CNN
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Move over London. Get out of New York. There’s a new cosmopolitan cocktail capital: Barcelona is home to Paradiso, arguably the best bar in the world.
For the first time since the 50 Best Bars in the World list was created in 2009, a bar outside New York or London earned the No. 1 spot on the list.
Paradiso, from owners Giacomo Giannotti and Margarita Sader, is a Mediterranean-style speakeasy, entered through the freezer door of a pastrami bar in Barcelona’s trendy El Born district. The bar moved up from No. 3 in 2021.
“Winning this is a great honor and a great responsibility. We will work hard to live up to being the best and stick to our principles. Our cocktails seek to push creativity,” Gianotti told 50 Best on Tuesday evening .
“But it comes down to hard work. The more you work, the more you discover and the more creative you can be. We’ll celebrate and then go back to the bar to do what we do. ”
The 50 Best winners were announced in Barcelona on Tuesday evening, the first time the ceremony has been held outside London.
Catalonia’s vibrant city is home to three of the top 10 bars on the 2022 list. Sipes was the “highest climber” this year, jumping from the No. 37 spot in 2021 to No. 3 this year. Two schmucks came in at No. 7.
Four bars made the top 50 in Spain – Salmon Guru in Madrid was number 15.
Italy also made a strong showing in the top 50 for 2022, with bars in Rome, Florence, Milan and Naples. Newcomer L’Antiquario Napoli earned the No. 46 spot, putting the southern city of Naples in the top 50 for the first time.
Florence also made its first appearance on the list as did Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.
While London was dropped from the top spot, the city is still one of the world’s leading cocktail destinations. Five London bars made the list, including The Connaught Bar, which fell from its No. 1 ranking for two consecutive years to No. 8 in 2022.
London’s Tyre + Elementary, which awards ceremony host Mark Sansom said is “one of the most original bars on the planet,” held onto its No. 2 spot from 2021.
Europe dominates with more top bars than any other region.
The list is the result of votes from 650 bartenders and bar owners, drink writers and cocktail experts.
one from new york showing less bright More than usual in 2021 to become the city with the highest-ranked bar on the 2022 list. New York is home to six Top 50 bars, including Double Chicken Please at No. 6 and Katana Kitten at No. 9.
Double Chicken Please won the Highest New Entry award for its strong opening. Sansom, who is the content director for The World’s 50 Best Bars, told CNN Travel that the bar has a “nearly Michelin-grade kitchen”, an example of the growing emphasis on food programs in the world’s leading bars.
In Singapore, No. 33 Manhattan also does “seriously, seriously elevated bar food,” Sansom said.
Mexico City is another North American cocktail capital with four bars in the top 50, including No. 4 Licoraria limantorWinner of Best Bar in North America Awards.
Cartagena’s Alquimico is ranked number 10 best bar in South America. There are three bars in Buenos Aires on the list as well as one bar in Lima.
In Asia, Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong were all in the top 50 twice. at number 12, liver and pony Won the Best Bar in Asia Award in Singapore.
Dubai had three bars in the top 50, including No. 38 Zuma, best bar in the Middle East and Africa winner for the third year in a row.
In India, New Delhi’s Sidecar jumped 21 places to 26th position.
The best bar in Australasia is probably Sammy’s at No. 29 in Sydney.
1. ParadisoBarcelona (WINNER: Best Bar in Europe)
2. ready + primaryLondon
3. gulpBarcelona (WINNER: Apex Climber)
4. Licoraria limantorMexico City (WINNER: Best Bar in North America, List Legend)
5. little red doorParis (WINNER: Sustainable Bar Award)
6. double chicken pleaseNew York (WINNER: Highest New Entry)
7. two schmucksbarcelona
8. Connaught BarLondon
9. katana kittenNew York
10. alchemyCartagena (WINNER: Best Bar in South America)
1 1 handshake speakeasyMexico City
12. liver and ponySingapore (WINNER: Best Bar in Asia)
13. finesseMexico City (WINNER: The Art of Hospitality)
14. Bangkok Social ClubBangkok (Winner: Best New Opening)
15. Master Salmonmadrid
16. drink kongRome
17. koahong kong
18. Floraria AtlanticoBuenos Aires
19. clumsyathens
20. eat baba rumathens
21. Cafe La Trovamiami
22. AttaboyNew York
23. devil’s mustacheLondon
24. tropical citybangkok
25. kumikochicago
For the full list of the top 50, visit 50 Best Bars in the World Site,
Sansom said that with the pandemic curbing barhopping, customers are likely to stick around in the same places, and bars are offering more live entertainment in addition to expanding their food programs to keep guests busy for hours.
And the lines between food and drink are blurring.
“The techniques and flavors associated with cooking and gastronomy are emerging in beverage and cocktail craft,” Sansom said, citing New York’s Double Chicken Please Again.
The bar’s back room menu features an array of food-inspired cocktails—from the Waldorf Salad (whisky-based apple, celery, ginger ale and walnut bitters) to the Japanese Cold Noodle (rum with pineapple, cucumber, coconut, lime and sesame)— based) oil).
The two Schmucks in Barcelona also rely on food-related flavours.
“Its Curry Colada is one of the best cocktails I think I’ve ever had,” Sansom said.
He noted that equipment like the centrifuge that has made its way from science labs to restaurant kitchens over the past few decades has also appeared in craft cocktail bars in the last decade.
And the custom glassware that sometimes inspires drinks rather than the other way around is becoming increasingly important at many bars, including Paradiso, the world’s best bar.
Sansom said, after the past few years, great hospitality is more important than ever.
“After the pandemic, bars are much more aware of the value of each individual customer and making them feel wanted, safe, secure to go into those environments.”
Top image: Paradiso in Barcelona is the number 1 bar in the World’s 50 Best Bars list in 2022 and a Best Bar winner in Europe.