Quicktake: The No. 1 spot on World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 is held by Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City. From France, the Cambridge Public House, Bar Nouveau, and Danico all made the list at nos. 19, 39, and 49, respectively, with Little Red Door also making the top 100.
The World’s Best Bar 2024: Handshake Speakeasy
Handshake claimed No. 1 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list for the first time. As mentioned in my previous World’s 50 Best Bars dispatches, historically the list has slightly favored high end hotel bars for its top spot, but we have seen that changing over the few years with the recent departure beginning with Paradiso’s 2022 win, followed by Sips, bringing us to this year’s winner.
Take a look at the full list to find out which other 49 bars made the World’s 50 Best Bars 2024.
What’s New for the World’s 50 Best Bars 2024
Not only have the last three years seen non-hotel bars performing more strongly on the list, but we continue to see the number one spot claimed by a bar that is located in neither London nor in New York – the two capital cities that have traditionally battled it out for top billing until 2022. In fact, this year, New York didn’t even land a bar in the top ten. This speaks to the growing reach and efforts and voters beyond the usual hubs to highlight quality and innovation globally.
The trend of wider global distribution of bars continues with 28 different cities (up two from 2022’s 26, which was already up 3 from the prior year). We see the inevitable spread as the Academy (collective of voters) becomes more diverse regionally and as cocktail culture migrates into smaller cities around the world. However, this also means less votes to go around and some regions with great cocktails were once again completely overlooked this year like the USA West Coast and Canada.
Sixteen bars from last year’s list didn’t make the top 50 this year, making for a 32% turnover rate. As in the past, this yearly significant percentile change is due to the seeping of cocktails into mainstream culture in cities world-wide in recent years, the Academy continuing to refine their ideas of what ‘best’ means based on new considerations of diversity, sustainability and accessibility, continued diversification of regional voting panels, and voters’ efforts to cover more geographic territory.
France in the World’s 50 Best Bars 2024
After 10 years on the World’s 50 Best Bars (for many of which, it was the only French bar to make the list) Little Red Door dropped out of the top 50 to number 59. This is no surprise following its recent closure and new ownership. Given that the new ownership is associated with Cambridge Public House – a bar currently sitting on the top 50 for the second year in a row – Little Red Door may well eke back onto the list for World’s Best Bars 2025.
But, France has reason to celebrate this year, with three bars making it into the World’s 50 Best Bars list. Among them, Danico, a long-time favorite often featured in the top 100, has finally secured a coveted spot in the top 50. Landing at No. 49, just two places higher than last year’s No. 51, may seem like a modest jump, but it’s a testament to the bar’s consistent excellence. Danico’s steady ascent reflects its unwavering dedication to quality, with its expertly crafted cocktails and outstanding service attracting loyal patrons year after year. This gradual climb isn’t the result of fleeting trends or luck; it’s the outcome of a sustained commitment to excellence. Danico’s reliable reputation and growing fanbase suggest it’s a bar to watch climb even higher as more consumers (and potential voters) discover its charms.
Bar Nouveau claimed the No. 39 spot on this year’s list—a well-deserved honor and hardly a surprise. With a powerhouse team including Remy Savage, Sara and Hadrien Moudoulaud, and Marc Puzzuoli, each of whom has been connected to or opened internationally acclaimed bars, it’s no wonder Bar Nouveau is gaining global recognition. In my last Dispatch from France on the World’s Best Bars 2022, I mentioned wanting to see more recognition for bars beyond Paris, and this dream may soon become reality. The team behind Bar Nouveau has been actively expanding, with Abstract in Lyon already underway and a new bar set to open in Bordeaux in 2025. While it’s been over a decade since a bar outside Paris—Montpellier’s Papa Doble in 2011—made the list, this team’s efforts could mark the start of broader recognition for excellent bars outside of France’s capital.
The top-ranking French bar this year, as well as the one with the biggest overall leap up the list, is Cambridge Public House. This establishment has made the World’s 50 Best Bars list for the second consecutive year, and with its impressive climb and ongoing commitment to quality and sustainability, it shows no signs of slowing down. Personally, I was a bit disappointed it didn’t take home the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award this year, considering its impressive sustainability efforts and status as the first bar to earn B Corp certification. It’s possible that achievement came just too close to the voting period, and I’m quietly hopeful it’ll be a strong contender for the award next year. That said, congratulations and full respect go to Zest in Seoul, South Korea, who did win this year’s award. Notably, a few years back, another local favorite, Little Red Door, took home this honor, underscoring France’s ongoing contributions to sustainable bartending.
For a deeper look, I wrote about the changing landscape of the French cocktail culture over the first decade of the World’s Best Bars in 2018. While I think some updates are due to this analysis, much of it still holds true.
Summary of French bars in the World’s Best Bars List since its inception:
| ’09 | ’10 | ’11 | ’12 | ’13 | ’14 | ’15 | ’16 | ’17 | ’18 | ’19 | ’20 | ’21 | ’22 | ’23 | ’24 | |
| Buddha Bar | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
| Harry’s Bar | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
| Hemingway Bar | x | |||||||||||||||
| Papa Doble | x | |||||||||||||||
| Candelaria | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||
| Bar du Plaza Athénée | x | |||||||||||||||
| Le Forvm | x | |||||||||||||||
| Little Red Door | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||
| Le Coq | x | |||||||||||||||
| Sherry Butt | x | |||||||||||||||
| Le Syndicat | x | x | ||||||||||||||
| Cambridge Public House | x | x | ||||||||||||||
| Bar Nouveau | x | |||||||||||||||
| Danico | x |
What does the future hold for the World’s 50 Best Bars? (and a few personal predictions)
While the top 50 establishments easily grab headlines, there’s more of interest here if you scratch below the surface. In recent years World’s 50 Best Bars also released rankings for 51 to 100. Here’s where you’re likely to find up and comers worth knowing who may not have yet garnered global attention. Additionally, 50 Best Discovery list continues to develop and it’s definitely the one to watch for hidden gems that garner attention from those in the know but don’t yet necessarily have global name recognition. We will continue to see both consumers and bars place a level of importance on both of these lists.
World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 was held in Madrid, Spain. Given that last year’s ceremony was held in Singapore and this year Jigger and Pony (from Singapore) made their personal biggest jump in the list, we may see similar bumps in Madrid bars. It’s undeniable that having the ceremony in a city draws more voters than usual and allows them the occasion to explore the local bars. (which is another reason it’s good to see the Awards taking place in different cities around the globe rather than London, and perhaps a very small part of the reason behind the shift to less London venues on the list.)
We will continue to see the positive effects of a more intentional focus on diversity equity and inclusion. This will be reflected in both voting panels and the bars making the lists. (Of course there may be some less than positive effects for some with older, well-established regions, countries or cities dropping off to make way for the new.)
And while “best” is subjective, World’s 50 Best Bars very intentionally does not define it for their voters. I have predicted in past dispatches that our collective definition would continue to evolve to include ideas around sustainability and diversity as well as hopefully accessibility and safety standards. That prediction is proving somewhat true, with continued discussion around this topic amongst the Academy Chairs and the industry in general. A good sign is that the World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 Roku Scholarship went to Canadian-based Calliope Draper, who has spent their young career fostering an inclusive future for hospitality. Draper was the first non-binary person to place in World Class Canada and the founder of Places You are Welcome, a cocktail-zine focusing on queer stories. Given their enthusiasm, intentions, and skills I predict great things for Draper. I’m also happy to see Canada coming up somewhere in the ceremony, and hope to see them on the bar lists in years to come.
I believe there will continue to be heavy rotations in bars and wider geographic spread as cocktails go even more mainstream, with more secondary cities slipping in. As municipal tourism boards begin to recognize the potential draw of this particular brand of nightlife, they will actively encourage activities that allow for growth in the sector. This means continually increasing traffic in these growing cocktail destinations from globetrotting Academy Chairs, Academy members and cocktail/lifestyle influencers, ultimately garnering more attention – and potentially more votes.
While in 2022 I predicted more bars delivering a show with their cocktails, I think we will soon be swinging back to a simpler presentation overall. Menus will feature strong concepts and stories, but the cocktails will more often come in elegant, quality glassware with simple garnish.
I stand by my prediction of the past that we will start to see some crossover between the bar and restaurants list in the next year or two. And now that World’s 50 Best Hotels has been live for the last two years, there is in even stronger possibility for crossover there. This year the Connaught was on the list both for their bar and their hotel. Hotels and their bars featuring on both lists will only continue to grow – especially as I think having an outstanding bar is part of delivering the overall service to be a world’s best hotel.
In recent years, the 50 Best organization has expanded to include regional awards, and while this year’s top bar from North America and Asia’s awards claimed 1st and 2nd place on the World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list, I believe we’ll soon see more variety in the rankings. Regional lists are a great way to spotlight outstanding venues from different areas that might not otherwise make it onto the world list. This year’s strong showing from those regional winners in the top two feels like it could be an exception rather than a trend.
Looking ahead, as mindful consumption gains traction among younger generations, we may see a greater emphasis on non-alcoholic cocktails. I’d love to see a dedicated award for this category. Over a decade ago, a health-conscious lifestyle in the industry was emerging and while health remains essential, sustainability and inclusivity have taken center stage in recent years. I expect “healthy” drink options will play an increasingly visible role on the list as the category becomes reinvigorated.
Finally, I wonder if we might see a change in the ranking approach, where bars could only take the No. 1 spot once, similar to the rules for the restaurant awards. This is purely speculative with no insider knowledge, but I think it could be an interesting shift that would open up more opportunities for new leaders to emerge each year.
And that’s a wrap on this year’s dispatch!
Want more coverage on this year’s 50 Best Bars? Check out the articles and analysis from Hamish Smith in the Drinks International Global Bar Edition 2024.
