Bars in Asia that made the cut include Jigger & Pony in Singapore (12th place), BKK Social Club in Bangkok (14th place), and Coa in Hong Kong (17th place).
For the first time, the best bar in the world isn’t in New York or London—it’s in Barcelona. Since 2009, the World’s 50 Best Bars list has been published yearly, vetted by 650 global drinks experts. For the 2022 edition, the awardees were unveiled in Barcelona on October 4.
At the number one spot is the city’s Paradiso. Bars in Asia that made the cut include Jigger & Pony in Singapore (12th place), BKK Social Club and Tropic City in Bangkok (14th and 24th), Coa in Hong Kong (17th place), and Sidecar in New Delhi (26th place).
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However, the top five places were given to establishments in Europe and North America. A longer transit might be worth the trip for cocktail lovers and nightlife enthusiasts.
At Barcelona’s Paradiso, the awarding body recommends trying the Fleming—one of the 15 new cocktails on the menu. The drink, inspired by the discovery of penicillin, is described as complex, bubbly, and fermented. It uses Don Julio tequila, Mancino Secco, miso, beer, grapefruit, lemongrass, and coconut.
At the second spot is London’s Tayer + Elementary for their drinks treated with a culinary approach. The everyday bar serves its signature cocktail, the One Sip Martini. Their other offerings include classic cocktails, like highballs, created with seasonal and contemporary ingredients.
Another Spanish bar makes third place—Barcelona’s Sips. With internationally renowned bartenders at Sips’ helm, Simone Caporale and Marc Alvarez, it’s no surprise. A recommended drink is the Heliodora, which uses grapefruit “shaved ice” as a base, sherry, rum, and lime.
Banner image from @paradiso_barcelona on Instagram.
