In 2025, the global cocktail scene has evolved into something far beyond just good drinks. The world’s best bars are now immersive destinations — a fusion of artistry, storytelling, service, and design. These establishments are sanctuaries for the modern luxury traveler: speakeasies where drinks arrive with a whisper, rooftops with skyline views and mezcal clouds, hotel bars that rival the glamour of grand salons, and avant-garde labs where cocktails blur the line between science and theater.
This curated collection of the World’s Best Bars in 2025 showcases venues from Tokyo to Buenos Aires, London to Singapore — all recognized for their uncompromising quality, innovation, and cultural impact. Many are lauded in The World’s 50 Best Bars or hold mixology awards, but each stands alone in its commitment to crafting unforgettable drinking experiences.
1. Sips – Barcelona, Spain
Crowned #1 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023, Sips has become the spiritual successor to molecular pioneers like El Bulli and Tickets. Created by cocktail legends Simone Caporale (ex-Artesian) and Marc Álvarez (ex-ElBarri group), the bar is both a tribute to technique and a rebellion against formality. There’s no traditional bar counter — instead, guests sit at low communal tables and the “drink chefs” work among them, building an almost theatrical fluidity.
Sips is celebrated for creations like the “Primordial” — a cocktail served in a metal hand sculpture — and the “Kriptonita,” a luminous blue drink infused with gin, citrus, and a hint of magic. The décor is sleek, futuristic, and tactile, while service is intuitive and genuinely warm. It's as much an experience of movement and design as it is a lesson in drinking.
2. Double Chicken Please – New York City, USA
Set in NYC’s Lower East Side, Double Chicken Please continues to redefine culinary cocktails. Ranked #2 on The World’s 50 Best Bars, it’s split into two contrasting concepts: the front room is bright and casual, while the back room feels like a luxury den for conceptual drinking. Founded by Taiwanese bartenders GN Chan and Faye Chen, the bar is famed for its “food-inspired” cocktails — like the “Cold Pizza,” a daring mix of parmesan, burnt toast, tomato water, and basil.
Every detail — from the custom-built glassware to the hand-crafted chicken sliders — is precisely choreographed. Yet the mood is casual, the energy fresh. It’s a bar that resonates with Gen Z sensibilities while upholding serious craft, making it one of the most original and immersive bar experiences on Earth.
3. Connaught Bar – London, UK
A timeless icon in Mayfair’s Connaught Hotel, this bar is a masterclass in understated elegance. Helmed by Agostino Perrone and team, Connaught Bar is the gold standard of luxury hotel mixology. Consistently ranked in the top 5 of the 50 Best list, it has held Best Bar in the World status and still draws royalty, actors, and design-world insiders for its legendary Martini trolley.
With its platinum and silver palette, David Collins interiors, and art deco flourishes, the ambiance is pure cinematic glamour. The drinks — like the “Mulata Daisy” or the personalized “Dry Martini” finished tableside with a signature Connaught blend — are refined yet modern. Connaught Bar represents the pinnacle of classicism in a contemporary age.
4. Jigger & Pony – Singapore
Singapore’s top-ranking bar and a recurring star on Asia’s 50 Best list, Jigger & Pony is a celebration of conviviality, craftsmanship, and the rebirth of the classic cocktail. Located in the Amara Hotel, its glowing amber-lit space combines vintage warmth with contemporary chic.
Their drink menu reads like a journal — poetic narratives explain flavor inspirations. You might order a clarified milk punch inspired by Japanese desserts or a tropical highball echoing Southeast Asian spices. With bartenders in tailored suits and encyclopedic spirits knowledge, Jigger & Pony is an essential stop for travelers who appreciate deep hospitality and refined drinking culture.
5. Hanky Panky – Mexico City, Mexico
Hidden behind an unmarked door in Colonia Juárez, Hanky Panky is a speakeasy steeped in mystique and craftsmanship. Named after the 1920s gin classic, the bar pays homage to Ada Coleman, one of London’s first great bartenders. Today, it’s Latin America’s top bar, with a moody, vintage-inspired interior and a world-class cocktail program.
Each drink draws on Mexican flavors and international technique — think roasted corn-infused tequila or tamarind-spiked Negronis. The bar’s ever-changing guest shifts and rotating menus ensure constant freshness, while the exclusive ambiance and whispered entry instructions make it a thrill for insiders.
6. Alquímico – Cartagena, Colombia
An open-air palace of Caribbean flair and sustainability, Alquímico is not just a bar — it’s an ecosystem. Housed in a 100-year-old mansion, it spans three levels: each floor with its own identity, music, and menu. The rooftop focuses on fresh herbs and island fruits, while the main bar crafts spirit-forward classics with Colombian twists.
Alquímico’s founder Jean Trinh sources from his own farm, making this one of the most eco-conscious bars on the list. It earned the 2023 “Sustainable Bar Award”, and remains a magnet for travelers seeking both bold cocktails and bold values. Order the “Amazonian Old Fashioned” and enjoy it with views of Cartagena’s rooftops.
7. Atlas – Singapore
Few bars scream opulence quite like Atlas, where art deco grandeur meets the world’s largest gin collection. Located in Parkview Square, the bar’s ceiling soars to 15 meters, and its backbar (often called a "cathedral of gin") holds over 1,300 bottles. The ambiance channels Gatsby — velvet chairs, jazz echoes, and gold trim everywhere.
Drinks at Atlas are a theatrical affair. Their “Atlas Martini” — served ultra-chilled with house-blend vermouth — is iconic. The bar also hosts curated tastings, private lockers for serious collectors, and a cigar lounge for post-cocktail reflection. If Connaught Bar is classic British luxury, Atlas is its glamorous art deco cousin in the tropics.
8. Tayēr + Elementary – London, UK
Part laboratory, part café-bar, Tayēr + Elementary is a hybrid concept from Alex Kratena and Monica Berg — both titans of modern mixology. Located on Old Street, this dual-concept venue is divided into Elementary (casual, open all day) and Tayēr (evening-only, progressive).
Inside Tayēr, there’s no fixed menu: drinks are created from a modular station, evolving nightly based on ingredients and instinct. Cocktails arrive in angular glasses, minimalist and punchy. Known for drinks like the “Vetiver Negroni” and “One Sip Martini,” the bar is ranked in the top 5 globally and represents London’s experimental edge.
9. The Clumsies – Athens, Greece
Housed in a neoclassical building in downtown Athens, The Clumsies defies its name. The bar has been ranked among the world’s top 10 for years and is known for bringing a Mediterranean soul to contemporary cocktails. Co-founders Nikos Bakoulis and Vasilis Kyritsis blend local botanicals, Greek spirits like mastiha and tsipouro, and warm, unpretentious hospitality.
A visit here feels like entering someone’s stylish home. Guests may be offered barrel-aged Negronis, tsipouro sours, or even “drinking journeys” — full-menu tastings paired with Greek tapas. The Clumsies is proof that fine drinking needn’t be stiff or formal — it can be emotional, joyful, and rooted in place.
10. Maybe Sammy – Sydney, Australia
In Sydney’s The Rocks district, Maybe Sammy brings a 1950s Vegas swagger to the antipodean cocktail scene. Voted the Best Bar in Australasia several times, it blends showmanship and sophistication in equal measure. Bartenders serve with charm, flair, and perfectly tailored jackets.
Signature drinks are elegant but playful — such as the “Mini Martinis” served as palate openers or the “Dean Martin,” made with truffle gin and salted pear. Lighting, jazz, and energy shift across the evening, creating a dynamic rhythm that keeps the venue vibrant. For luxury travelers heading down under, this is a must-stop for high-end escapism.
11. Little Red Door – Paris, France
Tucked behind a literal red door in the Marais, Little Red Door is a bastion of Parisian cool and one of the world’s best bars for creative concept menus. It eschews gimmicks for storytelling, often using artists, farmers, or philosophers to inspire drinks. In 2024, its “Flourish” menu — centered on regenerative agriculture — was one of the most talked-about cocktail concepts worldwide.
Sustainability is built into every pour, and spirits are often local or house-infused. Service is unfussy yet precise. Whether you’re seated by the stone walls inside or perched on the terrace outside, Little Red Door always feels intimate, intellectual, and quietly luxurious.
12. Zuma Bar – Dubai, UAE
Attached to the globally recognized Japanese restaurant, Zuma’s bar in Dubai is a hotspot for the region’s elite — financiers, designers, and visiting celebrities. It’s not only about izakaya bites and Japanese whisky; the cocktail program here is deeply refined, often using teas, yuzu, umami infusions, and house-aged sake blends.
The setting is bold: dim lighting, sleek stone counters, and sculptural decor set the tone. While it doesn’t advertise exclusivity, Zuma’s velvet-rope feel and private bottle lockers make it a favorite for those who appreciate high taste and high discretion.
