World’s 50 Best Bars 2022: Outlandish Paradiso Nabs Top Spot

Nicholas Ng

After 14 years of its inaugural inception for the first time in the history of the World’s 50 Best Bars the awards are held outside home ground of London in Barcelona, Spain on the 4th October 2022, and for the first time in history, a bar outside New York or London takes the top spot, Paradiso in Spain. We share our thoughts and take a look at the rankings and how they’ve shifted this year.

“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 of 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 credit to Paradiso’s outlandishly inventive cocktail programme, sustainable ethos, work in the global bar community and brilliant sense of fun. Our heartfelt congratulations go out to each and every bar on the list and we are delighted to once again be able to showcase the incredible diversity of the global bar sector, from grand hotel bars and dive bars to neighbourhood speakeasies and stunning rooftop spaces. The consumer appetite for quality cocktail bars just keeps on growing and to be able to introduce 14 new entries to help sate this and encourage travel plans couldn’t make us happier.” — Mark Sansom, Content Director of The World’s 50 Best Bars.

Outlandish Paradiso Takes Flight

Paradiso in Barcelona, Spain takes the top spot for the first time from its inception in 2017, making it the first Spanish bar to top the list. The Dali-esque innovative cocktail bar is known for its crazy style of drinks with dramatics which need to be observed in person.

United Kingdom Is Back

London has always been known as one of the cocktail capitals of the world and has 9 bars in the top 100, with 5 of them in the top 50. In addition to Connaught Bar coming in at No. 8, Agostino Perrone also wins the much deserved Roku Industry Icon Award. It’s great to finally see Satan’s Whiskers (No. 23) get the attention they deserve, being one of the best neighbourhood bars in East London, where they can make any elusive classic cocktail you can throw at them. Up north there is Schofield’s bar (No. 59) in Manchester which has breached the top 100, a great amalgamation of a cocktail bar which also serves as a pub.

22 Bars in Asia represented in the top 100

This year, there are 22 bars from Asia represented in the top 100, with 8 bars making the top 50. Jigger & Pony (No.12) wins Best Bar in Asia, with only Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan and India representing. Other bars that made the top 50 include BKK Social Club (No.15) and Tropic City (No. 24) in Bangkok, Coa (No.17) and Argo (No.28) in Hong Kong, Manhattan in Singapore (No. 33), Sidecar in New Delhi (No. 26), and Bar Benfiddich in Tokyo (No. 48). A big switch up from 2021’s 29 bars in the top 100, with 16 bars in the top 50.

World’s 50 Best Bars Predictions for 2023

So what will we expect to see in 2023? From observing trends that has been happing over the past few years, it is very likely Licorería Limantour could make the best bar in 2023, not only have they won Best Bar in North America two years in a row, they have also won the Legend Of The List.

For the complete list and awards, see below.

The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022

  1. Paradiso, Barcelona, Spain (No. 3 in 2021) (Best Bar in the World, Best Bar in Europe)
  2. Tayēr + Elementary, London, UK (No. 2 in 2021)
  3. Sips, Barcelona, Spain (No. 37 in 2021) (Nikka Highest Climber)
  4. Licorería Limantour, Mexico City, Mexico (No. 6 in 2021) (Best Bar in North America) (Rémy Martin Legend Of The List)
  5. Little Red Door, Paris France (No. 29 in 2021)
  6. Double Chicken Please, New York, USA (No. 54 in 2021) (Disaronno Highest New Entry)
  7. Two Schmucks, Barcelona, Spain (No. 11 in 2021)
  8. Connaught Bar, London, UK (No. 1 in 2021)
  9. Katana Kitten, New York, USA (No. 10 in 2021)
  10. Alquímico, Cartagena, Colombia (No. 53 in 2021) (Re-Entry) (Best Bar in South America)
  11. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City, Mexico (No. 25 in 2021)
  12. Jigger & Pony, Singapore (No. 9 in 2021) (Best Bar in Asia)
  13. Hanky Panky, Mexico City, Mexico (No. 12 in 2021) (Michter’s Art of Hospitality)
  14. BKK Social Club, Bangkok, Thailand (No. 90 in 2021) (London Essence Best New Opening)
  15. Salmon Guru, Madrid, Spain (No. 24 in 2021)
  16. Drink Kong, Rome, Italy (No. 19 in 2021)
  17. Coa, Hong Kong, China (No. 7 in 2021)
  18. Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires, Argentina (No. 5 in 2021)
  19. The Clumsies, Athens, Greece (No. 4 in 2021)
  20. Baba au Rum, Athens, Greece (No. 14 in 2021)
  21. Café La Trova, Miami, USA (No. 28 in 2021)
  22. Attaboy, New York, USA (No. 34 in 2021)
  23. Satan’s Whiskers, London, UK (No. 73 in 2021) (New Entry)
  24. Tropic City, Bangkok, Thailand (No. 62 in 2021) (New Entry)
  25. Kumiko, Chicago, USA (No. 61 in 2021) (New Entry)
  26. Sidecar, New Delhi, India (No. 47 in 2021)
  27. Tres Monos, Buenos Aires, Argentina (No. 33 in 2021)
  28. Argo, Hong Kong, China (No. 72 in 2021) (New Entry)
  29. Maybe Sammy, Sydney, Australia (No. 22 in 2021) (Best Bar in Australasia)
  30. Swift, London, UK (No. 57 in 2021) (Re-Entry)
  31. Line, Athens, Greece (New Entry)
  32. Baltra Bar, Mexico City, Mexico (No. 38 in 2021)
  33. Manhattan, Singapore (No. 15 in 2021)
  34. Overstory, New York, USA (New Entry)
  35. 1930, Milan, Italy (No. 20 in 2021)
  36. Dante, New York, USA (No. 30 in 2021)
  37. A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London, UK (No. 77 in 2021) (New Entry)
  38. Zuma, Dubai, UAE (No. 17 in 2021) (Best Bar in the Middle East and Africa)
  39. Locale Firenze, Florence, Italy (No. 51 in 2021) (New Entry)
  40. Red Frog, Lisbon, Portugal (No. 67 in 2021) (New Entry)
  41. Cantina OK!, Sydney, Australia (No. 23 in 2021)
  42. CoChinChina, Buenos Aires, Argentina (New Entry)
  43. Himkok, Oslo, Norway (No. 79 in 2021) (Re-Entry)
  44. Carnaval, Lima, Peru (No. 88 in 2021) (Re-Entry)
  45. Galaxy Bar, Dubai, UAE (No. 45 in 2021)
  46. L’Antiquario, Naples, Italy (No. 82 in 2021) (New Entry)
  47. Employees Only, New York, USA (No. 60 in 2021) (Re-Entry)
  48. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo, Japan (No. 32 in 2021)
  49. Lucy’s Flower Shop, Stockholm, Sweden (No. 35 in 2021)
  50. Bulgari Bar, Dubai, UAE (No. 58 in 2021) (New Entry)
  51. Sago House, Singapore (No. 63 in 2021)
  52. Barro Negro, Athens, Greece (No. 74 in 2021)
  53. Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen, Cape Town, South Africa (No. 75 in 2021)
  54. La Factoría, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
  55. 28 HongKong Street, Singapore (No. 71 in 2021)
  56. Quinary, Hong Kong, China (No. 50 in 2021)
  57. MO Bar, Singapore (No. 36 in 2021)
  58. Mimi Kakushi, Dubai, UAE
  59. Schofield’s, Manchester, UK
  60. Caretaker’s Cottage, Melbourne, Australia
  61. Presidente, Buenos Aires, Argentina (No. 21 in 2021)
  62. Tan Tan, São Paolo, Brazil (No. 87 in 2021)
  63. The SG Club, Tokyo, Japan (No. 18 in 2021)
  64. Brujas, Mexico City, Mexico
  65. Analogue, Singapore
  66. El Barón, Cartagena, Colombia
  67. Atlas, Singapore (No. 16 in 2021)
  68. Hero Bar, Nairobi, Kenya
  69. No Sleep Club, Singapore
  70. La Sala de Laura, Bogotá, Colombia (No. 70 in 2021)
  71. Tjoget, Stockholm, Sweden (No. 40 in 2021)
  72. Three Sheets, London, UK
  73. Camparino in Galleria, Milan, Italy (No. 27 in 2021)
  74. Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore
  75. Side Hustle, London, UK (No. 80 in 2021)
  76. Candelaria, Paris, France
  77. The Court, Rome, Italy
  78. Röda Huset, Stockholm, Sweden
  79. Vesper, Bangkok, Thailand
  80. Dead End Paradise, Beirut, Lebanon (No. 68 in 2021)
  81. Lost & Found, Nicosia, Greece
  82. Indulge Experimental Bistro Bar, Taipei, Taiwan
  83. Bar Goto, New York, USA
  84. Le Syndicat, Paris, France
  85. Danico, Paris, France (No. 60 in 2021)
  86. Freni e Frizioni, Rome, Italy
  87. Re, Sydney, Australia (No. 46 in 2021)
  88. Art of Duplicity, Cape Town, South Africa (No. 86 in 2021)
  89. Donovan Bar, London, UK
  90. Republic, Singapore
  91. Antique American Bar, Bratislava, Slovakia
  92. The House of Machines, Cape Town, South Africa
  93. Mace, New York, USA
  94. Sweet Liberty, Miami, USA
  95. The Bamboo Bar, Bangkok, Thailand
  96. The Dead Rabbit, New York, USA
  97. Tag, Kraków, Poland
  98. Zapote Bar, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
  99. Tesouro, Goa, India (No. 65 in 2021)
  100. Sin + Tax, Johannesburg, South Africa

The World’s 50 Best Bars 2021: Special Awards

Best Bar in the World: Paradiso, Barcelona, Spain
Best Bar in Europe: Paradiso, Barcelona, Spain
Best Bar in North America: Licorería Limantour, Mexico City, Mexico
Best Bar in South America: Alquímico, Cartagena, Colombia
Best Bar in Asia: Jigger & Pony, Singapore
Best Bar in Australasia: Maybe Sammy, Sydney, Australia
Best Bar in the Middle East and Africa: Zuma, Dubai, UAE

Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu: Juliana, Guayaquil, Ecuador
Rémy Martin Legend Of The List: Licorería Limantour, Mexico City, Mexico
Campari One To Watch: Röda Huset, Stockholm, Sweden
Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award: Little Red Door, Paris, France
Disaronno Highest New Entry: Licorería Limantour, Mexico City, Mexico
Michter’s Art of Hospitality: Hanky Panky, Mexico City, Mexico
London Essence Best New Opening: BKK Social Club, Bangkok, Thailand

Roku Industry Icon Award: Agostino Perrone of Connaught Bar, London, UK
Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award: Jean Trinh of Alquímico, Cartagena, Colombia
50 Best The Blend Scholar: Drew Fleming of Kiki Lounge, Isle of Man, UK

For our thoughts on The Worlds 50 Best Bars, see The World’s 50 Best Bars 2021.
For our thoughts on Asia’s 50 Best Bars, see Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022.
For all 50 Best related content, see 50 Best.

| PHOTOGRAPHY: THE WORLD’S 50 BEST | WEBSITE: THE WORLD’S 50 BEST BARS |

Nicholas Ng

Nicholas Ng is a restaurant critic and drinks writer and is the editor of independent publication Food For Thought. He has been a freelance journalist for the 15 years and has previously worked as a lawyer and in digital marketing. He currently is the Principal Consultant of A Thought Full Consultancy, a food and beverage marketing consultancy.

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