Bar teams from across the world gathered together earlier this week to countdown the top 50 venues in the world.
The World’s 50 Best Bars’ live awards ceremony was held in Spain, with the 2024 edition marking the 16th anniversary of the program.
It was good news for Australian bars, with three venues placing in the top 50.
Melbourne’s Caretaker’s Cottage is our highest-ranking bar, coming in at no.21, with the team also receiving the Art of Hospitality award.
The venue is closely followed by Sydney’s Maybe Sammy at no.26 and new entry Byrdi from Melbourne, which came in at no.35.
“Being recognised among the top 50 bars in the world is a tremendous honour,” says Maybe Sammy co-founder Stefano Catino.
“We are so proud of what our team has accomplished. Their passion and creativity are at the heart of everything we do at Maybe Sammy. We’re also very proud of Caretaker’s Cottage on being named Best Bar in Australasia this year—it’s fantastic to see Australian talent continue to shine on the global stage.”
As for the best bar in the world? The top honour went to Mexico’s Handshake Speakeasy, which is the first Mexican bar to be named number one.
The bar is hidden behind a secret door in Mexico City’s Colonia Juárez neighbourhood and has been described as a space that evokes “the bygone age of the Hollywood speakeasy”.
2024’s top 50 list comprises bars from 28 different cities, with 16 new entries making their debut.
