Drunken Diplomacy

Cocktail Recipes & Whisky Reviews

World’s Top 50 Bars 2019

Every year, the William Reed Business Media ranks the top 50 bars in the world (note they’re from the UK, so the list tends to skew UK/Singapore). It’s a great excuse to travel. After digging more into the bars, we can say that all of the bars featured are exceptional – but there’s often a lot of politics (bartenders have told us off-the-record that they will scour the reservations to try to figure out when the reviewers arrive).

We try to review the bars from a layperson’s perspective. Keep in mind that we go in on a random night (and not often) so your mileage may vary quite a lot in regards to the experience at the bar.

Things we tend to like:

  1. Good and inventive cocktails
  2. Exceptional bartenders
  3. Great place to meet new friends

The below are the newly updated 2019 World’s Best 50 Bars. The asterisked ones are the ones we personally recommend of those, with 3 stars being the most recommended:

  1. Dante, New York*
  2. Connaught Bar, London
  3. Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires
  4. The NoMad, New York ** (recommend)
  5. American Bar, London
  6. The Clumsies, Athens
  7. Attaboy, New York
  8. Atlas, Singapore
  9. The Old Man, Hong Kong
  10. Licoreria Limantour, Mexico City***
  11. Manhattan, Singapore***
  12. Native, Singapore
  13. Carnaval, Lima
  14. Katana Kitten, New York
  15. Guilhotina, São Paulo- Brazil
  16. Three Sheets, London
  17. Himkok, Oslo
  18. High Five, Tokyo**
  19. Salmón Gurú, Madrid
  20. Paradiso, Barcelona
  21. Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei
  22. The Dead Rabbit, New York*** (highly recommend)
  23. Coupette, London
  24. The SG Club, Tokyo
  25. Dr. Stravinsky, Barcelona
  26. Employees Only, New York
  27. El Copitas, St Petersburg
  28. Scout, London
  29. Jigger & Pony, Singapore
  30. Operation Dagger, Singapore
  31. Baba Au Rum, Athens
  32. La Factoría, Old San Juan – Puerto Rico
  33. Presidente, Buenos Aires
  34. Schumann’s, Munich
  35. Speak Low, Shanghai*** (highly recommend)
  36. Little Red Door, Paris
  37. Linje Tio, Stockholm
  38. The Old Man, Singapore
  39. Lyaness, London
  40. Happiness Forgets, London
  41. Swift, London
  42. Trick Dog, San Francisco
  43. Maybe Sammy, Sydney
  44. 1930, Milan
  45. Sober Company, Shanghai
  46. Electric Bing Sutt, Beirut
  47. Kwānt, London
  48. Artesian, London
  49. Coa, Hong Kong
  50. Jerry Thomas Speakeasy, Rome

What we think should have made it: Gibson, London. Hands down.

Top 50 Bar Reviews

Two bartenders facing in opposite directions in front of a small darkly lit bar with an overhead light
Bar Termini, London
Ambiance-driven rather than Mixology-driven. One of the Top 50 World’s Best Bars Read more
Trick Dog - San Francisco
Tales of the Cocktail: Best American Cocktail Bar nominee Read more
Bar with bee like texture and about a hundred identically labelled bottles
Operation Dagger Singapore
#24 of World’s 50 Best Bars Read more
Bright bar with several bottles hanging from an open cieling
Tippling Club Singapore
#31 of the World’s 50 Best Bars Read more
Bar with many bottles backlit with several people in front
Manhattan Singapore
#7 of World's 50 Best Bars Read more
Beautiful bar in the center going up to the ceiling with light coming in from windows on all sides
Atlas Singapore
#15 of the World's Top Bars Read more
Cocktail with blurred bartenders behind it and several bottles of liquor
Japan: Part 1 – Ginza, Tokyo
Review of bars in the center of Tokyo Read more
Interior of bar with different color lighting
Smugglers of the Cove – Disciples of the Cove
Review of the rum education program Read more
Set of three Tequila bottles with Tequila in glasses in front
Tommy's Mexican in San Francisco
Trip to Tommy's Mexican Restaurant in San Francisco Read more