The list, organised annually by William Reed, was announced today via a digital broadcast on social media. As trade media partner to the Awards, Drinks International has published the official guide to the 2020 list as part of its Global Bar Edition, which also launches today.
Led by Ago Perrone, Giorgio Bargiani and Maura Milia, the flagship bar of the Connaught Hotel in Mayfair has boasted an impressive record in The World’s 50 Best Bars over the years, with a run of 10 top-10 finishes including two runner-up placements.
Heading into this year’s ceremony, Connaught Bar - which is famed for its refined approach to cocktails and five-star service - was one of the favourites to take the largest share of the 540-strong Academy vote.
Last year’s winner Dante - a New York-based Italian cafe-bar which majors on aperitivos - made the list of 50 for the fifth year straight, but relinquished top spot, finishing second.
In its sixth appearance, The Clumsies in Athens, climbed to third; the joint highest rank achieved by any bar outside of New York or London in the 12 years the list has been produced.
For the first time, the top four positions comprised bars from different cities, with Singapore’s luxury gin bar Atlas taking fourth spot.
In fifth and sixth came two London bars launched last year – Monica Berg and Alex Kratena’s Tayēr + Elementary and Erik Lorincz’s Kwānt. They were among eight bars from London, this year’s cocktail capital. New York supplied the next most with five.
Completing the top 10 was Florería Atlántico of Buenos Aires, Coa from Hong Kong, Singapore’s Jigger & Pony and The SG Club of Tokyo.
It was a record low turnout for North American bars in 2020 list – with six – and a record high for Asia, which laid claim to 15, with four of the top 10.
Through the lens of The World’s 50 Best Bars, Asia’s rapid development has been clear. This year, emerging scenes such as Bangkok (Bamboo Bar), Seoul (Charles H) and Kuala Lumpur (Bar Trigona) became the latest to achieve 50 Best status.
It was also a first for Colombia, with Alquimico from Cartagena making its debut.
AWARDS
• Connaught Bar, London, ranks No.1 in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020 and is also The Best Bar in Europe, sponsored by Perrier
• The 2020 list features bars from 23 countries, with 11 new entries spread across Australia, Colombia, Greater China, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand and UK
• Drinks sector activist and educator Ashtin Berry is named the Roku Industry Icon
• Alquímico, Cartagena, clinches Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award
• Tayēr + Elementary, London, secures Disaronno Highest New Entry Award
• Coa in Hong Kong takes Nikka Highest Climber Award • High Five, Tokyo, is named Heering Legend of The List
• Kwānt, London, is awarded London Essence Best New Opening Award
• Dante, New York, is The Best Bar in North America, sponsored by Asahi Super Dry
• Atlas, Singapore, is The Best Bar in Asia, sponsored by Rémy Martin
• Maybe Sammy, Sydney, is The Best Bar in Australasia, sponsored by Torres Brandy
• Zuma, Dubai, is The Best Bar in the Middle East and Africa, sponsored by Matusalem
• Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires, is The Best Bar in South America, sponsored by iichiko Saiten
• Maybe Sammy, Sydney, winner of Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award
• Galaxy Bar, Dubai, winner of Campari One To Watch Award
• Renato ‘Tato’ Giovannoni of Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires, winner of Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award
• Ashtin Berry from the US is named the Roku Industry Icon
• High Five, Tokyo, is named Heering Legend of The List
THE LIST
1 Connaught Bar, London, UK
2 Dante, New York, USA
3 The Clumsies, Athens, Greece
4 Atlas, 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
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
15 The Old Man, Hong Kong, China
16 Katana Kitten, New York, USA
17 Licorería Limantour, Mexico City, Mexico
18 Native, 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
