The top bars in the world for 2022 have been announced

Out with London and New York. Barcelona now reigns as the global cocktail hub, hosting Paradiso, the newly crowned No. 1 bar of the year.

For the first time since the World’s 50 Best Bars ranking began in 2009, a bar outside of New York or London has claimed the top spot.

Paradiso, founded by Giacomo Giannotti and Margarita Sader, is a Mediterranean-inspired speakeasy accessed through a freezer door in a pastrami shop in Barcelona’s fashionable El Born neighborhood. The bar climbed from No. 3 in 2021.

'Winning is a huge honor and comes with great responsibility. We’ll continue to work hard to maintain our standards and push the boundaries of creativity in our cocktails,' Giannotti shared with 50 Best on Tuesday night.

'It all comes down to dedication. The more you put in, the more you learn, and the more creative you can be. We’ll celebrate, then get back to work at the bar,' Giannotti remarked.

The 50 Best winners were revealed on Tuesday evening in Barcelona, marking the first time the ceremony took place outside of London.

Barcelona, the vibrant Catalonian city, is home to three of the top 10 bars on the 2022 list. Sips had the most impressive rise, leaping from No. 37 in 2021 to No. 3 this year. Two Schmucks secured the No. 7 spot.

Four Spanish bars made it into the top 50, with Salmon Guru in Madrid claiming the No. 15 spot.

Italy had a strong presence in the 2022 top 50, with bars from Rome, Florence, Milan, and Naples making the cut. Newcomer L’Antiquario Napoli secured No. 46, marking Naples' debut in the top 50.

Florence made its first appearance on the list, alongside Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, also making its debut.

While London lost its No. 1 spot, it remains a top global cocktail destination. Five London bars made the list, including The Connaught Bar, which fell from its two-year reign at No. 1 to No. 8 in 2022.

London’s Tayēr + Elementary, described by awards host Mark Sansom as 'one of the most original bars on the planet,' held steady at No. 2, the same position it held in 2021.

Europe led the way with more top bars than any other region.

The rankings were determined by the votes of 650 bartenders, bar owners, drink writers, and cocktail experts.

Other major winners

New York made a strong comeback in 2022, securing the highest number of top-ranked bars on the list. The city is home to six bars in the top 50, including Double Chicken Please at No. 6 and Katana Kitten at No. 9.

Double Chicken Please took home the Highest New Entry award for its impressive debut. Sansom, the content director of The World’s 50 Best Bars, told Dinogo Travel the bar boasts 'an almost Michelin-grade kitchen,' reflecting the growing trend of focusing on food programs at the world’s top bars.

Singapore’s No. 33, Manhattan, is also renowned for its 'seriously elevated bar food,' according to Sansom.

Mexico City has established itself as another North American cocktail hub with four bars in the top 50, including Licorería Limantour at No. 4, which won the Best Bar in North America award.

Cartagena’s Alquímico claimed the title of Best Bar in South America, coming in at No. 10. The list also includes three bars from Buenos Aires and one from Lima.

In Asia, Singapore, Bangkok, and Hong Kong each had two bars in the top 50. Singapore’s Jigger & Pony, ranked No. 12, took home the Best Bar in Asia award.

Dubai had three bars featured in the top 50, including Zuma at No. 38, which won the Best Bar in the Middle East and Africa award for the third consecutive year.

In India, New Delhi’s Sidecar made a significant leap, rising 21 spots to No. 26.

Maybe Sammy in Sydney took the title of Best Bar in Australasia, ranking No. 29.

The world’s top bars for 2022

1. Paradiso, Barcelona (Winner: Best Bar in Europe)

2. Tayēr + Elementary, London

3. Sips, Barcelona (Winner: Highest Climber)

4. Licorería Limantour, Mexico City (Winner: Best Bar in North America, Legend of the List)

5. Little Red Door, Paris (Winner: Sustainable Bar Award)

6. Double Chicken Please, New York (Winner: Highest New Entry)

7. Two Schmucks, Barcelona

8. The Connaught Bar, London

9. Katana Kitten, New York

10. Alquímico, Cartagena (Winner: Best Bar in South America)

11. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City

12. Jigger & Pony, Singapore (Winner: Best Bar in Asia)

13. Hanky-Panky, Mexico City (Winner: Art of Hospitality)

14. Bangkok Social Club, Bangkok (Winner: Best New Opening)

15. Salmon Guru, Madrid

16. Drink Kong, Rome

17. Coa, Hong Kong

18. Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires

19. The Clumsies, Athens

20. Baba au Rum, Athens

21. Cafe La Trova, Miami

22. Attaboy, New York

23. Satan’s Whiskers, London

24. Tropic City, Bangkok

25. Kumiko, Chicago

To view the complete list of the top 50, visit the World’s 50 Best Bars website.

What guests can expect in bars today

With pandemic restrictions limiting barhopping, patrons are now more likely to stay in one place. According to Sansom, bars are enhancing their food offerings and adding more live entertainment to keep guests engaged for longer periods.

The boundaries between food and drink are increasingly fading.

'The techniques and flavors of cooking and gastronomy are making their way into drinks and cocktails,' Sansom noted, again referencing New York’s Double Chicken Please as an example.

The Back Room menu at the bar offers a selection of food-inspired cocktails, such as the Waldorf Salad (a whisky-based drink with apple, celery, ginger ale, and walnut bitters) and the Japanese Cold Noodle (a rum-based cocktail with pineapple, cucumber, coconut, lime, and sesame oil).

Two Schmucks in Barcelona is also incorporating food-inspired flavors into their drinks.

'The Curry Colada is one of the best cocktails I’ve ever had,' said Sansom.

Sansom mentioned that tools like the centrifuge, which have transitioned from science labs to restaurant kitchens in recent decades, have also made their way into craft cocktail bars in the last 10 years.

Custom glassware, which sometimes sparks the creation of the drink itself, has become increasingly significant at many bars, including the world’s best bar, Paradiso.

In recent years, exceptional hospitality has become more crucial than ever, according to Sansom.

'Post-pandemic, bars are now much more focused on valuing each customer, ensuring they feel welcomed, safe, and secure in these spaces,' Sansom noted.