BARCELONA – The atmosphere was electric in Singapore as the global drinks industry congregated for the prestigious annual event, The World’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier.
Barcelona’s very own Sips was crowned the World´s Best Bar 2023. Moreover, this marks the second consecutive year a Barcelona bar has clinched the coveted title.
Sips: A blend of innovation and warmth
Located in the heart of Barcelona’s L’Antiga Esquerra de l’Eixample district, Sips is a beacon of creativity and hospitality. This establishment, co-founded by Simone Caporale and Marc Álvarez, stood out for its innovative haute couture served at affordable prices. The bar’s interior, adorned with muted pastel tones and gold accents, revolves around a futuristic workstation. Furthermore, it´s design eliminates barriers between patrons and bartenders. This design ethos emphasises the human aspect of service, creating a multi-sensory, immersive drinking experience.
William Drew, Director of Content at 50 Best, praised Sips. He stated, “As the brainchild of cocktail-world icons Marc Álvarez and Simone Caporale, Sips was destined for greatness even before it rocketed into the list at No.37 just a few short months after opening in 2021. The bar seamlessly translates contemporary innovation and technical precision into a playful cocktail program, accompanied by the warmest hospitality. Moreover, this made it a worthy winner of The World’s Best Bar 2023 title.”
Global diversity and excellence
The 2023 list showcased bars from 28 cities, highlighting the diversity and excellence of the international drinks sector. Among the notable winners were;
- Renato ‘Tato’ Giovannoni of Florería Atlántico in Buenos Aires, awarded the Roku Industry Icon
- Lima’s Lady Bee, named Campari One To Watch
- The American Bar at Gleneagles in Auchterarder, Scotland, was honored with the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award
- Bareksten Best Bar Design Award went to Singapore’s Night Hawk, a testament to its enigmatic and immersive interiors
Global influence: London, New York, Mexico City, and more
London also continued its dominance in the global cocktail scene. Here, there were five bars on the list, including Connaught Bar and Tayēr + Elementary in the top 10. New York and Mexico City showcased their vibrant cocktail culture, with bars like Double Chicken Please, Handshake Speakeasy, and Licorería Limantour earning top spots. Furthermore, South America was celebrated through Cartagena’s Alquímico and Buenos Aires’ thriving bar scene.
Asia’s rising stars
Asia’s influence on the global bar scene was evident with Bangkok’s BKK Social Club leading the charge as The Best Bar in Asia. Singapore’s Jigger & Pony, Sago House, and Atlas also made their mark. Tokyo’s Bar Benfiddich and The SG Club stood strong, while Seoul’s Zest made a remarkable entry, winning the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award.
Awards recognising sustainability and creativity
Also, several special awards recognised innovation and sustainability in the industry. Röda Huset in Stockholm received the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award, emphasising the importance of environmental consciousness. The Blend Scholarship, a symbol of nurturing future talent, was awarded to Apoorva Kohli of New Delhi’s Sidecar, reflecting a commitment to cross-cultural learning and sustainable practices.
The full list – The World´s 50 Best Bars
The voting process for The World´s Best Bar
The list is compiled by votes from The World’s 50 Best Bars Academy, which comprises 680 drinks experts with 50/50 gender parity. This includes renowned bartenders and consultants, drinks writers and cocktail specialists from around the world. Furthermore, the Academy of voters is spread across 28 global geographic regions, each headed by an Academy Chair who selects their region’s voters, with the distribution of voters designed to reflect the relative development and sophistication of the drinks sector, and the concentration of quality bars, in each region. Each voter casts seven votes based on their best bar experiences of the previous 18 months, although if they have been unable to travel, they are welcome to provide five votes from their home country or SAR. Moreover, voters are required to remain anonymous. Furthermore, voting is confidential, secure and independently adjudicated by Deloitte.
Also read: Spanish hotel secures spot in the World´s Best 50 Hotels listing
Credit: Images @TheWorlds50Best