Drinks International announced its highly anticipated World’s 50 Best Bars Awards 2015. The bars are chosen by an academy of over 400 members. The list represents the ultimate guide to the top bars and drinking destinations around the globe, with restaurant bars, speakeasies, hotel bars, and tiki themed venues all contributing to the diverse and eclectic list. This year’s ranking includes bars from 27 cities in 19 countries, with 14 new entries.
Number one goes once again to Artesian, London. Located within The Langham Hotel, Artesian is headed up by Alex Kratena and Simone Caporale, who recently launched their show-stopping ‘Surrealism’ menu for 2015. They areclaiming the Ketel One Best Bar In Europe & the World Award.
Last year’s top three remain unchanged; the Artesian’s fierce New York rival Dead Rabbit remains at number two but crowned Botran Rum Best Bar In North America for the third consecutive year, and London’s Nightjar stays at number three.
The Savoy Hotel boasts two bars in the list: The American Bar and The Beaufort Bar. Two bars from rising star Ryan Chettiwardana Iain Griffiths are included in the list, Dandelyan at the Mondrian Hotel and White Lyan, a sign of global recognition of one of the most innovative bartenders in the world.
WhileLondon leads the city rankings and claims the top spot, the US is home to the most bars in the list, showing their extensive cocktail heritage and buoyant contemporary cocktail scene. This year 14 bars are included and with two New York bars challenging in the top 10. Bars from San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, and Chicago follow New York’s lead to place the US as the Number One country in the list.
Elsewhere across the globe, the rise of cocktail culture shows no sign of ceasing with countries including Australia, Germany, Amsterdam, Mexico, Singapore, and Puerto Rico all with bars recognised in the awards.
Sixth place goes to The Baxter Inn in Sydney.Launched in 2011,The Baxter Innis the brainchild of Anton Forte and Jason Scott.The Sydney bar holds a whiskey library of over 630 rare and unusual bottles and serves Old Fashioneds on tap to a regular crowd of Sydneyites and cocktail pilgrims. This year The Baxter Inn climbs one place to equal the highest ever place of an Australian bar in the World’s 50 Best Bars.
The Black Pearlin north Melbourne won the prestigious Torres Highest Climber Award as it rose by 27 spots to crash into the top ten for the third time. After a significantly lower listing last year, the 14-year-old bar returns stronger and has long been the training ground for some of Australia’s most recognised bartenders, including Bulletin Place’s very own Tim Phillips.
Representatives from the world’s leading bars flew into the capital to attend the Awards at Christ Church Spitalfields in London, along with internationally renowned industry figures and celebrity supporters.
THE WORLD’S 50 BEST BARS 2015
1 | Artesian, London (Ketel One Best Bar in Europe & the World)
2 | The Dead Rabbit Grocery & Grog, New York (Botran Rum Best Bar In North America)
3 | Nightjar, London
4 | Employees Only, New York
5 | American Bar, London
6 | The Baxter Inn, Sydney (Torres Brandy Best Bar in Australasia)
7 | 28 Hongkong Street, Singapore (Nikka Whisky Best Bar in Asia)
8 | Happiness Forgets, London
9 | Connaught Bar, London
10 | Black Pearl, Melbourne (Torres Highest Climber Awards)
11 | Attaboy, New York
12 | Candelaria, Paris
13 | High Five, Tokyo
14 | The Broken Shaker, Miami
15 | Canon, Seattle
16 | Buck & Breck, Berlin
17 | Imperial Craft, Tel Aviv (Highest New Entry & Tanqueray Best Bar in Africa & the Middle East)
18 | Lobster Bar, Hong Kong
19 | Le Lion Bar de Paris, Hamburg
20 | Licoreria Limantour, Mexico City (Asahi Beer Best Bar in Latin America)
21 | The Jerry Thomas Project, Rome
22 | The Clumsies, Athens
23 | Maison Premiere, New York
24 | Elephant Bar, New York
25 | The Everleigh, Melbourne
26 | White Lyan, London
27 | Beaufort Bar, London
28 | Bulletin Place, Sydney
29 | Aviary, Chicago
30 | Tales & Spirits, Amsterdam
31 | Smuggler’s Cove, San Francisco
32 | Delicatessen, Moscow
33 | Door 74, Amsterdam
34 | Ruby, Copenhagen
35 | Manhattan, Singapore
36 | Nomad Bar, New York
37 | PDT, New York (All Time Achiever)
38 | Mace, New York
39 | Quinary, Hong Kong
40 | Trick Dog, San Francisco
41 | 69 Colebrooke Row, London
42 | Dry Martini, Barcelona
43 | Schumann’s, Munich
44 | Zuma Dubai, Dubai
45 | La Factoria, Old San Juan
46 | Nottingham Forest, Milan
47 | Tommy’s, San Francisco
48 | Lost & Found, Cyprus
49 | Little Red Door, Paris
50 | Dandelyan, London