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London’s cubist-inspired Connaught named the world’s best bar in 2020

London’s cubist-inspired Connaught named the world’s best bar in 2020

Connaught Bar in London has just clinched to top spot in the World’s 50 Best Bars 2020, as well as being voted the number one bar in Europe. The 12th edition of the annual list – sponsored by Perrier and featuring venues in 23 countries; with 11 new entries spread across Australia, Colombia and Greater China – was announced in an online awards ceremony on 5th November. During extensive consultations with industry figures, its Academy Chairs, bar owners, bartenders and partners, the 50 Best organisation received widespread support for releasing a ranking that aims to bind the community even closer together and provide positive news for bars as they enter the next stage of recovery from the global pandemic.

Under the masterful leadership of Agostino Perrone, the venue’s director of mixology, Connaught Bar stays true to its principles of presenting artful drinks with graceful service in an elegant setting. Designed by the late David Collins, the cubist-inspired bar celebrated its tenth year in 2018 and is known for its unique Martini trolley, where bartenders give a personalised drinks experience to guests.

At no.2 is last year’s winner Dante, New York, which also takes The Best Bar in North America title, sponsored by Asahi Super Dry. Coming in at no.3 is The Clumsies, Athens, while Singapore’s Atlas lands at no.4 and is The Best Bar in Asia, sponsored by Rémy Martin.

The UK leads Europe with nine bars on the list. London’s Tayēr + Elementary wins Disaronno Highest New Entry Award at no.5 and Kwānt clinches London Essence Best New Opening at no.6.  Florería Atlántico in Buenos Aires places no.7 and is named The Best Bar in South America, while China leads the way in Asia with five bars on the list, including Hong Kong’s Coa at no.8 (Nikka Highest Climber Award). Australia places three bars from Sydney, with Maybe Sammy taking The Best Bar in Australasia at no.11.

Other special awards announced in the run-up to the event on 5th November include Maybe Sammy, Sydney, winner of Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award; Galaxy Bar, Dubai, winner of Campari One To Watch Award; and Renato “Tato” Giovannoni of Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires, winner of Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award. The 51-100 list 2020, presented in association with Mancino Vermouth, was released the week before the virtual ceremony. 

Mark Sansom, Content Editor for The World’s 50 Best Bars, says: “We want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the venues on the 2020 list of The World’s 50 Best Bars. We are continually heartened by the industry’s resilience and positivity as countries continue to operate in varying degrees of recovery. Hats off to Connaught Bar, undoubtedly one of the finest cocktail bars of our time. The institution has earned a place on the list every year since 2010 and it has gradually grown in stature to become the world-beating bar it is today. Ago Perrone and his team are dedicated to excellence and look at every element of the guest experience to choreograph a faultless service. The Martinis aren’t bad, either.”

“We at 50 Best hope that the announcement of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020 will act as a show of strength for the global bar community. It displays to the world that even in the face of the ever-shifting challenges and restrictions being thrown at them, bars are still doing everything that they can to continue to provide great hospitality experiences. As we move into the next stages of international recovery, it is vital to get the message out that bars are open for business and ready to receive guests safely and securely.”

The editorial unit

For further information visit the World’s 50 Best Bars website here.

The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020

 

Ranking

 

Establishment

City

Country

1

 

Connaught Bar

London

UK

2

 

Dante

New York

USA

3

 

The Clumsies

Athens

Greece

4

 

Atlas

Singapore

Singapore

5

 

Tayēr + Elementary

London

UK

6

 

Kwānt

London

UK

7

 

Florería Atlántico

Buenos Aires

Argentina

8

 

Coa

Hong Kong

China

9

 

Jigger & Pony

Singapore

Singapore

10

 

The SG Club

Tokyo

Japan

11

 

Maybe Sammy

Sydney

Australia

12

 

Attaboy

New York

USA

13

 

Nomad Bar

New York

USA

14

 

Manhattan

Singapore

Singapore

15

 

The Old Man

Hong Kong

China

16

 

Katana Kitten

New York

USA

17

 

Licorería Limantour

Mexico City

Mexico

18

 

Native

Singapore

Singapore

19

 

Paradisco

Barcelona

Spain

20

 

American Bar

London

UK

21

 

Carnaval

Lima

Peru

22

 

Salmón Gurú

Madrid

Spain

23

 

Zuma

Dubai

UAE

24

 

Little Red Door

Paris

France

25

 

1930

Milan

Italy

26

 

Two Schmucks

Barcelona

Spain

27

 

El Copitas

St Petersburg

Russia

28

 

Cantina OK!

Sydney

Australia

29

 

Lyaness

London

UK

30

 

Himkok

Oslo

Norway

31

 

Baba au Rum

Athens

Greece

32

 

Panda & Sons

Edinburgh

UK

33

 

Swift

London

UK

34

 

Three Sheets

London

UK

35

 

The Bamboo Bar

Bangkok

Thailand

36

 

Tjoget

Stockholm

Sweden

37

 

Buck & Breck

Berlin

Germany

38

 

Employees Only

New York

USA

39

 

Bulletin Place

Sydney

Australia

40

 

Bar Benfiddich

Tokyo

Japan

41

 

Artesian

London

UK

42

 

Sober Company

Shanghai

China

43

 

Indulge Experimental Bistro

Taipei

Taiwan

44

 

Bar Trigona

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

45

 

Drink Kong

Rome

Italy

46

 

Room by Le Kief

Taipei

Taiwan

47

 

Alquimico

Cartagena

Colombia

48

 

High Five

Tokyo

Japan

49

 

Charles H

Seoul

Korea

50

 

Presidente

Buenos Aires

Argentina

The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020 51-100 list


Ranking

 

Establishment

City

Country

51

 

Scout

London

UK 

52

 

Dr. Stravinsky

Barcelona

Spain 

53

 

No Sleep Club

Singapore

Singapore 

54

 

Scarfes Bar

London

UK 

55

 

Danico

Paris

France

56

 

AHA Saloon

Taipei

Taiwan

57

 

Speak Low

Shanghai

China 

58

 

The Old Man (Singapore)

Singapore

Singapore 

59

 

Hanky Panky

Mexico City

Mexico

60

 

La Factoría

Old San Juan

Puerto Rico 

61

 

The Pontiac

Hong Kong

China 

62

 

Vesper

Bangkok

Thailand 

63

 

Donovan Bar

London

UK 

64

 

Tippling Club

Singapore

Singapore 

65

 

Schumann’s

Munich

Germany

66

 

Siete Negronis

Santiago

Chile

67

 

Galaxy Bar

Dubai

UAE 

68

 

Sub Astor

Sao Paulo

Brazil

69

 

Sin & Tax

Johannesburg

South Africa

70

 

Cafe La Trova

Miami

USA

71

 

The Dead Rabbit 

New York

USA

72

 

Baltra Bar

Mexico City

Mexico

73

 

The Everleigh

Melbourne

Australia 

74

 

Pacific Cocktail Haven

San Francisco

USA

75

 

Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen

Cape Town

South Africa

76

 

Rabbit Hole

Bangkok

Thailand 

77

 

Trick Dog

San Francisco

USA

78

 

Happiness Forgets

London

UK 

79

 

Le Syndicat

Paris

France

80

 

Byrdi

Melbourne

Australia 

81

 

Bar Mood Taipei

Taipei

Taiwan

82

 

Kumiko

Chicago

USA

83

 

The Wise King

Hong Kong

China 

84

 

Above Board

Melbourne

Australia 



85

 

Tres Monos

Buenos Aires

Argentina

86

 

28 HongKong Street

Singapore

Singapore 

87

 

Freni e Frizioni

Rome

Italy

88

 

Art of Duplicity

Cape Town

South Africa

89

 

Death & Co

New York

USA

90

 

Officina Milano

Milan

Italy

91

 

Sidecar

New Delhi

India 

92

 

Gibson

Singapore

Singapore 

93

 

Draft Land

Taipei

Taiwan

94

 

Amor y Amargo

New York

USA

95

 

Gen Yamamoto

Tokyo

Japan 

96

 

Electric Bing Sutt

Beirut

Lebanon

97

 

Lost & Found

Nicosia

Cyprus

98

 

Black Pearl

Melbourne

Australia 

99

 

Bar Raval

Toronto

Canada

100

 

Bar Trench

Tokyo

Japan 

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