World's 50 Best Bars 2022 results: Paradiso in Barcelona takes top spot, Jigger & Pony is best in Asia

A decade after the first World’s 50 Best Bars ceremony in London in 2012, the most prestigious international list of the bar world returned last night to Barcelona‘s La Cúpula de las Arenas.

The host city is well deserving of the spotlight this year, with three bars in the top 10, including this year’s number No. 1 Paradiso, second runner-up SIPS, and Two Schmucks at No. 7. It marks the first year that the top spot has gone to a bar outside of the time-honoured cocktail capitals of London and New York.

Compared to last year, the number of Asian bars on the list have halved from 16 to eight, which is not surprising given the inbound travel restrictions on destinations like Hong Kong, Japan, China, and Taiwan during the voting period. Still Singapore‘s top dog, Jigger & Pony clinched the regional Best Bar in Asia award at No. 12.

The only other bar in the city state to make top 50 this year is Manhattan (No. 33), whilst new entries like Republic (No. 90) and Analogue (No. 65) made it to the extended 51-100 list alongside venues like Sago House (No. 51)  and 28 HongKong Street (No. 55).

Across Asia, Bangkok and Hong Kong also see two bars apiece on the list; the former with BKK Social Club winning Best New Opening at No. 14 and a new entry in Tropic City (No. 24).

Four Seasons Hotels should be pleased with their showing with another bar – Argo in Hong Kong – making its debut at No. 28. Agave  temple Coa sits at No. 17. New Delhi’s Sidecar (No. 26) and Bar Benfiddich (No. 48) in Tokyo round up the Asian winners.

2022 sees the rise of bars in Latin America. Mexico City’s Licorería Limantour, up two spots at No. 4, took home the Best Bar in North America again while Alquímico in Cartagena, Colombia at No. 10 (Best Bar in South America) with its co-founder Jean Trinh winning the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award. Hanky Panky (No. 13) is the first Latin American bar to snag the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award as well.

ALSO READ: Asia's top 50 bars (2022): Hong Kong's COA retains its top spot, Singapore bars secure 11 spots

Collectively, bars in London and New York still make up a solid 20 per cent of the list. Tayēr + Elementary retains its podium position of No. 2 though last year’s No. 1 Connaught Bar dropped eight spots.

The Big Apple sees this year’s highest climber in Double Chicken Please (No. 6) and the re-entry of the OG Employees Only at No. 47. Another trend worth noting at World’s 50 Best Bars this year is the debut of European cities, such as Florence with Locale Firenze ringing in at No. 39, Lisbon (Red Frog, No. 40), and the south Italian city of Naples with L’Antiquario (No. 46).

For the full list of the World’s 50 Best Bars 2022, see below. Venues in bold indicate that the venues are in Asia. Click here to see the bars on 2022’s extended list.

1. Paradiso, Barcelona, Spain (Best Bar in Europe)
2. Tayēr + Elementary, London, UK
3. SIPS, Barcelona, Spain (Highest Climber)
4. Licorería Limantour, Mexico City, Mexico (Best Bar in North America)
5. Little Red Door, Paris, France (Ketel One Sustainable Award)
6. Double Chicken Please, New York, USA (Highest New Entry)
7. Two Schmucks, Barcelona, Spain
8. Connaught Bar, London, UK
9. Katana Kitten, New York, USA
10. Alquimico, Cartagena, Columbia (Best Bar in South America)
11. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City, Mexico
12. Jigger & Pony, Singapore (Best Bar in Asia)
13. Hanky Panky, Mexico City, Mexico
14. BKK Social Club, Bangkok, Thailand (Best New Opening)
15. Salmon Guru, Madrid, Spain
16. Drink Kong, Rome, Italy
17. Coa, Hong Kong
18. Floreria Atlantico, Buenos Aires, Argentina
19. The Clumsies, Athens, Greece
20. Baba Au Rum, Athens, Greece
21. Café La Trova, Miami, USA
22. Attaboy, New York, USA
23. Satan’s Whiskers, London, UK (NEW)
24. Tropic City, Bangkok, Thailand (NEW)
25. Kumiko, Chicago, USA (NEW)
26. Sidecar, New Delhi, India
27. Tres Monos, Buenos Aires, Argentina
28. Argo, Hong Kong (NEW)
29. Maybe Sammy, Sydney, Australia (Best Bar in Australasia)
30. Swift, London, UK (Re-entry)
31. Line, Athens, Greece (NEW)
32. Baltra Bar, Mexico City, Mexico
33. Manhattan, Singapore
34. Overstory, New York, USA (NEW)
35. 1930, Milan, Italy
36. Dante, New York, USA
37. A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London, UK (NEW)
38. Zuma, Dubai, UAE (Best Bar in Middle East & Africa)
39. Locale Firenze, Florence, Italy (NEW)
40. Red Frog, Lisbon, Portugal (NEW)
41. Cantina OK!, Sydney, Australia
42. Cochinchina, Buenos Aires, Argentina (NEW)
43. Himkok, Oslo, Norway (Re-entry)
44. Carnaval, Lima, Peru (Re-entry)
45. Galaxy Bar, Dubai, UAE
46. L’Antiquario, Naples, Italy (NEW)
47. Employees Only, New York (Re-entry)
48. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo, Japan
49. Lucy’s Flower Shop, Stockholm, Sweden
50. Bulgari Bar, Dubai, UAE

This article was first published in City Nomads.