The annual World's 50 Best Bars list has recently been unveiled with Mexico City's Handshake Speakeasy taking top spot, the first Mexican bar to achieve this accolade.
Inspired by the Prohibition era, Handshake Speakeasy offers visitors an intimate space for 32 on the ground floor, paired with a vibrant, energetic basement bar below. Head bartender Eric Van Beek has curated a unique menu utilising an on-site laboratory and advanced culinary techniques in preparation. The bar has steadily been climbing the ladder over the years, placing 25th in 2021, 11th in 2022 and then moving up to third most recently in 2023. Now Handshake Speakeasy can lay claim to title of the Best Bar in the World.
In second place is Hong Kong's Bar Leone, an Italian-style neighbourhood cocktail bar founded and managed by industry veteran Lorenzo Antinori; whilst Barcelona's Sips - last year's winner - places third. The latter, Sips, is led by industry veterans Simone Caporale and Marc Alvarez, with Caporale's former bar Artesian having taken top spot four times previously between 2012 to 2015, and Alvarez having developed his skills over more than 10 years with the Adria brothers.
Emma Sleight, Head of Content for The World's 50 Best Bars, says: "It is with immense pride that we announce Handshake Speakeasy as The World's Best Bar 2024, sponsored by Perrier. To be the first ever No.1 from Mexico is an outstanding achievement, of which Eric van Beek and his team are hugely deserving.
"The bar's impressive rise through the list of The World's 50 Best Bars over the years is a testament to their unique combination of flawless hospitality, innovative technique and truly excellent cocktails. We also extend our heartfelt congratulations to each and every bar on this year's list, which once again highlights the incredible diversity of the global bar sector. We hope that this year's list continues to operate as a beacon for cocktail lovers the world over."
The top then list is as follows:
1. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
2. Bar Leone, Hong Kong
3. Sips, Barcelona
4. Tayer + Elementary, London
5. Jigger & Pony, Singapore
6. Line, Athens
7. Tres Monos, Buenos Aires
8. Alquimico, Cartagena
9. Zest, Seoul
10. Paradiso, Barcelona
With its two venues in the top 10, Barcelona features highly as a go-to city, but London is the European city with the most featured venues at four from 19. Alongside Tayer + Elementary is Connaught Bar in 13th, Satan's Whiskers in 29th and Scarfes Bar in 37th.
With four bars, New York City continues its dominance in North America, with Double Chicken Please in 14th and Overstory in 15th, as well as new entries Martiny's in 24th and Superbueno in 27th.
Image credit - Handshake Speakeasy Instagram