World’s Best Cocktail Bars 2023

The recipe for a world-class cocktail bar? Forget flavors – what’s important is “dedication, passion, quality, hospitality, and empathy,” according to Simone Caporale, whose bar has just been rated the best on the planet.

Sips, located in Barcelona, came top of the rankings at the World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 awards, announced recently in Singapore.

In fact, a dash of Barcelona might be another key ingredient to a prizewinning bar – last year’s top-ranking venue, Paradiso, is also situated in the Catalan capital. This year, it took the fourth place.

Cocktails and Dreams

It was June 2021 when Caporale and his business partner Marc Álvarez opened Sips – in the middle of the pandemic, and to an uncertain future. However, their leap of faith has been rewarded with a significant rise to the top.

The bar came in 37th place in 2021, just months after opening, and then made a remarkable leap to third place last year. “From that big climb, we understood that Sips had potential,” Caporale mentioned. “But it was entirely up to us. So we continued to do what we are good at: working with passion and dedication. That’s one of the main reasons why Sips was founded, and it’s part of our working philosophy.”

In the modernist L’Eixample district of the city, the self-styled “drinkery house” was set up “on a mission to challenge the boundaries of the bar and cocktail experience.” This innovative approach includes a “workstation” where bartenders, dressed in t-shirts and waistcoats, prepare drinks alongside their clients.

Caporale and Álvarez boast impressive cocktail backgrounds: Caporale previously guided Artesian in London to the top of the rankings no fewer than four times, while Álvarez spent over a decade working for renowned chefs Ferran and Albert Adrià.

Other Winners Around the Globe

Interestingly, there were plenty of less-high-profile winners at the awards. Zest, located in Seoul, was awarded the Best Newcomer award, placing at 18th overall. Cofounders Demie Kim, Sean Woo, Jisu Park, and Noah Kwon have a unique focus on sustainability, sourcing ingredients locally in South Korea.

Kim expressed, “We wanted to introduce a Korean style of bar to the world; going forward, we aim to elevate bar culture in Korea.”

London was the overall city winner, featuring five bars on the list, including two in the top 10. Mexico City followed close behind with four bars on the list. Additionally, Athens, Buenos Aires, and New York City each had three bars featured, with NYC’s Double Chicken Please ranked second overall.

Latin America Makes Its Mark

Topping the South America charts for the second time was Cartagena’s Alquímico. Tres Monos, in Buenos Aires, came second in South America and ranked 11th overall – a climb of 16 places from the previous year. Co-founder Sebastián Atienza emphasized, “Tres Monos is a humble bar prioritizing a friendly atmosphere over extravagant drinks.”

Moreover, he emphasized the importance of international recognition for Latin America: “Argentina has been doing incredible work to position our country among the best in the world.”

Hospitality First

This sentiment was echoed by William Drew, director of content for 50 Best. “The essence of a great bar is surely hospitality,” he noted. “This means ensuring guests feel welcome, comfortable, and that they leave happy. Each establishment will execute this mission in distinct ways, but the best bars place the guest at the center of the experience.”

The Top 50 List in Full

• Sips, Barcelona
• Double Chicken Please, NYC
• Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
• Paradiso, Barcelona
• Connaught Bar, London
• Little Red Door, Paris
• Licorería Limantour, Mexico City
• Tayēr + Elementary, London
• Alquímico, Cartagena
• Himkok, Oslo
• Tres Monos, Buenos Aires
• Line, Athens
• BKK Social Club, Bangkok
• Jigger & Pony, Singapore
• Maybe Sammy, Sydney
• Salmon Guru, Madrid
• Overstory, NYC
• Zest, Seoul
• Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, Bangkok
• Coa, Hong Kong
• Drink Kong, Rome
• Hanky Panky, Mexico City
• Caretaker’s Cottage, Melbourne
• Café La Trova, Miami
• Baba au Rum, Athens
• CoChinChina, Buenos Aires
• Katana Kitten, NYC
• Satan’s Whiskers, London
• Wax On, Berlin
• Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires
• Röda Huset, Stockholm
• Sago House, Singapore
• Freni e Frizioni, Rome
• Argo, Hong Kong
• A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London
• The SG Club, Tokyo
• Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
• The Cambridge Public House, Paris
• Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
• Mimi Kakushi, Dubai
• Scarfes Bar, London
• 1930, Milan
• Carnaval, Lima
• L’Antiquario, Naples
• Baltra Bar, Mexico City
• Locale Firenze, Florence
• The Clumsies, Athens
• Atlas, Singapore
• Jewel of the South, New Orleans
• Galaxy Bar, Dubai