Barcelona consolidates its reign over the World’s 50 Best Bars, as the chic cocktail spot Sips ascends to the pinnacle in the 2023 awards. This triumph testifies to a shift from the long-standing predominance of London and New York establishments, marking the second consecutive victory for the vibrant Spanish city. The previous year’s victor, the trendy speakeasy Paradiso, gracefully settled for the fourth position this year.
The ceremony, a notable first to be held outside Europe in the awards’ 14-year existence, took place at a repurposed 1950s power plant in Singapore. The list has evolved to reflect an increasing diversity with Mexico City boasting four spots, inclusive of the close third, Handshake Speakeasy. Both Buenos Aires and the host city, Singapore, each parade three top 50 bars.
The expanding horizons of the list witnessed establishments from several Asian countries making their debut; a noteworthy mention is Seoul’s environmentally-conscious Zest, making a grand entrance at 18th. Meanwhile, Bangkok’s flourishing bar scene showcased an impressive performance, with both Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar and the vintage-inspired BKK Social Club joining the ranks at 19th and 13th place, respectively; the latter also clinched the title of Asia’s top bar.
The esteemed World’s 50 Best Bar Academy—comprising a panel of 680 industry stalwarts such as bar owners, mixologists, and connoisseurs—subjected selections to an anonymous vote. The guiding principle remained pure, focusing on where members had the “best experience.”
Although New York City only held three spots in this year’s list—a drastic decrease from eight in 2015—Double Chicken Please, located on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, clinched the runner-up position. Meanwhile, both Florida and Louisiana found representation through Miami’s Café La Trova and New Orleans’ Jewel of the South, at 24th and 49th, respectively.
While London continues to be home to more top-50 bars than any other city, and despite its two-time winner Connaught Bar sliding into the fifth position, the city experienced a remarkable drift as no establishments placed on the podium for the first time since the awards’ inception.
Proprietors of Sips, Simone Caporale and Marc Álvarez, who opened their bar amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, consider the first place as transformational for their establishment. For them, the achievement was nothing short of a “dream”. Boasting just 33 seats, Sips stands out with its use of locally sourced ingredients to create, what Álvarez terms, “high couture cocktails.” Furthermore, he acknowledges Barcelona’s thriving bar scene, attributing it aside from exceptional drinks and service, to the city’s architecture, gastronomy, and pleasant weather.
William Reed, the company helming the annual awards, has recently launched regional lists, featuring Asia and North America’s 50 Best Bars, the former triumphed by Hong Kong’s Coa and the latter by Double Chicken Please of New York. The organization moreover conducts the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list which named Central in Lima, the Peruvian capital, the number one dining establishment for 2023.
