News, Top Main Featured News | October 22, 2024

This Mexico City Hot Spot Claimed The Title Of The Best Bar In The World

News, Top Main Featured News | October 22, 2024

By Laura Schreffler

Photo Credit: 50 Best Bars

It was one for the books as Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy took home the top spot at the World’s 50 Best Bars 2024, becoming, in fact, the first bar from Mexico to become number one in the awards’ 16-year history. It shouldn’t come as a surprise though given that they were No. 3 last year and were named the Best Bar in North America at the 50 Best Bars of North America Awards in San Miguel de Allende earlier this year.

Tucked away in the Colonia Juárez neighbourhood of Mexico City, Handshake Speakeasy is one of the capital’s best-kept open secrets. Hidden behind a secret door in a dimly lit room stocked with an impressive array of vintage spirits, the bar’s interiors masterfully evoke the bygone age of the Hollywood speakeasy.

While the atmospheric black marble, rich brass detailing and moody lighting of the interior are akin to stepping back a century, the innovative cocktail menu is rooted firmly in the future. Bar Director Eric van Beek effortlessly melds tradition and innovation, elevating the classics through cutting-edge technique developed in the on-site lab, revolutionising familiar recipes with unexpected flavours and a complex palate. Homemade tinctures and infusions add signature Art Deco flare alongside the use of considered rare and aged spirits

The awards were announced live from Madrid on Tuesday night, and the 2024 list features bars from 28 cities with 16 new entries spread across Bangkok, Bogotá, Guadalajara, Hong Kong, Lima, Melbourne, Mexico City, Milan, New York, Paris, São Paulo, Singapore, and Tokyo.

Highlights included Monica Berg of London’s Tayēr + Elementary receiving the Roku Industry Icon Award, Singapore’s Cat Bite Club receiving the Campari One To Watch Award, the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award getting bestowed upon Zest, Seoul, Hong Kong’s Bar Leone taking the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award, entering the list for the first time at No.2, The Cambridge Public House in Paris securing the Nikka Highest Climber Award, having moved up 19 places to No.19, Buenos Aires’ Florería Atlántico claiming the title of Rémy Martin Legend of the List, Superbueno, in New York, being named London Essence Best New Opening, and Oslo’s Himkok winning the Bareksten Best Bar Design Award.

A few things were established over the course of the evening, such as London being named the cocktail capital of Europe, though Barcelona lead the top 10: four bars out of 19 for the continent made the list, including No.4 Tayēr + Elementary with co-founder Monica Berg also being named the Roku Industry Icon. At No.13 is Connaught Bar joined by Satan’s Whiskers at No.29 and Scarfes Bar at No.37. Elsewhere in the UK, Panda & Sons in Edinburgh rises nine places to No.30 as founder Iain McPherson is awarded the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award.

The Best Bar in Europe title once again went to Barcelona’s Sips at No.3, with Paradiso (Barcelona) at No.10 and host city Madrid’s Salmon Guru at No.23. In Italy, Rome’s Drink Kong (No.33) and Florence’s Locale Firenze (No.36) are joined by new entry Moebius Milano (No.38) and 1930 (No.50), both in Milan.

Rising an astonishing 19 places and winner of this year’s Nikka Highest Climber Award is Paris’ The Cambridge Public House at No.19, joined by two new entries for the city: Bar Nouveau at No.39 and Danico at No.49. Line and Baba au Rum in Athens have both improved on their positions in 2023, at No.6 and No.17, respectively, while Oslo’s Himkok is at No.11 and wins this year’s Bareksten Best Bar Design Award. In Stockholm, Röda Huset is No.45.

New York lead the Americas with four bars, but Mexico City takes the top spot. With four bars, New York City continues its dominance in North America, with Double Chicken Please (No.14) and Overstory (No.15) joined by new entries Martiny’s (No.24) and Superbueno (No.27), this year’s recipient of the London Essence Best New Opening Award. New Orleans’ Jewel of the South is No.34.

Rising two places to take the title of The World’s Best Bar and The Best Bar in North America is Handshake Speakeasy at No.1, cementing Mexico City’s place as one of the world’s greatest cocktail capitals. It is joined by new entry Tlecān at No.20 and Licorería Limantour at No.32 as well as Guadalajara’s El Gallo Altanero, a new entry at No.48.

Tres Monos in Buenos Aires becomes the new The Best Bar in South America at No.7, joined by fellow Porteños CoChinChina (No.22) and Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award winner Florería Atlántico (No.46). Colombia’s Alquímico in Cartagena continues its rise to the top at No.8, with new entry for Bogotá, La Sala de Laura joining at No.44. Last year’s Campari One To Watch Award winner, Lima’s Lady Bee, joins the list at an impressive No.16 while Sao Paolo’s Tan Tan is another new entry at No.31.

With four bars on the list, Singapore leads in Asia, with stalwart bars Jigger & Pony at No.5 and Atlas at No.43 joined by new entries Nutmeg & Clove (No.28) and Analogue Initiative (No.47). In Hong Kong, new entry Bar Leone has stormed into the list at No.2, taking the title of The Best Bar in Asia as well as Disaronno Highest New Entry with neighbour Coa at No.18.

Bangkok and Tokyo also claim two bars a piece, with Bangkok’s BKK Social Club rising to No.12 alongside new entry Bar Us at No.41 while Tokyo’s Bar Benfiddich (No.25) is joined by newcomer Virtú (No.42). In Seoul, Zest is at No.9 and wins this year’s Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award.

For the first time in five years, there is a new The Best Bar in Australasia, with Melbourne’s Caretaker’s Cottage rising two places to No.21 and taking home the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award. It is joined by Sydney’s Maybe Sammy at No.26 and new entry Byrdi, also in Melbourne, at No.35. Dubai’s Mimi Kakushi holds its position at No.40 and is named The Best Bar in the Middle East & Africa.

THE FULL LIST OF WORLD’S 50 BEST BARS 2024

1. Handshake Speakeasy Mexico City

2. Bar Leone Hong Kong

3. Sips Barcelona

4. Tayēr + Elementary London

5. Jigger & Pony Singapore

6. Line Athens

7. Tres Monos Buenos Aires

8. Alquímico Cartagena

9. Zest Seoul

10. Paradiso Barcelona

11. Himkok Oslo

12. BKK Social Club Bangkok

13. Connaught Bar London

14. Double Chicken Please New York

15. Overstory New York

16. Lady Bee Lima

17. Baba au Rum Athens

18. Coa Hong Kong

19. The Cambridge Public House Paris

20. Tlecān Mexico City

21. Caretaker’s Cottage Melbourne

22. CoChinChina Buenos Aires

23. Salmon Guru Madrid

24. Martiny’s New York

25. Bar Benfiddich Tokyo

26. Maybe Sammy Sydney

27. Superbueno New York

28. Nutmeg & Clove Singapore

29. Satan’s Whiskers London

30. Panda & Sons Edinburgh

31. Tan Tan São Paulo

32. Licorería Limantour Mexico City

33. Drink Kong Rome

34. Jewel of the South New Orleans

35. Byrdi Melbourne

36. Locale Firenze Florence

37. Scarfes Bar London

38. Moebius Milano Milan

39. Bar Nouveau Paris

40. Mimi Kakushi Dubai

41. Bar Us Bangkok

42. Virtù Tokyo

43. Atlas Singapore

44. La Sala de Laura Bogotá

45. Röda Huset Stockholm

46. Florería Atlántico Buenos Aires

47. Analogue Initiative Singapore

48. El Gallo Altanero Guadalajara

49. Danico Paris

50. 1930 Milan

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