The 13th list of The World’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, was announced at
a live awards ceremony on Tuesday 7th December 2021 in London, UK. After extensive consultation with industry figures, its Academy Chairs, bartenders, bar owners and its partners, the 50 Best organisation received overwhelming feedback that the awards should go ahead and be celebrated in person this year following a virtual announcement in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The awards recognise the hard work from the entire bar sector over the past year and aim to inspire and encourage hospitality venues in the next crucial stage of recovery.
The full list of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2021 is at the bottom of this press release.
The 2021 edition of the annual ranking features bars from 17 countries and sees London’s Connaught Bar take the No.1 spot, picking up The World’s Best Bar and The Best Bar in Europe titles.
Under the masterful leadership of Agostino Perrone, the venue’s Director of Mixology, Connaught Bar stays true to its principles of presenting artful, modern drinks with graceful service in an elegant setting. Designed by the late David Collins, the Cubist-inspired bar is known for its unique Martini trolley, where bartenders give a personalised drinks experience to guests. Perrone has developed a strong and dedicated leadership team including Head Mixologist Giorgio Bargiani and Bar Manager Maura Milia, who embody hospitality and drinks craft, as well as providing inspiration to a talented ensemble of junior bartenders who aspire to follow in their footsteps.
Mark Sansom, Content Editor for The World’s 50 Best Bars, says: “Connaught Bar, we salute you – to be named The World’s Best Bar for two consecutive years is a feat that previously only two bars have achieved in the awards’ 13-year history. It’s a testament to Ago Perrone and his team’s continued pursuit of excellence, which is encapsulated in the way they have developed and modernised the Martini cocktail. We also want to send all the venues on the 2021 list of The World’s 50 Best Bars huge congratulations. It’s been another incredibly tough year for hospitality and the industry’s resilience and togetherness through these challenges is humbling. We hope that the positive stories around the bars’ success in the awards will help to drive vital business in the weeks and months to come.”
London stays on top but Spain leads Europe
London takes the top two spots with Connaught Bar placing at No.1 and receiving The Best Bar in Europe for the second year in a row, with Tayēr + Elementary at No.2. The city’s third bar in the list is Kwānt at No.31. Spain leads Europe with four bars on the list, with Barcelona’s Paradiso claiming No.3 position, followed by Two Schmucks, which climbed 15 places to No.11. Salmon Guru, Madrid, is at No.24 and is the winner of Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award. Sips, Barcelona, is a new entry for Spain at No.37.
Greece claims two spots on the list with Athens bars The Clumsies and Baba au Rum at No.4 and No.14 respectively. Italy has three bars on the list as Milan’s new entry Camparino in Galleria at No.27 joins fellow Milanese bar 1930 (No.20) and Rome’s Drink Kong (No.19).
Sweden and Russia also have two bars each on the list, with Stockholm’s Tjoget at No.40 and Lucy’s Flower Shop coming in as a new entry at No.35. St Petersburg’s El Copitas has climbed 19 positions to No.8, and new entry Insider Bar, Moscow, is at No.13, winning the London Essence Best New Opening in the process. France’s Little Red Door in Paris again claims a spot on the list at No.29.
1-50 List: WORLD’S 50 BEST BARS 2021
1 Connaught Bar London UK
2 Tayēr + Elementary London UK
3 Paradiso Barcelona Spain
4 The Clumsies Athens Greece
5 Florería Atlántico Buenos Aires Argentina
6 Licorería Limantour Mexico City Mexico
7 Coa Hong Kong China
8 El Copitas St Petersburg Russia
9 Jigger & Pony Singapore Singapore
10 Katana Kitten New York USA
11 Two Schmucks Barcelona Spain
12 Hanky Panky Mexico City Mexico
13 Insider Bar Moscow Russia
14 Baba au Rum Athens Greece
15 Manhattan Singapore Singapore
16 Atlas Singapore Singapore
17 Zuma Dubai UAE
18 The SG Club Tokyo Japan
19 Drink Kong Rome Italy
20 1930 Milan Italy
21 Presidente Buenos Aires Argentina
22 Maybe Sammy Sydney Australia
23 Cantina OK! Sydney Australia
24 Salmon Guru Madrid Spain
25 Handshake Speakeasy Mexico City Mexico
26 No Sleep Club Singapore Singapore
27 Camparino in Galleria Milan Italy
28 Café La Trova Miami USA
29 Little Red Door Paris France
30 Dante New York USA
31 Kwānt London UK
32 Bar Benfiddich Tokyo Japan
33 Tres Monos Buenos Aires Argentina
34 Attaboy New York USA
35 Lucy’s Flower Shop Stockholm Sweden
36 MO Bar Singapore Singapore
37 Sips Barcelona Spain
38 Baltra Bar Mexico City Mexico
39 Sober Company Shanghai China
40 Tjoget Stockholm Sweden
41 Epic Shanghai China
42 Charles H Seoul South Korea
43 Tippling Club Singapore Singapore
44 Above Board Melbourne Australia
45 Galaxy Bar Dubai UAE
46 Re Sydney Australia
47 Sidecar New Delhi India
48 Union Trading Company Shanghai China
49 DarkSide Hong Kong China
50 Quinary Hong Kong China
