London’s very own Artesian retains the World’s Best Bar crown for the second year running, continuing our reign as the capital of cocktails. It wins the award for “effortlessly blending modern innovation with classic reverence” and is renowned all over the globe for its “surprising presentation and award-winning team, led by cocktail supremo Alex Kratena”. Their standout innovative cocktails include the Super Panda: a concoction served over a single ice ball in tumbler, positioned on top of an inflated panda-head-lantern filled with a tangerine aroma.
1c Portland Place Regent St, W1B 1JA, artesian-bar.co.uk
#2 Nightjar
Old Street speakeasy knocks New York’s PDT off the podium to take second place. It’s all about old-fashioned appreciation of libations here – the list is divided into pre-Prohibition, Prohibition and post-war drinks – think rare and revived numbers such as Switchels and Boxcars. Live jazz performances might make getting a reservation that bit trickier.
129 City Rd, EC1V 1JB, barnightjar.com
Speakeasy-style: Nightjar#4 Connaught Bar
Decadent, stylish, but ultimately cosy and welcoming, The Connaught Bar stays in fourth place for 2013. Embracing the 21st century bar scene without compromising its traditional character, a drink at this 1902s style hotel bar is a special occasion indeed. Expect charming staff (service is exemplary here), a lengthy cocktail list and some rather lofty prices. But here, you get what you pay for: quality and class.
16 Carlos Place Mayfair, W1K 2AL, the-connaught.co.uk
#6 Happiness Forgets
A new entry to the 50 best list last year, this Hoxton Square basement bar leapfrogs from number 12 to six for 2013. Open for just three years, Happiness Forgets has won the acclaim of Londoners for its no-fuss approach to great drinks – you won’t find glamour here, just a real bar where the knowledgeable bartenders make proper cocktails for the discerning drinker. Owner Alastair Burgess cut his teeth at Milk & Honey and Quo Vadis so the high standard comes as no surprise.
8-9 Hoxton Square London N1 6NU, happinessforgets.com
World’s 50 Best Bars 2013: the full list
1 ARTESIAN, LONDON
2 NIGHTJAR, LONDON
3 HIGH FIVE, TOKYO
4 CONNAUGHT BAR, LONDON
5 THE DEAD RABBIT GROCERY & GROG, NEW YORK
6 HAPPINESS FORGETS, LONDON
7 BLACK PEARL, MELBOURNE
8 THE BAXTER INN, SYDNEY
9 CANDELARIA, PARIS
10 28 HONG KONG STREET, SINGAPORE
11 CALLOOH CALLAY, LONDON
12 EMPLOYEES ONLY, NEW YORK
13 PDT, NEW YORK
14 DRY MARTINI, BARCELONA
15 DOOR 74, AMSTERDAM
16 LE LION, HAMBURG
17 BUCK & BREAK, BERLIN
18 THE PARLOUR, FRANKFURT
19 THE JERRY THOMAS PROJECT, ROME
20 AMERICAN BAR AT THE SAVOY, LONDON
21 DEATH & CO, NEW YORK
22 RUBY, COPENHAGEN
23 SCHUMANN’S, MUNICH
24 EVERLEIGH BAR, MELBOURNE
25 EAU DE VIE, SYDNEY
26 BULLETIN PLACE, SYDNEY
27 69 COLEBROOKE ROW, LONDON
28 CHAINAYA BAR, MOSCOW
29 MUTIS, BARCELONA
30 SMUGGLER’S COVE, SAN FRANCISCO
31 CLOVER CLUB, NEW YORK
32 BRAMBLE, EDINBURGH
33 LE FORUM, PARIS
34 ZETTER TOWNHOUSE, LONDON
35 FLORERIA ATLANTICO, BUENOS AIRES
36 LEBENSSTERN BAR, BERLIN
37 LA CAPILLA, TEPATITLAN
38 QUINARY, HONG KONG
39 LITTLE RED DOOR, PARIS
40 LE COQ, PARIS
41 SHADY PINES, SYDNEY
42 ATTABOY, NEW YORK
43 SHERRY BUTT, PARIS
44 POURING RIBBONS, NEW YORK
45 TIPPLING CLUB, SINGAPORE
46 DRINK, BOSTON
47 TOMMY’S MARGARITA, SAN FRANCISCO
48 BADA AU RUM, ATHENS
49 NOTTINGHAM FOREST, MILAN
50 DELICATESSEN, MOSCOW
