The World’s 50 Best Bars 2019 list was announced recently in London, at The Roundhouse in Camden. This is the 11th edition of the awards and its largest yet; the list curates the world’s top bars, and has long grown to become a trusted resource for cocktail lovers worldwide. Over 500 industry experts contributed to the compilation and ranking process.

Aperitif haven, Dante, was officially crowned the world’s best bar, taking the crown from the now-defunct Dandelyan. The second runner up to New York’s finest cocktail establishment is the Connaught Bar in London, while Buenos Aires’ thriving speakeasy, Florería Atlántico, closes the top three.

Singapore scored six places, an increase from the five placements our city received last year. The highest-ranking local bar, Atlas, placed at number 8, and also won the title of Asia’s Best Bar. The gin and champagne-focused bar recently overhauled its menu under new head bartender, Jesse Vida, as a continuation of its Art Deco-inspired cocktail narrative.
Manhattan lost its place as the third best bar in the world but still remains on the list at number 11. The announcement is followed by a win for Native, Singapore’s sustainable cocktail jewel, which bagged number 12.

Operation Dagger continues its pervasive presence, coming in at number 30 this year, a seven place fall from 2018. Chasing the Chinatown-based basement bar is another local favourite, Jigger & Pony, a household name that has experienced a meteoric year in the international bar awards circuit, and has finally cracked the World’s 50 Best Bars list after being a mainstay on the Asian equivalent.

The Old Man Singapore follows in the successful footsteps of its Hong Kong original by making its debut on the global awards stage at number 38, a remarkable start given its opening earlier this year.
28 HongKong Street, which came in at number 34 last year, is no longer on the World’s 50 Best Bars lineup for 2019.
Singapore continues to cement itself as a global force in the cocktail industry, as internationally renowned accolades continue to be awarded to our native bars. In 2021, our city will also play host to the World’s 50 Best Bars ceremony, apart from being the grounds for the next two editions of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, further turning the spotlight in our direction.
Read on for the full World’s 50 Best Bars 2019 list:
- Dante, New York
- Connaught Bar, London
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Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires
- The NoMad Bar, New York
- American Bar, London
- The Clumsies, Athens
- Atta Boy, New York
- Atlas, Singapore
- The Old Man, Hong Kong
- Licoreria Limantour, Mexico City
- Manhattan, Singapore
- Native, Singapore
- Carnaval, Lima
- Katana Kitten, New York City
- Guilhotina, São Paulo
- Three Sheets, London
- Himkok, Oslo
- Bar High Five, Tokyo
- Salmon Guru, Madrid
- Paradiso, Barcelona
- Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei
- The Dead Rabbit, New York City
- Coupette, London
- The SG Club, Tokyo
- Dr. Stravinsky, Barcelona
- Employees Only, New York City
- El Copitas, St. Petersburg
- Scout, London
- Jigger & Pony, Singapore
- Operation Dagger, Singapore
- Baba Au Rum, Athens
- La Factoría, Old San Juan
- Presidente, Buenos Aires
- Schumann’s, Munich
- Speak Low, Shanghai
- Little Red Door, Paris
- Tjoget, Sweden
- The Old Man, Singapore
- Lyaness, London
- Happiness Forgets, London
- Swift, London
- Trick Dog, San Francisco
- Maybe Sammy, Sydney
- 1930, Milan
- Sober Company, Shanghai
- Electric Bing Sutt, Beirut
- Kwānt, London
- Artesian, London
- Coa, Hong Kong
- Jerry Thomas Speakeasy, Rome
This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia, and was originally written by Beatrice Bowers.