The Worlds 50 Best Bars announced

The Baxter Inn of Sydney is the best bar in Australasia for the third year.

Australia has been named the joint third best country for bars in the world, behind US and UK, at the World’s 50 Best Bars awards gala in London.

Announced on 7 October, AEDT, Australia’s three best bars have confirmed their places in the top 50 as The Dead Rabbit Grocery & Grog took the first place crown from Artesian.

Sydney’s The Baxter Inn took 12th position and again was named Ketel One Vodka Best Bar in Australasia, the third year running the internationally renowned whisky bar has claimed it.

Melbourne’s Black Pearl also remained in the top half of the list, taking out spot 22. The bar has been open for fifteen years and has long been the training ground for some of Australia’s most recognised and awarded bartenders.

Making its fourth appearance in the list is Bulletin Place. The Sydney bar snagged 46th place on the list with its daily changing menu of just five cocktails continuing to impress the judges.

Making the list for the first time was New York’s Negroni paradise Dante, in 34th position. The aperitif-focused bar is run and owned by internationally renowned Australian bartender Naren Young.

The bars were chosen by an Academy of 476 members from 57 countries, in what Drinks International calls “the strongest, most diverse collection of industry experts ever assembled to express their view on the best bars in the world”. This year’s ranking includes bars from 27 cities in 19 countries, with 11 new entries.

New York has claimed the top spot after the dominance of London’s Artesian came to an end after four years in the top spot. Entering the list originally in 2013, The Dead Rabbit Grocery & Grog had been in second place for two consecutive years, before clinching the number one spot for 2016.

Representatives from the bars flew into the capital to attend the Awards at Christ Church Spitalfields, having been notified back in August that they had made it to the list – although their exact position was a matter of secrecy until last night’s gala.

This story was orginally published on Top Shelf Professional. 

The World’s 50 Best Bars 2016:

1             The Dead Rabbit Grocery & Grog, New York – Botran Rum Best Bar in North America & the World

2              American Bar, London – Tanqueray Best Bar in Europe

3              Dandelyan, London – Nikka Whisky Highest Climber Awards

4              Connaught Bar, London

5              Attaboy, New York          

6              The Gibson, London – Urban Bar Highest New Entry

7              Employees Only, New York – Asahi Legend of the List

8              Nomad Bar, New York

9              The Clumsies, Athens   

10           Happiness Forgets, London        

11           Manhattan, Singapore – Bols Genever Best Bar in Asia

12           The Baxter Inn, Sydney – Ketel One Vodka Best Bar in Australasia

13           Licoreria Limantour, Mexico City – Torres Brandy Best Bar in Latin America

14           28 Hongkong Street, Singapore

15           Speak Low, Shanghai      

16           The Broken Shaker, Miami

17           Candelaria, Paris

18           Tales & Spirits, Amsterdam

19           Nightjar, London

20           Maison Premiere, New York 

21           Operation Dagger, Singapore

22           Black Pearl, Melbourne

23           High Five, Tokyo

24           Little Red Door  , Paris

25           Linje Tio, Stockholm

26           Central Station, Beirut – Cherry Heering Best Bar in Africa & The Middle East

27           Lobster Bar, Hong Kong

28           Mace, New York

29           Smuggler's Cove, San Francisco

30           Bar Termini, London

31           La Factoria, Old San Juan 

32           Oriole, London

33           The Jerry Thomas Project, Rome             

34           Dante, New York              

35           Trick Dog,  San Francisco               

36           ABV, San Francisco          

37           The Walker Inn, Los Angeles      

38           Nottingham Forest, Milan

39           Aviary, Chicago

40           Baba au Rum, Athens

41           Quinary,  Hong Kong

42           Himkok, Oslo    

43           Lost + Found,  Nicosia   

44           Ruby,  Copenhagen

45           PDT, New York

46           Bulletin Place, Sydney 

47           Bramble,  Edinburgh       

48           Callooh Callay, London

49           Floreria Atlantico, Buenos Aires

50           Buck & Breck, Berlin