Meanwhile, in Asia, Hong Kong’s Coa takes the top spot.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants just released its annual ranking of top bars around the globe, and London took the number one and two spots.
READ ALSO: Asia’s 50 Best 2021: HK’s The Chairman Is No. 1 While Toyo Eatery Is Top Philippine Resto
Connaught Bar, which is inside a ritzy London hotel of the same, is number one for the second consecutive year. The World’s 50 Best extols the bar in its website, saying that it “manages to edge closer to perfection every time its doors open.”
The bar’s brilliance is encapsulated in its Dry Martini, which the list describes as arriving “via a trolley that becomes a temporary stage for your own personal performance. Thrown between shaker and mixing glass is your choice of gin – try the bar’s own, distilled at the hotel—and bitters from an aroma-daubed flavour card inspired by perfumeries.”
Following Connaught is another London haunt, Alex Kratena and Monica Berg’s Tayēr + Elementary, which it describes as the “crowning work of bartending royalty.” As can be deduced by its name, the establishment is divided into two and separated by partition: the casual all-day Elementary and the more whimsical Tayēr.
Barcelona’s Paradiso, Athens’ The Clumsies, and Buenos Aires’ Florería Atlántico round out the top five.
Among the Philippines’ neighbors, Hong Kong’s Coa ended up in seventh place, and is the highest in Asia. It finished just behind Mexico City’s Licorería Limantour.
Described as a shrine to all things agave, Coa is headed by beverage veteran Jay Khan, whose collection was hand-carried from Mexico. “The bar prides itself on educating guests on agave spirits and even holds a bi-weekly tasting and education event called Mezcal Mission, which donates proceeds to local charities,” 50 Best describes.
Two other Hong Kong bars—Darkside and Quinary—just made it to the list, ending up at 49 and 50 respectively.
Among our neighbors, Singapore had the most number appearing on the list with six: Jigger & Pony (9th), Manhattan (15th), Atlas (16th), No Sleep Club (26th), MO Bar (36th), and Tippling Club (43rd).
Banner Photo from @theconnaught on IG