Two weeks ahead of the big reveal of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2026, here is an aperitivo with the 51-100 ranking, which has just been unveiled.
Cocktail lovers will have to wait until 7 October, when the top 50 will be revealed during a fancy ceremony in Milan, to discover which bar will take the crown. In the meantime, this amuse-bouche offers a taste of what is to come, as well as the new trends and direction global cocktail culture is taking.
Sponsored by Perrier, The World’s 50 Best Bars is widely regarded as a benchmark in the international drinks industry. The ranking is determined by an academy of more than 800 specialists from around the world. Roughly a third are bartenders and bar owners, a third drinks writers and a third cocktail experts.
There is no checklist of ingredients, décor or technical wizardry to tick off. What makes the “best bar” is left entirely to each voter’s judgement. The only requirement is that they should have visited the place in the last eighteen months.
According to Faye Huggett, Director of Community for The World’s 50 Best Bars, the ranking shines a spotlight on bars that “consistently deliver outstanding drinks and world-class hospitality”.
This year’s 51-100 are spread across 34 cities on six continents, with 13 new entries, including bars in Athens, Bangkok, Goa and Melbourne. The United States is the most represented country on the list for the fourth consecutive year.
As a region, Europe leads with 18 establishments, four in Italy, three each in Spain and the UK, two apiece in Sweden and Greece, and one each in Norway, Türkiye, France and Ireland.
Asia follows with sixteen bars.
“The 51-100 list has become a vital part of The 50 Best Bars programme, allowing us to recognise a broader range of exceptional venues from around the world while encouraging cocktail lovers to discover new destinations and experiences”, said Huggett.
This year, that wider spotlight reaches several new destinations, including Accra, Dublin, San José, and Shenzhen.
Huggett adds that among the bars that made the list this year, some are “renowned favourites” and others “rising stars pushing the boundaries of cocktail culture”.
Athens institution Baba au Rum, ranked 55th, “a true pioneer of the Athenian cocktail scene”, has appeared in the ranking for more than a decade and is known for its extensive rum collection.
At the other end of the spectrum is Front/Back in Accra, entering at number 80. The creative private members’ club combines cocktails with DJ nights, art and African culture. Its appearance, alongside fellow Accra venue La Borracha at number 87, which brings a Latin splash to the Accra scene, marks a first for West Africa on the extended list.
Then there is Boilermaker in Goa, which enters at 57 despite opening only in late 2024. Inspired by the classic whisky-and-beer combination, the laid-back bar pairs artisanal craft brews with Goan flavours and cocktails like the Why Did The Onion Blush?, made with gin, lychee, red onion, green chilli and yoghurt.
Making the list can bring international visibility and put a bar, together with the city it sits in, on travellers’ itineraries, or simply make a dull business trip more colourful.
Last year’s number one, Bar Leone in Hong Kong, opened only in 2023. Built around the concept of cocktail popolari, the Roman-inspired neighbourhood bar became the first Asian venue to take the global top spot in 2025. Today it draws constant queues, while its co-founders have opened a second Bar Leone in Shanghai and collaborated internationally, including at the Academy Awards’ official after-party.
The full list is available here.
