capital now shares first place in the global rankings with Hong Kong and New York. The Cambridge Public House came 13th, Bar Nouveau took 15th place, De Vie made its debut in 23rd place and Danico came 26th. London is represented by the Connaught Bar in eighth place, Satan’s Whiskers in 29th and newcomer Waltz in 32nd.
Athens also has three venues in the top fifty: alongside Line in fifth place and Barro Negro in 40th, The Bar in Front of the Bar made a significant leap, climbing 28 places to 19th and winning the Nikka Highest Climber Award. Barcelona has two of its stalwarts in the rankings: Sips in 16th place and Paradiso in 17th; the latter also received the Rémy Martin Legend of the List award for its long-standing success in the rankings. Special mention should also be made of the awards that serve as a reminder that a bar’s success is not measured solely by its ranking. Athens’ Line won the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award for its focus on sustainability, fermentation, circular production and the principles of waste minimisation. Edinburgh’s Panda & Sons impressed with its ‘Transcend’ cocktail menu, which captivated the jury with its blend of storytelling, technique and flavour profiles. The Industry Icon of the Year Award went to Shingo Gokan, a leading figure in contemporary bar culture who has made his mark in New York and Asia, among other places. Abu Dhabi made its mark thanks to the Saikindō bar, which won the design award, while New York celebrated with Schmuck, named the best new bar. The geographical spread of the other awards is also interesting: Colombia’s Alquímico won the hospitality award, while Melbourne’s Three Horses received the Campari One to Watch award for a venue with the potential to break into the future elite.
This year’s results thus paint a picture of the global bar scene – beyond the winner itself – as an environment in which, alongside the quality of the drinks, distinctiveness, hospitality, sustainability, thoughtful design and the ability to offer guests a clearly recognisable experience are becoming increasingly important. The evening in Milan provided clear confirmation of Bar Leone’s standing, but also offered plenty of reasons to keep an eye on developments in Paris, Athens, Mexico City and Bratislava. Mirror Bar, in particular, demonstrates that even a venue from the Central European region can be part of the world’s bar elite.
You can find the full list of winning bars for 2026 HERE.
