Among the slew of watering holes that litter Barcelona’s L’Antiga Esquerra de l’Eixample–the district just north of El Raval known for Barcelona University and ornate 19th century apartment buildings–one stands out, Sips, the newly named World’s Best Bar 2023 by the 50 Best Bars organization. This is the second year in a row that a Barcelona drinkery has been crowned championing, officially making the northeastern Spanish city a cocktail capital.
Sips was unveiled as the world’s top bar during a live awards ceremony in Singapore. Held in Asia for the first time in its history, the ceremony celebrated the excellence of the international drinks sector.
Combining elegant design with cutting-edge technique, sips comes from two industry titans, Simone Caporale and Marc Álvarez. Caporale was one half of the creative duo that led London’s Artesian to The World’s Best Bar title a record four times, while Álvarez spent almost a decade at Ferran and Albert Adrià’s elBarri restaurant group.
“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,” said William Drew, Director of Content, 50 Best. “The bar seamlessly translates contemporary innovation and technical precision into a playful cocktail programme, accompanied by the warmest hospitality, making it a worthy winner of The World’s Best Bar 2023 title.
“At 50 Best, we take great pride in highlighting the unparalleled diversity of the global bar industry and we extend our sincere congratulations to each bar that has earned a place on this illustrious ranking. We have once again seen the number of cocktail cities represented here increase, and hope this list continues to ignite the spark of wanderlust for cocktail lovers around the world.”
Elisa Gregori, Perrier Global Business Unit Director, added: “On behalf of Perrier®, we are honoured to be the ongoing leading sponsor for The World’s 50 Best Bars. We are extremely proud to spotlight the bartenders and other professionals who push boundaries to create unforgettable experiences for anyone who walks through their doors. From its ancient source in Vergèze, in the Gard region of France, Perrier® exploded forth from the French café culture and, for more than 160 years, has proudly been the ultimate companion to the global bar community, who create, innovate and delight in their never-ending quest to create the perfect drink.”
In Europe, London retains its place as one of the world’s cocktail capitals with five bars making the list, more than any other city. Barcelona has two entries in the top five, with No.1 Sips alongside Paradiso at No.4, with Madrid’s Salmon Guru at No.16. In Italy, Rome’s Drink Kong at No.21 is joined by new entry Freni e Frizioni (No.33), alongside 1930 (No.42) in Milan, L’Antiquario (No.44) in Naples and Locale Firenze (No.46) in Florence.
Athens, meanwhile, has begun to challenge London for its thrown with four bars making the top 50, including Line, winner of London Essence Best New Opening Award, at No.12, alongside Baba Au Rum (No.25) and The Clumsies (No.47), which was also named Rémy Martin Legend of The List. Elsewhere in Europe, Paris features Little Red Door at No.6 and newcomer The Cambridge Public House at No.38, while Oslo’s Himkok (No.10) bags the Nikka Highest Climber Award. Berlin sees a strong return to the list with new entry Wax On at No.29. Last year’s Campari One To Watch, Röda Huset from Stockholm, ranks No.31 and is also the recipient of the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award.
Meanwhile in the Americas, New York’s Double Chicken Please (No.2) is crowned The Best Bar in North America, with fellow Manhattan bars Overstory coming in at No.17 and Katana Kitten at No.27. Miami’s Café La Trova is at No.24 along with new entry Jewel of the South (No.49) bringing New Orleans back into the list for the first time since 2014. In Mexico City, Handshake Speakeasy rose 8 places to No.3, with Licorería Limantour at No.7, Hanky Panky at No.22, and Baltra Bar at No.45.
The Best Bar in South America is once again Cartagena’s Alquímico, which rose to No.9, alongside Buenos Aires’ three entries: Tres Monos (No.11), also winner of the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award, CoChinChina (No.26), and Florería Atlántico (No.30). Carnaval in Lima is at No.43.
Bars across Asia shines. In the host city of Singapore, Jigger & Pony is at No.14 alongside Sago House (No.32) and re-entry Atlas at No.48. They are joined by Seoul newcomer Zest, winner of this year’s Disaronno Highest New Entry Award, at No.18. Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo each feature two bars in the list, with Bangkok’s BKK Social Club taking the top spot as The Best Bar in Asia at No.13 and welcoming neighbor Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, entering at No.19. Tokyo stalwart Bar Benfiddich (No.37) is joined by The SG Club, which re-enters the list at No.36. Hong Kong is represented by Coa at No.20 and Argo at No.34.
Down Under, Sydney’s Maybe Sammy (No.15) is crowned The Best Bar in Australasia for the fifth time, having won the title every year since its launch in 2019, whilst Melbourne’s Caretaker’s Cottage joins the list for the first time at No.23.
In Dubai, newcomer Mimi Kakushi storms into the list at No.40 as The Best Bar in The Middle East and Africa, joined by Galaxy Bar at No.50.
Check out the full list of the World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 below…
1-50 List
| Position | Bar | Location |
| 1 | Sips | Barcelona |
| 2 | Double Chicken Please | New York |
| 3 | Handshake Speakeasy | Mexico City |
| 4 | Paradiso | Barcelona |
| 5 | Connaught Bar | London |
| 6 | Little Red Door | Paris |
| 7 | Licorería Limantour | Mexico City |
| 8 | Tayēr + Elementary | London |
| 9 | Alquímico | Cartagena |
| 10 | Himkok | Oslo |
| 11 | Tres Monos | Buenos Aires |
| 12 | Line | Athens |
| 13 | BKK Social Club | Bangkok |
| 14 | Jigger & Pony | Singapore |
| 15 | Maybe Sammy | Sydney |
| 16 | Salmon Guru | Madrid |
| 17 | Overstory | New York |
| 18 | Zest | Seoul |
| 19 | Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar | Bangkok |
| 20 | Coa | Hong Kong |
| 21 | Drink Kong | Rome |
| 22 | Hanky Panky | Mexico City |
| 23 | Caretaker’s Cottage | Melbourne |
| 24 | Café La Trova | Miami |
| 25 | Baba au Rum | Athens |
| 26 | CoChinChina | Buenos Aires |
| 27 | Katana Kitten | New York |
| 28 | Satan’s Whiskers | London |
| 29 | Wax On | Berlin |
| 30 | Florería Atlántico | Buenos Aires |
| 31 | Röda Huset | Stockholm |
| 32 | Sago House | Singapore |
| 33 | Freni e Frizioni | Rome |
| 34 | Argo | Hong Kong |
| 35 | A Bar with Shapes for a Name | London |
| 36 | The SG Club | Tokyo |
| 37 | Bar Benfiddich | Tokyo |
| 38 | The Cambridge Public House | Paris |
| 39 | Panda & Sons | Edinburgh |
| 40 | Mimi Kakushi | Dubai |
| 41 | Scarfes Bar | London |
| 42 | 1930 | Milan |
| 43 | Carnaval | Lima |
| 44 | L’Antiquario | Naples |
| 45 | Baltra Bar | Mexico City |
| 46 | Locale Firenze | Florence |
| 47 | The Clumsies | Athens |
| 48 | Atlas | Singapore |
| 49 | Jewel of the South | New Orleans |
| 50 | Galaxy Bar | Dubai |
For more information, head over to the organization’s official website.
Last week, the brand released its extended list of the World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 51-100.