Sips, Barcelona, has taken the top spot in The World's 50 Best Bars 2023 awards this week, continuing Barcelona's run at the top of the table following Paradiso's victory in 2022.
Located in the heart of Barcelona's L'Antiga Esquerra de l'Eixample district, Sips combines elegant design with cutting-edge technique to create an unfussy and playful 'drinkery house' from two titans of the industry, Simone Caporale and Marc Álvarez. Drawing on the lessons of their already illustrious careers – Caporale was one half of the creative duo that led London's Artesian to The World's Best Bar title a record four times, whilst Álvarez spent almost a decade at Ferran and Albert Adrià's revolutionary elBarri restaurant group – the duo's disruptive approach to creative mixology shines through in innovative haute couture serves at pret-a-porter prices.
In taking the World's top spot, Sips was also awarded Europe's Best Bar. But it was London that had the highest number of locations in the top 50, with five featuring, including two in the top 10. Regulars in the list, Connaught Bar placed fifth whilst Tayer + Elementary took eighth spot.
The other London venues featured in the capital, Satan's Whiskers placed 28th, A Bar with Shapes for a Name were 35th and Scarfes Bar came 41st.
The top 10 list was as follows:
1. Sips, Barcelona
2. Double Chicken Please, New York
3. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
4. Paradiso, Barcelona
5. Connaught Bar, London
6. Little Red Door, Paris
7. Licorería Limantour, Mexico City
8. Tayer + Elementary, London
9. Alquímico, Cartagena
10. Himkok, Oslo
Athens continues its ascendency with Line, winner of London Essence Best New Opening Award, in 12th, alongside Baba Au Rum, 25th, and The Clumsies, 47th, which was also named Rémy Martin Legend of The List. Elsewhere in Europe, Paris features Little Red Door at 6th and newcomer The Cambridge Public House at 38th, while Oslo's Himkok, 10th, bags the Nikka Highest Climber Award. Berlin sees a strong return to the list with new entry Wax On at, 29th. Last year's Campari One To Watch, Röda Huset from Stockholm, ranks 31st and is also the recipient of the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award.
Discover the full list here.