Australia’s most influential bars have been revealed in a new list from Top 500 Bars, which uses experts, journalists and influencers alongside data from over 2000 sources to compile the world’s 100 most influential bars.
As well as sourcing data from platforms, social media and search engines, the Top 500 also collects data in more than 20 languages. According to Top 500 Bars, its algorithm is “about finding a complementary ranking with existing selections to highlight the daily work of individuals who drive this industry”.
The 100 most influential bars list has a top three of The Connaught in London, Atlas in Singapore and The Clumsies in Athens.
As for Australia’s presence, five bars made the top 100, with Melbourne edging Sydney by three bars to two, although Sydney’s Maybe Sammy is Australia’s highest ranking bar.
The five Australian bars are:
- Maybe Sammy (15)
- The Baxter Inn (63)
- Black Pearl (80)
- Byrdi (87)
- Everleigh (99)
- It’s another leading recognition for Maybe Sammy, and Co-Founder Stefano Catino told The Shout: “We are over the moon every time we receive a recognition by the industry.
“It’s been a tough year for hospitality and for all our colleagues overseas and in Melbourne especially and we are happy that many of them have had a good news in the past few days.”
He added: “We always take awards as a little step forward and they give us help to push more and keep doing what we doing with love and passion.
“Thanks to all our staff, guests and friends all over the world. Forza Australia.”
Swillhouse CEO Anton Forte told The Shout that the group was “honoured to receive this recognition”.
He added: “The Baxter Inn is approaching its 10 years of operating, and we feel like it’s settling into becoming an institution. We’re very proud.”
Black Pearl Director, Tash Conte, told The Shout, many of these lists should be taken with a grain of salt.
“There are many divided opinions on such lists,” Conte said.
“For us, a business that doesn’t advertise, these platforms, (if you are fortunate enough to be amongst them), are a great way to generate content and can lead to many new opportunities that would not have presented themselves otherwise.
“These lists translate into revenue on many levels.
“We have been fortunate to appear in said lists and from here, we have been able to build many relationships that have transpired into takeovers and pop-ups from around Australia and abroad. It’s a win for the bar and its guests.”
She added: “As far as what they do for a team, they can exhilarate and drive a team to new heights, but can also be devastating should you not maintain ranking.
“These awards should be taken with a grain of salt and not a reflection of absolute excellence if you appear in them nor a flailing business or bar should you not.”
Top 500 Bars, said of this list: “This year has been a rough one for many industries, especially hospitality and the people who work in it. Some bars are still temporarily closed and sadly others are, or will be permanently closed. Digital is now more than ever, a core way to communicate and share when most people can’t travel easily. With this ranking, we help bartenders and customers discover bars wherever they visit.
“Compared to last year, we have increased our database of bars by 120 per cent, upgraded our algorithm and added new sources to be more comprehensive. This year ranking of 500 bars involves 105 different cities (compared to 91 last year), 52 different countries (46 last year), with new cities like Osaka, Reykjavic and Santiago.
“All this data has been processed by an algorithm to produce a weighted ranking of 500 bars, by the people, for the people. Because in the end… every opinion counts.”
The complete is here:
- The Connaught, London
- Atlas, Singapore
- The Clumsies, Athens
- Native, Singapore
- Manhattan Bar, Singapore
- Paradiso, Barcelona
- Jigger and Pony, Singapore
- Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
- The Old Man, Hong Kong
- Tayer + Elementary, London
- Lyaness, London
- American Bar, London
- Floreria Atlantico, Buenos Aires
- Dante, New York
- Maybe Sammy, Sydney
- Artesian, London
- Kwant, London
- Little Red Door, Paris
- Salmon Guru, Madrid
- The Old Man, Singapore
- Le Syndicat, Paris
- Drink Kong, Rome
- The Dead Rabbit, New York
- Jerry Thomas, Rome
- Scarfes Bar, London
- 28 Hong Kong Street, Singapore
- Baba au Rum, Athens
- Swift, London
- Two Schmucks, Barcelona
- Three Sheets, London
- Himkok, Oslo
- Coupette, London
- Freni e Frizioni, Rome
- Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei
- COA, Hong Kong
- Operation Dagger, Singapore
- The Bamboo Bar, Bangkok
- Attaboy, New York
- Dr. Stravinsky, Barcelona
- Carnaval, Lima
- Nomad, New York
- Danico, Paris
- Hanky Panky, Mexico
- PDT, New York
- Quinary, Hong Kong
- Licoreria Limantour, Mexico
- Happiness Forgets, London
- SG Club, Tokyo
- Panda and Sons, Edinburgh
- Scout, London
- Mo Bar, Singapore
- Employees Only, Singapore
- Katana Kitten, New York
- Oriole, London
- Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen, Cape Town
- Tippling Club, Singapore
- High Five, Tokyo
- Callooh Callay, London
- Leyenda, New York
- Death & Co, New York
- Dukes, London
- Angel’s Share, New York
- The Baxter Inn, Sydney
- Speak Low, Shanghai
- Nightjar, London
- Baccano, Rome
- Satan’s Whiskers, London
- The Pontiac, Hong Kong
- Bar Trench, Tokyo
- Employees Only, New York
- The Court, Rome
- Mace, New York
- Candelaria, Paris
- El Copitas, St Petersburg
- Super Lyan, Amsterdam
- Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur
- Mag Cafè, Milan
- Fifty Mils, Mexico City
- Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou
- Black Pearl, Melbourne
- Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco
- Flying Dutchmen Cocktails, Amsterdam
- Beaufort Bar, London
- 1862 Dry Bar, Madrid
- Clover Club, New York
- 1930, Milan
- Byrdi, Melbourne
- Charles H, Seoul
- Red Frog, Lisbon
- Guilhotina, Sao Paulo
- Violet Hour, Chicago
- Ceresio 7, Milan
- Amor y Amargo, New York
- Electric Bing Sutt, Beirut
- Boadas, Barcelona
- The Gibson, London
- Homeboy, London
- CopperBay, Paris
- Everleigh, Melbourne
- Nottingham Forest, Milan.