By Stefanie Collins, editor b&c
Australia has been named the joint third best country for bars in the world, behind US and UK, at the World’s 50 Best Bars awards gala in London.
Announced this morning, AEDT, Australia’s three best bars have confirmed their places in the top 50 as The Dead Rabbit Grocery & Grog took the first place crown from Artesian.
Sydney’s The Baxter Inn (pictured) took 12th position and again was named Ketel One Vodka Best Bar in Australasia, the third year running the internationally renowned whisky bar has claimed it.
The grand dame of the Melbourne bar scene, Black Pearl, also remained in the top half of the list, taking out spot 22. The bar has been open for 15 years and has long been the training ground for some of Australia’s most recognised and awarded bartenders.
Making its fourth appearance in the list is Bulletin Place. The innovative Sydney bar snagged 46th place on the list with its daily changing menu of just five cocktails continuing to impress the judges. All three venues are finalists in the Bar of the Year category at this year's Australian Liquor Industry Awards.
Also making the list for the first time was New York’s Negroni paradise Dante, in 34th position. The aperitif-focused bar is run and owned by internationally renowned Australian bartender Naren Young.
The bars were chosen by an Academy of 476 members from 57 countries, in what Drinks International calls “the strongest, most diverse collection of industry experts ever assembled to express their view on the best bars in the world”. This year’s ranking includes bars from 27 cities in 19 countries, with 11 new entries.
New York has claimed the top spot after the dominance of London’s Artesian came to an end after four years in the top spot. Entering the list originally in 2013, The Dead Rabbit Grocery & Grog had been in second place for two consecutive years, before clinching the number one spot for 2016.
Representatives from the bars flew into the capital to attend the Awards at Christ Church Spitalfields, having been notified back in August that they had made it to the list – although their exact position was a matter of secrecy until last night’s gala.
THE WORLD’S 50 BEST BARS 2016
1 The Dead Rabbit Grocery & Grog, New York – Botran Rum Best Bar in North America & the World
2 American Bar, London – Tanqueray Best Bar in Europe
3 Dandelyan, London – Nikka Whisky Highest Climber Awards
4 Connaught Bar, London
5 Attaboy, New York
6 The Gibson, London – Urban Bar Highest New Entry
7 Employees Only, New York – Asahi Legend of the List
8 Nomad Bar, New York
9 The Clumsies, Athens
10 Happiness Forgets, London
11 Manhattan, Singapore – Bols Genever Best Bar in Asia
12 The Baxter Inn, Sydney – Ketel One Vodka Best Bar in Australasia
13 Licoreria Limantour, Mexico City – Torres Brandy Best Bar in Latin America
14 28 Hongkong Street, Singapore
15 Speak Low, Shanghai
16 The Broken Shaker, Miami
17 Candelaria, Paris
18 Tales & Spirits, Amsterdam
19 Nightjar, London
20 Maison Premiere, New York
21 Operation Dagger, Singapore
22 Black Pearl, Melbourne
23 High Five, Tokyo
24 Little Red Door , Paris
25 Linje Tio, Stockholm
26 Central Station, Beirut – Cherry Heering Best Bar in Africa & The Middle East
27 Lobster Bar, Hong Kong
28 Mace, New York
29 Smuggler's Cove, San Francisco
30 Bar Termini, London
31 La Factoria, Old San Juan
32 Oriole, London
33 The Jerry Thomas Project, Rome
34 Dante, New York
35 Trick Dog, San Francisco
36 ABV, San Francisco
37 The Walker Inn, Los Angeles
38 Nottingham Forest, Milan
39 Aviary, Chicago
40 Baba au Rum, Athens
41 Quinary, Hong Kong
42 Himkok, Oslo
43 Lost + Found, Nicosia
44 Ruby, Copenhagen
45 PDT, New York
46 Bulletin Place, Sydney
47 Bramble, Edinburgh
48 Callooh Callay, London
49 Floreria Atlantico, Buenos Aires
50 Buck & Breck, Berlin