The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020 list was unveiled last night via a virtual ceremony livestreamed from London.
Two Hong Kong bars were included in the prestigious annual ranking, with Mexican-inspired cocktail bar Coa cracking the top 10 to place eighth. This marked an impressive 41-spot rise from its rank of 49 in 2019, and scored Coa the Nikka Highest Climber Award.
The watering hole is located in Central and known for its extensive repertoire of agave spirits and cocktails. Its latest achievement adds yet another feather to its cap — earlier this year, its founder Jay Khan was named the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender 2020 at the Asia’s 50 Best Bars event, where it placed third.
The Old Man, another Hong Kong stalwart on both the global and regional lists, came in 15th. The bar is popular for its Ernest Hemingway-inspired cocktails, and operates a Singapore outlet, which ranked 58th on the World’s 50 Best Bars’ extended list of 51 to 100.
This year’s coveted top spot went to The Connaught Bar, a posh hotel bar nestled within The Connaught hotel in Mayfair, London. It’s famed for its martinis, which are prepared tableside via a martini trolley stocked with various gins, vodkas and bitters. The bar and the hotel are temporarily closed until 1 December due to London’s lockdown restrictions.
Scroll down for the full World’s 50 Best Bars 2020 list:
1. Connaught Bar, London
2. Dante, New York (Best Bar in North America)
3. The Clumsies, Athens
4. Atlas, Singapore
5. Tayer/Elementary, London (Highest New Entry)
6. Kwant, London (Best New Opening)
7. Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires (Best Bar in South America, Alto Bartenders’ Bartender)
8. Coa, Hong Kong (Highest Climber)
9. Jigger & Pony, Singapore
10. The SG Club, Tokyo
11. Maybe Sammy, Sydney
12. Attaboy, New York
13. The NoMad, New York
14. Manhattan, Singapore
15. The Old Man, Hong Kong
16. Katana Kitten, New York
17. Licorería Limantour, Mexico City
18. Native, Singapore
19. Paradiso, Barcelona
20. American Bar, London
21. Carnaval, Lima
22. Salmón Gurú, Madrid
23. Zuma, Dubai (Best Bar in Middle East and Africa)
24. Little Red Door, Paris
25. 1930, Milan
26. Two Schmucks, Barcelona
27. El Copitas, St. Petersburg
28. Cantina OK!, Sydney
29. Lyaness, London
30. Himkok, Oslo
31. Baba au Rum, Athens
32. Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
33. Swift, London
34. Three Sheets, London
35. The Bamboo Bar, Bangkok
36. Tjoget, Stockholm
37. Buck and Breck, Berlin
38. Employees Only, New York
39. Bulletin Place, Sydney
40. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
41. Artesian, London
42. Sober Company, Shanghai
43. Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei
44. Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur
45. Drink Kong, Rome
46. Room by Le Keif, Taipei
47. Alquimico, Cartagena (Sustainable Bar Award)
48. High Five, Tokyo
49. Charles H, South Korea
50. Presidente, Buenos Aires
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