World's 50 Best Bars

World's 50 Best Bars
Name	World's 50 Best Bars
Type	Annual ranking
Founded	2009
Region	Global
Language	English

World's 50 Best Bars is an annual ranking and awards program that lists the leading cocktail bars, hotel bars, and independent drinking establishments worldwide. Launched as a spin-off from The World's 50 Best Restaurants list, the program brings together bartenders, hospitality groups, beverage brands, and travel organizations to recognize excellence in barcraft, mixology, and service. The list has influenced destinations, shaped careers for bartenders, and sparked debates involving industry groups, media outlets, and tourism boards.

History

The awards were established in 2009 by the publishers of The World's 50 Best Restaurants and quickly grew into an international event attended by representatives of hospitality chains such as Marriott International, AccorHotels, and independent operators. Early ceremonies featured winners from cities tied to prominent cocktail movements, including New York City, London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Over the 2010s the program expanded its voting academy to include experts from regions represented by institutions like the James Beard Foundation and trade events such as Tales of the Cocktail. The ceremony has at times been staged alongside global festivals and partnered with beverage firms including Diageo, Pernod Ricard, and craft spirits producers. High-profile bartenders who gained recognition include alumni of bars associated with Noma-era hospitality, culinary personalities featured on BBC programs, and bartenders awarded by the National Restaurant Association.

Selection and Voting Process

The voting academy comprises hundreds of industry experts drawn from hospitality groups, media outlets, and independent judges connected to organizations such as Condé Nast Traveller, The New York Times, Financial Times, and trade associations like International Beer & Cider Association-adjacent networks. Voters are grouped by region—covering continents and major markets such as Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Oceania, and Africa—and are required to submit ballots listing multiple venues. The methodology mirrors systems used by awards like the Academy Awards in its use of panels and weighted voting, while also sharing procedural characteristics with ranking compilations such as the Forbes Travel Guide. Organizers emphasize blind ballots and conflict-of-interest rules similar to those used by the Pulitzer Prize board, though critics have compared transparency to practices in other prize systems like The Booker Prize.

Rankings and Notable Winners

Winners and high-ranking bars have included venues from global hospitality hubs such as London, New York City, Shanghai, Singapore, and Mexico City. Established names that have topped or frequently appeared in the list include bars associated with iconic hospitality groups, celebrated cocktail programs recognized alongside awards like the James Beard Awards, and bars linked to celebrity chefs featured on MasterChef. The roster of recognized establishments intersects with venues that have been profiled by outlets like Vogue, Esquire, The Guardian, and broadcast platforms such as CNN. Several winners have leveraged the accolade to expand into satellite locations, franchise partnerships with groups like SBE Entertainment and collaborations with distillers including Campari Group.

Impact on Bar Industry and Tourism

Placement on the list often drives increased visitation from international travelers booking through platforms such as Booking.com and partner programs run by airline alliances and hotel brands like Hilton Worldwide. The award has been credited with boosting cocktail tourism in cultural centers like Barcelona, Sydney, Berlin, and Mexico City, and has influenced menu design, staffing practices, and investment by hospitality conglomerates including InterContinental Hotels Group. Bartenders who gained prominence through the list have received sponsorships from spirits companies including Bacardi, Brown-Forman, and equipment partnerships with hospitality suppliers. The visibility also impacts local economies via nightlife precinct revitalization similar to effects observed after listings in travel guides such as Lonely Planet.

Criticisms and Controversies

The awards have faced scrutiny from industry figures, journalists at publications like The Guardian and The New York Times, and hospitality unions in markets including London and New York City over issues of transparency, regional bias, and commercial influence. Critics compare the program’s voting practices to controversies in other award systems like the Nobel Prize debates on selection opacity. Questions have been raised about sponsorship relationships with multinational companies such as Diageo and Pernod Ricard, and about whether media coverage amplifies gentrification or displacement in nightlife districts noted in studies by urban researchers affiliated with universities like Oxford University and Columbia University.

Regional and Thematic Trends

Recent lists reflect globalization of cocktail culture, with rising representation from cities in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa alongside traditional strongholds in Europe and North America. Thematic trends include enduring interest in craft spirits tied to producers like Suntory, Casa Cuervo, and small-batch distillers; sustainability and zero-waste practices promoted by bars linked to environmental initiatives such as those endorsed by UNESCO; and a move toward hybrid venues combining culinary and cocktail programs influenced by chefs from establishments associated with awards like the Michelin Guide. Regional shifts mirror broader hospitality patterns observed at international trade shows like HostMilano and conferences such as Bar Convent Berlin.

Category:Hospitality awards