The World’s 50 Best Bars 2018: The full list of winners

Last night, guests from all segments of the international F&B community flocked to London’s iconic Roundhouse for the Oscars of drinking — the World’s 50 Best Bars 2018. After weeks of animated speculation, the results are in, and — to no informed observer’s surprise — Dandelyan took home the title of World’s Best Bar in 2018. Since 2016, the innovative cocktail lounge (inside the Mondrian London) has steadily risen through the ranks, earning widespread plaudits for its emotionally intuitive service and flora-focused beverages. It’s a poetic epithet to mark their glorious four-year run: one which Dandelyan founder and bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana has decided to bring to an end. Chetiyawardana announced that although the “World’s Best Bar” is shuttering sometime in Q4 this year, he and his team will continue to occupy the existing space.

Dandelyan wrestled the No. 1 spot from the prestigious American Bar (at The Savoy) — the latter hardly worse for wear as it weighs in at the No. 2 spot this year. As in previous instalments, the 2018 list is dominated by bars from the UK and US, with 10 venues from each respective region featuring in the top 50.

Overall, Asia continues to enjoy healthy representation amongst the world’s best bars with 10 venues on the 2018 list. Singapore maintains its pole positioning within the region, contributing five (i.e. half) of Asia’s best drinking destinations. That notably includes Manhattan, the American hotel-inspired venue which took home the double accolade of Asia’s best bar and No. 3 bar worldwide (up four spots from 2017). Meanwhile, Atlas, Singapore’s Art-Deco temple to all things gin, retains its marquee positioning, coming in at No. 8 on the 2018 list, but it’s the venue rounding out the top 10 that will have cocktail-loving Hongkongers feeling positively jubilant.

Bursting onto the 2018 list in grand style, Hong Kong favourite The Old Man has won a remarkable coup for the city’s drinks and bartending community. (This follows its No. 5 ranking in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2018 earlier this year.) Wresting the No. 10 spot from Shingo Gokan’s much-loved multi-concept Shanghai bar Speak Low, The Old Man takes a delightfully simple concept — cocktails inspired by and named for the literary works of Ernest Hermingway — and executes it with discernment. Open just over a year, this incredibly thoughtful and stylish bijou bar is a worthy addition to the World’s 50 Best Bars, an accolade compounded by its debut at No. 10 on the 2018 list. Sadly, despite a respectable quotient of Chinese venues in the top 50, a number of last year’s notable awardees have taken a hit, with SAR institutions Quinary and Lobster Bar (ranked No. 40 and No. 49 respectively in 2017) failing to crack the top 50 in 2018.

Now into its 10th consecutive year, The World’s 50 Best Bars is an annualised ranking of drinks venues located across six continents, voted on by 500 experts (bartenders, journalists and aficionados) from all around the globe. Widely considered the definitive guide to best-in-class drinking destinations, the list is owned and maintained by William Reed Business Media — the same trade publication behind the equally (if not more) anticipated World’s 50 Best Restaurants rankings.

You can view the full listing of The World’s 50 Best Bars below (note: venues located in Asia are highlighted in boldface):

1. Dandelyan (London, UK)
2. American Bar (London, UK)
3. Manhattan (Singapore) 
4. The Nomad (New York, USA)
5. Connaught Bar (London, UK)
6. Bar Termini (London, UK)
7. The Clumsies (Athens, Greece)
8. Atlas (Singapore) 
9. Dante (New York, USA)
10. The Old Man (Hong Kong)
11. Licoreria Limantour (Mexico City, Mexico)
12. High Five (Tokyo, Japan)
13. Native (Singapore)
14. Floreria Atlantico (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
15. Attaboy (New York, USA)
16. The Dead Rabbit (New York, USA)
17. Oriole (London, UK)
18. Coupette (London, UK)
19. Himkok (Oslo, Norway)
20. Speak Low (Shanghai, China)
21. Sweet Liberty (Miami, USA)
22. Baba Au Rum (Athens, Greece)
23. Operation Dagger (Singapore)
24. Le Syndicat (Paris, France)
25. Lost & Found (Nicosia, Cyprus)
26. Employees Only (New York, USA)
27. Central Station (Beirut, Lebanon)
28. Scout (London, UK)
29. Three Sheets (London, UK)
30. Black Pearl (Melbourne, Australia)
31. Tales & Spirits (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
32. Linje Tio (Stockholm, Sweden)
33. Little Red Door (Paris, France)
34. 28 HongKong Street (Singapore)
35. Happiness Forgets (London, UK)
36. La Factoria (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
37. Paradiso (Barcelona, Spain)
38. Indulge Experimental Bistro (Taipei, Taiwan)
39. El Copitas (St. Petersburg, Russia)
40. Tommy’s (San Francisco, USA)
41. Blacktail (New York, USA)
42. Candelaria (Paris, France)
43. Schumann’s (Munich, Germany)
44. Trick Dog (San Francisco, USA)
45. Fifty Mils (Mexico City, Mexico)
46. Swift (London, UK)
47. Salmon Guru (Madrid, Spain)
48. Buck & Breck (Berlin, Germany)
49. Bar Benfiddich (Tokyo, Japan)
50. Lost Lake (Chicago, USA)

Keen to explore even more delicious drinking destinations around the globe? Browse rankings 51–100 of the World’s Best Bars 2018 below:

51. Sober Company (Shanghai, China)
52. Jerry Thomas Speakeasy (Rome, Italy)
53. Presidente (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
54. Quinary (Hong Kong) 
55. The Bamboo Bar at The Mandarin Oriental (Bangkok)
56. ABV (San Francisco, USA)
57. The Gibson (London, UK)
58. Tippling Club (Singapore)
59. Dry Martini (Barcelona, Spain)
60. The Broken Shaker (Miami, USA)
61. Panda and Sons (Edinburgh, UK)
62. Lobster Bar & Grill (Hong Kong)
63. Bar Orchard Ginza (Tokyo, Japan)
64. Charles H. (Seoul, South Korea)
65. Bar Trench (Tokyo, Japan)
66. Alice Cheongdam (Seoul, Korea) 
67. Bramble (Edinburgh, UK)
68. Carnaval (Lima, Peru)
69. Zuma (Dubai, UAE)
70. Bar Raval (Toronto, Canada)
71. Guilhotina (São Paulo, Brazil)
72. Untitled (London, UK)
73. Danico (Paris, France)
74. Amor Y Amargo (New York, USA)
75. Bulletin Place (Sydney, Australia)
76. Gibson (Singapore)
77. Mace (New York, USA)
78. The Baxter Inn (Sydney, Australia)
79. The Bar With No Name (London, UK)
80. 1930 (Milan, Italy)
81. Anvil (Houston, USA)
82. Subastor (São Paulo, Brazil)
83. Aviary Chicago (Chicago, USA)
84. The Long Island Bar (New York, USA)
85. Le Chamber (Seoul, Korea)
86. Frank Bar (São Paulo, Brazil)
87. Two Schmucks (Barcelona, Spain)
88. Herbs and Rye (Las Vegas, USA)
89. Aviary New York (New York, USA)
90. Dr. Stravinsky (Barcelona, Spain)
91. Maison Premiere (New York, USA)
92. Dirty Dick (Paris, France)
93. The Other Room (Singapore)
94. Imperial Craft (Tel Aviv, Israel)
95.  Above Board (Melbourne, Australia)
96. PDT (New York, USA)
97. Leyenda (New York, USA)
98. Hanky Panky (Mexico City, Mexico)
99. Nottingham Forest (Milan, Italy)
100. Potato Head Beach Club (Bali, Indonesia)