After first half of the ranking The World's 50 Best Bars 2023 presented last week, the second half has also been published, the one featuring everyone the top 50 cocktail bars in the world.
What is immediately noticeable is the large presence of Italians in the rankings. In fact, among the first places there are four and, in all cases, they are compatriots who have emigrated to other countries. Self The The Connaught Bar of London is confirmed in the wake of the wave, with fifth position and the evergreens Agostino Perrone And Giorgio Bargiani at the helm of the counter, it is the city of Barcelona that increasingly amazes.
Fourth place went to Paradise Of Giacomo Giannotti, That left first place to The Sips of the Como area Simone Caporale, another cocktail bar in Barcelona.
Second and third place were respectively awarded to Double Chicken Please of New York, whose co-founder Faye Chen received the award Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award 2023, and at the Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City.
If an advantage is, to all intents and purposes, the visibility that cities like this can give, since they are true capitals of mixing, there is no doubt that the three projects - The Connaught Bar, Paradiso and Sips – are eligible for recognition at this level: The Connaught Bar for the extreme elegance that also distinguishes the hotel in which it is hosted and for the Dry Martini, here a real ritual to be celebrated together with the restaurant's bestsellers and the signatures of the new drink lists; heaven, for the innovative and very spectacular idea of cocktails, served in a speakeasy which can be accessed from a pastrami bar, and Sipsfinally, for two reasons. First of all, two of the most influential people in the industry are behind this project – Simone Caporale, already known for his work at the Artesian Bar in London, and Marc Álvarez – and then, because, also in this case the focus of the research is on innovation and the presentation of cocktails in unconventional glasses, recently also in a tasting menu served in a bar within the bar.
Five, one more than last year, instead, they are the Italian cocktail bars present among the top fifty places in the most anticipated ranking of the year. New entry, even already in 33rd place, it is Brakes and clutches From Rome, the local by Cristian Bugiada, Riccardo Rossi and Luca Conzato, appreciated for the context, a former mechanical workshop, for the informal atmosphere and for the cocktails, which have the ability to unite the public and those working in the sector.
As in the Phi-Mex case, a twist on Tommy's Margarita with mezcal, calamansi, peppers, tamarind and agave syrup. Another place that gains positions in the rankings, two in this case, is Lo Neapolitan speakeasy open by Alexander Frezza where there used to be an antique shop.
From 46th place new entry of 2022 ranks 44th, thanks to the hospitality, the elegance of the furnishings and the quality of the cocktails, which concerns both the signatures of the Napoli Capitale drink list and the classics, among which the forgotten ones stand out Last Word and Red Hook.
To lose positions, while remaining in the top 50, they are The Drink Kong, which from 16° becomes 21°, remaining the first Italian on the list, with its identity that combines the futurism of the 70s with Japanese inspirations and a dark environment, The 1930, which from 35° ranks 42nd, maintaining a soul that changes every 6 months, both in the menu and in the furnishings,
and the Local Florence, which moves from 39th place to 46th. The role of bar manager by Matteo Di Ienno was taken from Fabio Fanni, which carries out research work in the laboratory in the 1200 Palazzo Concini, which is based on the use of contemporary techniques aimed at reducing waste.
If the classification The World's 50 Best Bars remains the most anticipated in industry, for its ability to mark new trends and more generally the international market of the bar world, the same list reminds us of the importance of hospitality: a fundamental ingredient in a place, but very often forgotten in favor of research in the laboratory. Even before fermented products, fatwashing and cordials, the most important ingredient that invites customers to return to a restaurant is hospitality. Without this, even the most innovative research would lose meaning.
Here is the complete ranking from 1st to 50th place:
1 Sips, Barcelona
2 Double Chicken Please, New York
3 Speakeasy Handshakes, Mexico City
4 Paradise Barcelona
5 Connaught Bar London
6 Little Red Door Paris
7 Licorería Limantour, Mexico City
8 Tayēr + Elementary, London
9 Alquímico, Cartagena
10 Himkok, Oslo
11 Tres Monos, Buenos Aires
12 Line, Athens
13 BKK Social Club, Bangkok
14 Jigger & Pony, Singapore
15 Maybe Sammy, Sydney
16 Salmon Guru, Madrid
17 Overstory, New York
18 Zest, Seoul
19 Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, Bangkok
20 Coa, Hong Kong
21 Drink Kong, Rome
22 Hanky Panky, Mexico City
23 Caretaker's Cottage, Melbourne
24 Café La Trova, Miami
25 Baba au Rum, Athens
26 CoChinChina, Buenos Aires
27 Katana Kitten, New York
28 Satan's Whiskers, London
29 Wax On, Berlin
30 Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires
31 Röda Huset, Stockholm
32 Sago House, Singapore
33 Brakes and Clutches, Rome
34 Argo, Hong Kong
35 A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London
36 The SG Club, Tokyo
37 Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
38 The Cambridge Public House, Paris
39 Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
40 Mimi Kakushi, Dubai
41 Scarfes Bar, London
42 1930, Milan
43 Carnaval, Lima
44 The Antiquarian, Naples
45 Baltra Bar, Mexico City
46 Locale Firenze, Florence
47 The Clumsies, Athens
48 Atlas, Singapore
49 Jewel of the South, New Orleans
50 Galaxy Bar, Dubai.
