The world’s best bars, ranked by what holds up.

Bar Leone brings the feel of a Roman neighbourhood bar to Central's Bridges Street. Its Cocktail Popolari approach keeps familiar drinks and easygoing hospitality at the centre of the experience. It takes walk-ins only.

Soho / Central · Italian neighbourhood cocktail bar · site · IG

A Bethnal Green neighbourhood bar serving classic cocktails from a menu that changes daily, with hip-hop on the soundtrack. Open from 5pm until late, with later finishes on Friday and Saturday. Walk-ins are welcome; reservations are recommended and taken only by telephone on +44 20 7739 8362.

Bethnal Green · Classic cocktails & hip-hop · site · IG

Handshake is a two-level cocktail bar in Mexico City's Colonia Juárez. Its owner publishes separate upstairs and basement menus, from miniature classics to more elaborate drinks. Reserve through OpenTable for a 90-minute visit; guests must be at least 18.

Juárez · Two-level cocktail bar · site · IG

Panda & Sons uses its Transcend menu to explore sub-zero flavour techniques. Its research space works with freeze dryers and ultra-low freezers, and table reservations are available.

New Town · Experimental cocktail bar · site · IG

BKK Social Club pairs Latin American glamour with Thai hospitality at Four Seasons Bangkok. Its Mexico City-inspired menu moves through places, people and parties, with cocktails, elevated bar bites, cigars, wine and Champagne. Smart-casual dress and a 20+ age policy apply.

Yan Nawa / Sathon · Latin American-inspired hotel cocktail bar · site · IG

Line puts fermentation at the centre of its Athens bar, making fruit wines, beer and artisan bread in a former industrial space. Its cocktails use seasonal ingredients and fermentation by-products, with food designed around the same approach to reducing waste. Find it on Agathodemonos; check the venue’s reservation page for availability.

Fermentation-led cocktail bar · site · IG

A Japanese dining bar in Chicago’s West Loop, Kumiko welcomes guests for drinks or dinner. Its spaces include the dining room, bar and a separate whisky bar, with a daytime café also operating at the address. Use the official reservation page to choose the experience you want.

West Loop · Japanese dining bar · site · IG

Tlecān is a dark, compact Roma Norte mezcalería centred on Mexican agave spirits. Order small-producer distillates neat or explore the short cocktail list, which includes modern takes using mezcal and regional ingredients.

Roma Norte · Agave spirits and contemporary Mexican cocktails · site · IG

Enter through Daroco’s dramatic dining room to reach Danico, its cocktail bar at 6 rue Vivienne. The drinks menu travels through regional flavours and playful techniques, served in a lively room that works well before or after dinner. It opens nightly and does not take reservations.

Palais-Royal / 2nd · Travel-inspired cocktail bar · site · IG

De Vie is a seasonal cocktail bar and comptoir on Rue Saint-Sauveur in Paris. Its five-step drinks tasting lasts about 90 minutes, includes snacks and offers an alcohol-free route; guests can also order drinks à la carte.

Montorgueil · Sustainable cocktail bar and restaurant · site · IG

Jewel of the South reinterprets the New Orleans tavern in the French Quarter, bringing together seasonal cocktails, food and wine. Chris Hannah directs a drinks programme grounded in classic techniques, while the food menu changes regularly. Dinner runs Wednesday–Monday, with Friday and Saturday lunch and afternoon snacks; reserve through its official OpenTable link.

French Quarter · New Orleans tavern & dining · site · IG

Marc Álvarez and Simone Caporale’s Eixample bar combines familiar flavours with inventive textures and glassware designed around the drink. Drinkery House is the casual, social side of Sips; Esencia is a separate experience. Drinkery House opens Tuesday–Saturday, 6:30pm–2am, with online reservations and a smart-casual dress code.

Eixample · Contemporary cocktails · site · IG

Argo is Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong's first-floor cocktail bar, open to hotel guests and other visitors. Its Exploration list draws on local collaborators and includes both spirit-forward drinks and alcohol-free versions. Dress is smart casual.

Central / IFC · Hotel cocktail bar · site · IG

Cafe La Trova brings Julio Cabrera's Cuban cantinero approach together with Michelle Bernstein's Cuban-inspired cooking in Miami. Table reservations are available.

Little Havana · Cuban cocktail and dining bar · site · IG

Lyaness is an ingredient-led bar inside Sea Containers London, with Thames views, an electric-blue palette and the original green-marble bar. Current menus include Collaboration 2.0, Special Editions and food; bookings are recommended and walk-ins depend on availability.

South Bank · Ingredient-led hotel cocktail bar · site · IG

The Connaught Bar in Mayfair combines seasonal creations, vintage cocktails and a house-distilled gin with its signature martini trolley. Guests choose an aromatic bitters variation as their martini is prepared. The bar also serves canapés, wines and spirits. It operates without reservations, with published hours of 4pm–1am Monday–Saturday.

Mayfair · Hotel cocktail bar & martini trolley · site · IG

Sip & Guzzle offers two experiences at the same Cornelia Street address: bespoke cocktails downstairs at Sip and familiar classics in the livelier upstairs Guzzle. Each has its own food and drink menu. Reservations open ten days ahead, and both rooms hold tables for walk-ins; after 10:30pm the late-night menu is for walk-in guests only.

Greenwich Village · Two-level cocktail bar · site · IG

Double Chicken Please offers two cocktail concepts at its Allen Street address. Free Range focuses on having fun with food and drink, while The Coop rebuilds the flavours of iconic dishes as cocktails through culinary techniques.

Lower East Side · Food-inspired cocktail bar · site · IG

Superbueno brings Mexican American flavours to the East Village, with drinks such as the Green Mango Martini, Mole Negroni and Mushroom Margarita. The food menu includes guacamole, potato flautas and other dishes to share. It opens earlier on weekends, and reservations are available through Resy.

East Village · Mexican American cocktail bar · site · IG

Angelita’s basement cocktail bar turns produce from the team’s Zamora garden into low-alcohol, low-sugar drinks with house-made ingredients. Cocktails are measured by weight, pre-diluted and served without ice in custom glassware; upstairs, the same address also houses a wine bar and restaurant.

Chueca / Gran Vía · Produce-led, no-ice gastro cocktail bar · site · IG

Bar Us treats cocktails like a dinner menu, moving from lighter starters through savoury main-course drinks to after-dinner pours. The intimate Sukhumvit 26 room suits adventurous drinkers who enjoy culinary flavours and guided choices. Reserve the 6pm or 8pm seating, or walk in later.

Sukhumvit 26 / Phrom Phong · Culinary, savoury cocktails · site · IG

Katana Kitten is a Japanese American cocktail bar on Hudson Street in Greenwich Village. Highballs sit alongside drinks such as the Hinoki Martini and Meguroni, with non-alcoholic versions available for selected highballs. It opens at 4pm on weekdays and 2pm on weekends. Its published booking contact is for private or semi-private events.

Greenwich Village · Japanese American cocktail bar · site · IG

Native explores Singapore and the wider region through cocktails built around local produce, crafts and spirits. The second-floor bar is the place for its story-led drinks, while the Amoy Street shophouse also serves food. Reserve ahead for a compact, ingredient-focused night.

Amoy Street · Regional, ingredient-led cocktail bar · site · IG

Maybe Sammy is a theatrical cocktail bar in The Rocks, pairing film-inspired drinks with polished, playful service and regular live music. Book a 90-minute indoor sitting, choose outdoor seating, or reserve the Pink Room for a group; walk-ins are also welcome. The mood is celebratory and the room gets lively.

The Rocks · Theatrical, film-inspired cocktails · site · IG

Caretaker's Cottage is a public bar in a small historic cottage behind Wesley Church, combining mixed drinks with music and an unfussy pub atmosphere. It is walk-in only and stays open to 1am on Friday and Saturday.

CBD · Cocktail-focused public bar in a heritage cottage · site · IG

Bar Nouveau pairs an Art Nouveau-inspired ground-floor salon with concise cocktails built from contemporary producers. Downstairs, a six-cocktail tasting experience reworks the same aromas in a more structured format on weekends. The set menu is the bookable portion of the venue.

Marais / 3rd · Art Nouveau-inspired contemporary cocktails · site · IG

Jigger & Pony is a polished but convivial hotel cocktail bar at Amara Singapore. Its current BLOOM menu explores growth through modern signatures, supported by a substantial food list, wine, beer and zero-proof choices. Daily happy hour runs early in the evening.

Tanjong Pagar · Contemporary cocktails and convivial hospitality · site · IG

schmuck. brings a relaxed house-party mood to the East Village with ingredient-led cocktails and Middle Eastern–European bar food. Its Living Room takes reservations, while the communal Kitchen Table is kept for walk-ins.

East Village · Ingredient-led cocktails and bar food · site · IG

Fura is a sustainability-led drinking and dining room on Amoy Street. Its menus use abundant, invasive and low-carbon ingredients in cocktails and food, including a mealworm margarita and Jellyfish Martini. Walk-ins are welcome, while its five-course pairing requires an enquiry.

Amoy Street / Tanjong Pagar · Sustainability-led cocktail and dining bar · site · IG

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London currently serves a Heroes & Villains menu. Its two sides contrast elegant, restrained drinks with nostalgic, louder flavours, with live events also listed on its calendar. Most guests walk in; reservations are limited to hotel guests and parties of six or more.

Holborn · Luxury hotel cocktail bar · site · IG

Baba Au Rum is an Athens rum and cocktail society with a deep global spirits selection and house drinks built from locally sourced herbs and fruit. Its current lists range from rum-led classics to experimental and alcohol-free cocktails.

Historic Centre · Rum and cocktail bar · site · IG

Inside NoMad London’s former police-station building, Side Hustle pairs polished hotel-bar service with agave-focused cocktails and food shaped by Latin American and Southern Californian flavours. The sample menu centres on tacos, ceviche and snacks for sharing.

Covent Garden · Agave cocktails and Mexican-inspired bar food · site · IG

Moebius combines a cocktail bar, tapa bistrot, Sperimentale restaurant, live music and a record store on Via Alfredo Cappellini. The bar sits by the entrance, with seven counter seats facing a three-metre concrete spirits display. Use the official booking page to check which dining experience is available; the bar and Sperimentale have distinct menus and schedules.

Porta Venezia · Cocktails, dining & live music · site · IG

Alquímico occupies a three-storey historic house in Cartagena's Centro Histórico. Colombian ingredients lead the drinks: the first-floor Comunidad menu, second-floor Clásicos Alquimistas and third-floor Farm to Bar each offer a different angle. The terrace draws on ingredients from the bar's farm in Filandia, Quindío.

Centro Histórico · Colombian farm-to-bar cocktails · site · IG

Paradiso hides an immersive, curving cocktail room behind a refrigerator-style entrance in El Born. The drinks lean theatrical, with elaborate vessels and presentation, while the bar also serves classic bites.

El Born · Theatrical modern cocktails · site · IG

Martiny’s brings Japanese cocktail technique and attentive hospitality to a restored nineteenth-century Gramercy carriage house. The three-floor setting pairs precise signatures and martinis with refined small plates. Reservations are available through Resy, with limited space for walk-ins.

Gramercy · Japanese cocktail bar in a historic townhouse · site · IG

COA is a compact Central bar devoted to agave. Its list explores tequila, mezcal and lesser-seen Mexican spirits, with cocktails that keep the same regional focus. It is walk-in only, so arrive early or expect an in-person waitlist at busy times.

Central / Shin Hing · Agave-focused cocktail bar · site · IG

Above Board is an intimate, seated-only bar designed for groups of four or fewer. It takes no bookings; enter through the laneway off Smith and Perry streets behind Beermash.

Collingwood · Intimate seated cocktail bar · site · IG

El Gallo Altanero is a balcony bar in Guadalajara’s Colonia Americana devoted to agave spirits. Its frequently changing drinks use classic cocktail structure to spotlight tequila, mezcal and small independent producers in a colourful, distinctly Mexican room.

Colonia Americana · Agave-focused cocktail bar · site · IG

Bar Benfiddich is a 15-seat, ninth-floor Shinjuku bar where drinks are built through conversation instead of a printed menu. Expect herbs, house tinctures and a close view of the bartender at work. Reservations are released around the owner-bartender’s irregular travel calendar and are strongly advised.

Nishi-Shinjuku · Bespoke botanical cocktails · site · IG

Bar Pompette is an intimate College Street bar with thoughtful cocktails, warm service and an easy European café spirit. The room is lively but neighbourhood-minded, and the venue accepts walk-ins only. Groups of eight or more are directed to sister venue Allegro.

Little Italy · European-inspired neighbourhood cocktail bar · site · IG

Waltz serves a full conceptual cocktail menu from its bar seats, which are kept for walk-ins. Tables can be reserved, making it useful for visitors who prefer a planned stop near Shoreditch.

Shoreditch · Concept-led cocktail bar · site · IG

Hidden behind a small Cantonese shop in Dongshankou, Hope & Sesame pairs modern cocktail technique with flavours from the local pantry. The current programme includes the “Bittersweet” menu and a separate upstairs space for classics and bespoke drinks. Reservations use the venue’s WeChat mini app.

Dongshankou · Cantonese-inspired modern cocktails · site · IG

Service Bar makes ambitious cocktails feel informal: a changing drinks list, fried chicken and sandwiches, and an easygoing U Street room built for bartenders and neighbours alike. The cocktail range runs from light, refreshing drinks to richer classics and house creations, while the food is a reason to visit in its own right.

U Street · Cocktail bar with American comfort food · site · IG

VIRTÙ is a 39th-floor Four Seasons lounge where Japanese technique meets French spirits and Art Deco glamour. Cognac, whisky, shochu and house umeshu anchor the cocktail list, with Tokyo skyline views and polished hotel service completing the experience. Reservations are optional.

Otemachi · French-Japanese hotel cocktail lounge · site · IG

Hidden behind Eaton DC’s Progress Library, Allegory pairs imaginative cocktails with Erik Thor Sandberg’s mural retelling Alice in Wonderland through the story of Ruby Bridges. Its current Banned in D.C. menu extends that visual narrative with punk-inspired scenes and culinary techniques.

Downtown / Eaton DC · Narrative cocktail bar · site · IG

HIMKOK is an Oslo cocktail bar and working distillery producing aquavit, gin and vodka on site. Its rooms move from a focused distillery bar to a more relaxed upstairs bar and seasonal courtyard, with Norwegian ingredients and house spirits tying the experience together.

Sentrum · Norwegian cocktail bar and house distillery · site · IG

This Club Bauhaus venue treats flavour as part of a design curriculum, dividing the bar into classroom, workshop and showroom spaces. It opens daily from 5pm; after 10pm entry is walk-in only.

Hoxton / Haggerston · Bauhaus-inspired conceptual cocktail bar · site · IG

An eclectic Madrid cocktail bar and restaurant built around mixology and storytelling. It works without reservations and stays open until 2am or 2:30am.

Barrio de las Letras · Eclectic cocktail bar and restaurant · site · IG

Bar Mauro is an intimate, high-energy Roma Norte aperitivo bar that channels 1970s Milan through mirrored walls, subway tile and a distinctly Mexican sense of hospitality. The concise list moves between Italian bitters and vermouth, classics such as the Negroni 1929 and drinks built from local memories, with charcuterie, arancini and focaccia alongside.

Roma Norte · Italian aperitivo bar with a Mexico City point of view · site · IG