The World’s 50 Best Bars of 2022 have been decided. Barcelona’s Paradiso takes the number one spot to be named The Best Bar in Europe and The World’s Best Bar.
It is the first time this honour has been bestowed on a bar outside of the historic cocktail capitals of New York and London.
Hidden behind an antique refrigerator in the back of an unassuming pastrami shop in Barcelona’s trendy El Born district, Paradiso offers a truly masterful take on the speakeasy, combining technique, precision and creativity with an unwavering sense of fun.
In stark contrast to the understated exterior, the majestic front bar welcomes guests into a strikingly playful space, complete with dramatic glass light fittings and Gaudi-inspired curved-wood ceiling. At the bar, myriad meticulously crafted cocktails served in outlandish vessels take centre stage.
Paradiso signatures, such as the Supercool Martini, uses ‘supercooled’ gin to build an iceberg in the glass before tailoring the final product tableside for a uniquely personal guest experience.
Mark Sansom, content director of The World’s 50 Best Bars, says: “The fact that this is the first time we have crowned a bar outside New York or London as The World’s Best Bar is a testament to the huge achievements of Giacomo, Margarita and their team. Since being named One To Watch in 2017, a year after opening, Paradiso has been a firm fixture on the 50 Best list, enhancing its ranking year after year.
“It is an honour to name it as The World’s Best Bar and the win is a credit to Paradiso’s outlandishly inventive cocktail program, sustainable ethos, work in the global bar community and brilliant sense of fun.”
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Sydney shines in Australia
The Best Bar in Australia is Maybe Sammy at No. 29, one of two Sydney bars in this year’s ranking alongside Cantina OK! at No.41.
London enjoys another strong showing, but Spain dominates the top 10
London regains its position as the cocktail capital of Europe with a total of five bars in the list. Tayēr + Elementary maintains its place at number two, with Connaught Bar at No.8 and a re-entry from Swift at No.30. The city also sees new entries from Satan’s Whiskers at No.2 3 and A Bar with Shapes for a Name at No. 37.
In Barcelona, not only has Paradiso risen two places to No. 1 but it is joined in the top 10 by Sips at number three, which is this year’s Nikka Highest Climber, and Two Schmucks at No. 7, which has risen four places. Elsewhere in Spain, Madrid’s Salmon Guru is at No. 15.
Italy also has four bars on the list across four different cities – Rome’s Drink Kong at No. 16 and Milan’s 1930 at No. 35, alongside new entries Locale Firenze in Florence at No. 39 and L’Antiquario in Naples at No. 46. Athens favourites The Clumsies (No. 19) and Baba Au Rum (No. 20) are joined by newcomer Line at No. 31.
Paris, Lisbon, Oslo and Stockholm each have one bar on the list, with Little Red Door at No. 5, which is this year’s Ketel One Sustainable Bar, Red Frog at No. 40, Himkok at No. 43 and Lucy’s Flower Shop at No. 49.
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New York leads the world and reclaims the North American crown
New York leads with a whopping six bars in the list, more than any other city in the world, including two in the top 10: Double Chicken Please at number six, which is also awarded the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award, and Katana Kitten rising one place to number nine. The city also has Attaboy at No. 22, Overstory at No. 34, Dante at No. 36 and Employees Only at No. 47. Chicago returns to the list for the first time since 2018 with Kumiko at No. 25 and Miami’s Café La Trova has risen seven places to No. 21.
Have you visited any of these bars? Are there any you would add to the list? Let us know in the comments section below.
