The World’s 50 Best Bars 2021: London’s Connaught Bar crowned number one for second year running

The 13^th edition of The World’s 50 Best Bars was announced at a live awards ceremony. The 2021 annual ranking features bars from 17 countries, with 18 new entries spread across Australia, India, Mexico, Russia, Argentina, Sweden, Spain, China and the UAE. In particular, this year’s awards sought to recognise the hard work from the entire bar sector over the difficult past year and to inspire and encourage hospitality venues in the next crucial stage of recovery.

London’s Connaught Bar came out tops for the second year running and was also named The Best Bar in Europe. 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, and for its principles of presenting artful, modern drinks with graceful service in an elegant setting. 

The capital’s diverse bar scene had further recognition on the 2021 list with Tayēr + Elementary taking the No.2 spot and Kwānt appearing No.31. Meanwhile, Cardiff’s Lab 22 took the inaugural title for Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu, which was open to any bar in the world, not just those on the 50 Best list.

Although it was London that took the top spots, it was Spain leading the rest of Europe, represented by four out of 17 European bars on the list, including Barcelona’s Paradiso at No.3 and Two Schmucks at No.11.

Other winners included cocktail innovator Remy Savage, who was named Roku Industry Icon, Thunderbolt, Los Angeles, was named Campari One To Watch, Re, Sydney, earned the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award, Attaboy, New York, clinched Rémy Martin Legend of The List title and Insider Bar, Moscow, was awarded London Essence Best New Opening.

Mark Sansom, Content Editor for The World’s 50 Best Bars, said of the winning bar: “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.”

Elisa Gregori, Perrier International Business Unit Director, says: “On behalf of Perrier – and as the leading partner of The World’s 50 Best Bars since 2014 – we feel proud of the strong collaboration and solidarity we share with the international bar community. Similar to last year, we are particularly proud to show our appreciation to all the bars that have made the list during these ongoing hard and uncertain times. Even though the pandemic continues to impact the hospitality industry, in the past months the industry has shown incredible resilience and has learned to adapt to local constraints. We look forward to overcoming these turbulent times and we will always remain with you to ensure the international bar community will become stronger than ever.” 

The editorial unit
Photos: Filippo L’Astorina (header), Virginie Viche (Ago & Gio portrait), 50 Best Bars

For further information on the awards, visit the World’s 50 Best website here.

Here’s the list of the World’s 50 Best Bars 2021:

1 Connaught Bar, London
2 Tayēr + Elementary, London
3 Paradiso, Barcelona
4 The Clumsies, Athens
5 Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires
6 Licorería Limantour, Mexico City
7 Coa, Hong Kong
8 El Copitas, St Petersburg
9 Jigger & Pony, Singapore
10 Katana Kitten, New York
11 Two Schmucks, Barcelona
12 Hanky Panky, Mexico City
13 Insider Bar, Moscow
14 Baba au Rum, Athens
15 Manhattan, Singapore
16 Atlas, Singapore
17 Zuma, Dubai
18 The SG Club, Tokyo
19 Drink Kong, Rome
20 1930, Milan
21 Presidente, Buenos Aires
22 Maybe Sammy, Sydney
23 Cantina OK!, Sydney
24 Salmon Guru, Madrid
25 Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
26 No Sleep Club, Singapore
27 Camparino in Galleria, Milan
28 Café La Trova, Miami
29 Little Red Door, Paris
30 Dante, New York
31 Kwānt, London
32 Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
33 Tres Monos, Buenos Aires
34 Attaboy, New York
35 Lucy’s Flower Shop, Stockholm
36 MO Bar, Singapore
37 Sips, Barcelona
38 Baltra Bar, Mexico City
39 Sober Company, Shanghai
40 Tjoget, Stockholm
41 Epic, Shanghai
42 Charles H, Seoul
43 Tippling Club, Singapore
44 Above Board, Melbourne
45 Galaxy Bar, Dubai
46 Re, Sydney
47 Sidecar, New Delhi
48 Union Trading Company, Shanghai
49 DarkSide, Hong Kong
50 Quinary, Hong Kong

51-100

51 Locale Firenze
52 Bar Trigona
53 Alquímico
54 Double Chicken Please
55 Lyaness
56 Byrdi
57 Swift
58 Bulgari Bar Dubai
59 Penicillin
60 Employees Only
61 Kumiko
62 Tropic City
63 Sago House
64 The Court
65 Tesouro by Firefly
66 Thunderbolt
67 Red Frog
68 Dead End Paradise
69 Danico
70 Hero Bar
71 28 Hong Kong Street
72 Argo
73 Satan’s Whiskers
74 Barro Negro
75 Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen
76 The Bellwood
77 A Bar with Shapes for a Name
78 A Bar Called Gemma
79 Himkok
80 Side Hustle
81 Barbary Coast
82 L’Antiquario
83 Buck & Breck
84 1862 Dry Bar
85 Cera & Bruno Vanzan
86 Art of Duplicity
87 Tan Tan Noodle Bar
88 Carnaval
89 Sweet Liberty
90 BKK Social Club
91 AHA Saloon
92 The Cambridge Public House
93 Flying Dutchmen Cocktails
94 Hope & Sesame
95 Hoots’
96 Fréquence
97 Tales & Spirits
98 Savas Bar
99 Death & Co
100 Leyenda