The World's 50 Best Bars 2026: The Full List (and the 4 NYC Bars That Made It) 🍸

If you've read any of my guides, you know I am a speakeasy lover through and through. So when the World's 50 Best Bars list drops every year, I'm glued to it. This year's list was announced on October 7 in Milan, and it's a good one.

Here's the full list, the biggest takeaways, and a closer look at the four New York bars that made it, so you can actually plan a night out around them.

• Bar Leone in Hong Kong is number one again. Two years in a row.
• Moebius Milano came in second, in the same city that hosted the awards.
• Alquímico in Cartagena took third, a huge win for Colombia.
• New York, Paris, and Hong Kong tied for the most bars, with four each.
• Mexico City has three bars on the list, including Handshake Speakeasy at number six.
• Every US bar on the list is in New York.

If you live in New York or have a trip coming up, here's where to go:

Schmuck (#11), East Village. The highest new entry on the list, and it won Best New Opening too. It feels like a house party in an artist's apartment: floor cushions, crimson walls, art everywhere. The drinks lean savory, so be adventurous. People rave about the BBL Brie (tequila, fermented beets, berries, walnuts, and Brie) and the Piña Colada Pickleback.

Sip & Guzzle (#14), West Village. Two bars in one. Upstairs is Guzzle, a lively saloon style bar with classics that have a twist. Downstairs is Sip, a sleek Japanese cocktail bar. It jumped 25 spots from last year, and it was also named the best bar in North America this year. Order the Yakitini, which comes topped with a smoking cinnamon stick.

Martiny's (#46), Gramercy. A Japanese cocktail bar in a three story former carriage house, run by Tokyo native Takuma Watanabe. The whole place is built around omotenashi, the Japanese idea of hospitality. Perfect for a date night.

Bar Snack (#49), East Village. A new entry this year, and the most laid back of the four. Their motto is "dressed up classics for dressed down people," which I love. Try the Mama Tried (strawberry, yuzu, and matcha blended with mezcal) and get the Spice Bag, fried chicken and fries with curry sauce.

1. Bar Leone, Hong Kong
2. Moebius Milano,Milan
3. Alquímico, Cartagena
4. Bar Us, Bangkok
5. Line, Athens
6. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
7. Zest, Seoul
8. Connaught Bar, London
9. Lady Bee, Lima
10. Bar Mauro, Mexico City

A few tips if you're planning a night at any of these:

• Check each bar's website or Instagram before you go. Some take reservations, and some are walk in only.
• If it's walk in, go early. Bars on this list get busy fast, especially in the weeks right after the list comes out.
• Don't be afraid to ask the bartender for a recommendation. These are some of the best in the world, and that's half the fun.

Save the collection so you have every bar on the list in one place, whether you're planning a trip or just dreaming about one. And if you've been to any of these, tell me which one I need to go to first!

Till next time :)