With little to no movement and just 11 new entries on this year’s list, the World’s 50 Best Bars crowns Connaught—a stylish hotel lounge in London—in a virtual ceremony, without the grand celebration the organizers initially planned
Connaught dethrones New York bar Dante from the top position in a list which includes establishments from 23 countries. While the original plan was to award the highly-coveted title in Singapore (where 9 of the Top 100 bars—4 of which are in the top 10—are located) in grandeur, William Reed Business Media opted for a less extravagant affair and instead chose the online route. As for Connaught, the victory party too will have to wait. A four-week lockdown was imposed in the U.K., which ends on December 1.
More than 540 experts weighed in on the competition (from writers to bartenders to cocktail enthusiasts) from visits that were made from January 2019 to March 2020, the time when most bars were shut in lieu of the global health crisis, making this period shorter than in previous years where it took more than 18 months to come out with the final list. From among the establishments considered, one bar that made it was shut down before releasing the list—Miami-based Le Sirenuse. Below is the list of the 5 topmost spots. You can find the rest of those that made the list through this link.
1. Connaught Bar (London)
Cubist interiors designed by the late David Collins (Irish architect known for having done interiors for many of London’s favorite night haunts), white-gloved service, and their own distilled gin, Connaught earns the title deservedly. The favorite drink, however, is The Magnetum, which is a mix of scotch and sherry.
2. Dante (New York)
The more-than-a-century-year-old Dante Bar in Greenwich Village was placed first last year. In its early days, Dante was a frequent hangout of Italian immigrants. Given the much-needed modernization by Australians Linden Pride and Natalie Hudson back in 2015, it has since caught the eye of tastemakers. Get a Negroni or its other Campari-based drinks. Their Italian fare is also worth ordering.
3. The Clumsies (Athens)
Quite the experimental bar, The Clumsies prides itself on changing its drinks menu annually. Having merited several accolades since its inception, the bar has put Greece as a favored cocktail destination for many aficionados and experienced travelers. With drinks such as a mojito with the mint jelly placed on a toothbrush or a Hennessy-based cocktail served with chocolate and perfume, a visit will afford one an incredible experience.
4. ATLAS (Singapore)
Asia’s highest-ranking bar clinches the fourth spot for its elegant Western-style art deco-inspired interiors, extensive drinks library (with over 1,300 labels of gin on offer), and Juniper Society gatherings (where members are introduced to new gins each session). The gilded tower, where it is located, used to house a wine bar where waiters soared in wire mechanisms, retrieving bottles.
5. Tayēr + Elementary (London)
Tayēr + Elementary denotes two different functionalities of the destination. Elementary is a casual all-day bar where you can find a communal table, floor-to-ceiling windows, and pre-mixed drinks and beer on tap (see image below). Tayēr pertains to a moodier atmosphere on the other side of the divider, occupied by a large square bar with an island counter where they serve mixed drinks by demand and have a daily-changing menu.
