The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 is finally unveiled and taking the number one place for the world’s best bar is Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City. Announced as part of a live awards ceremony in Madrid, Spain, The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024, sponsored by Perrier was a merry congregation made up of the global bar network, celebrating and recognising the outstanding innovation and hard work of the bar community.

Situated in the Colonia Juárez neighbourhood, Handshake Speakeasy is one of the Mexico City’s best-kept open secrets. The bar, hidden behind a secret door in a dimly lit room decked out with a splendid array of vintage spirits, boasts an interior that cleverly evokes the bygone era of the Hollywood speakeasy. Think black marble, complemented with rich brass detailing and moody lighting, paired with an innovative cocktail menu firmly rooted in the future for a bold juxtaposition.

Handshake Speakeasy’s Bar Director Eric van Beek seamlessly fuses tradition with innovation, elevating classics through a cutting-edge technique developed in their on-site lab and revolutionising familiar recipes with an unexpected twist on flavours as well as a complex palate. Further taking things up a notch are the bar’s homemade tinctures and infusions that add a signature Art Deco flare, alongside the use of considered rare and aged spirits.

The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 spotlights venues from 28 cities worldwide, with Handshake Speakeasy crowned The Best Bar in North America and The World’s Best Bar. This is the first time a bar from Mexico has claimed the No. 1 spot on the highly anticipated list. The annual list, now in its 16th iteration, is dictated by a voting panel comprising over 700 independent drinks experts, renowned bartenders, and educators, alongside award-winning drinks writers and cocktail specialists worldwide.

London retains its crown as the cocktail capital of Europe, including Tayēr + Elementary at No.4, with co-founder Monica Berg also being named the Roku Industry Icon. In the UK, Panda & Sons in Edinburgh rises nine places to No.30, while founder Iain McPherson is awarded the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award. The Best Bar in Europe title once again goes to Barcelona’s Sips at No.3. In Italy, the list welcomes two new entries, Moebius Milano (No.38) and 1930 (No.50), both in Milan.

Rising an astonishing 19 places to claim this year’s Nikka Highest Climber Award is Paris’ The Cambridge Public House at No.19, joined by two new entries for the city: Bar Nouveau at No.39 and Danico at No.49. On the other hand, Oslo’s Himkok is at No.11 and wins this year’s Bareksten Best Bar Design Award.

With four bars, New York City continues its dominance in North America, joined by new entries Martiny’s (No.24) and Superbueno (No.27), this year’s recipient of the London Essence Best New Opening Award. Rising two places to take the title of The World’s Best Bar and The Best Bar in North America is Handshake Speakeasy at No.1, cementing Mexico City’s position as one of the world’s greatest cocktail capitals. It is joined by new entries Tlecān at No.20 and Guadalajara’s El Gallo Altanero at No.48.

Tres Monos in Buenos Aires is the new The Best Bar in South America at No.7, joined by Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award winner Florería Atlántico (No.46). Colombia welcomes a new entry for Bogotá, La Sala de Laura joining at No.44. Last year’s Campari One To Watch Award winner, Lima’s Lady Bee, joins the list at No.16, while Sao Paolo’s Tan Tan is another new entry at No.31.

Singapore leads in Asia, with stalwart bar Jigger & Pony at No.5 joined by new entries Nutmeg & Clove (No.28) and Analogue Initiative (No.47). In Hong Kong, new entry Bar Leone has stormed into the list at No.2, taking the title of The Best Bar in Asia as well as Disaronno Highest New Entry with neighbour Coa at No.18.

Bangkok and Tokyo also claim two bars a piece, with Bangkok’s BKK Social Club rising to No.12, alongside new entry Bar Us at No.41 while Tokyo ushers in newcomer Virtú (No.42). In Seoul, Zest is at No.9 and wins this year’s Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award.

For the first time in five years, there is a new The Best Bar in Australasia, with Melbourne’s Caretaker’s Cottage rising two places to No.21 and taking home the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award. It is joined by new entry Byrdi, also in Melbourne, at No.35. Dubai‘s Mimi Kakushi holds its position at No.40 and is named The Best Bar in the Middle East & Africa.

Here is the full list of The World’s 50 Best Bars ranked from 1 to 50:

1. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
2. Bar Leone, Hong Kong
3. Sips, Barcelona
4. Tayēr + Elementary, London
5. Jigger & Pony, Singapore
6. Line, Athens
7. Tres Monos, Buenos Aires
8. Alquímico, Cartagena
9. Zest, Seoul
10. Paradiso, Barcelona
11. Himkok, Oslo
12. BKK Social Club, Bangkok
13. Connaught Bar, London
14. Double Chicken Please, New York
15. Overstory, New York
16. Lady Bee, Lima
17. Baba au Rum, Athens
18. Coa, Hong Kong
19. The Cambridge Public House, Paris
20. Tlecān, Mexico City
21. Caretaker’s Cottage, Melbourne
22. CoChinChina, Buenos Aires
23. Salmon Guru, Madrid
24. Martiny’s, New York
25. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
26. Maybe Sammy, Sydney
27. Superbueno, New York
28. Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore
29. Satan’s Whiskers, London
30. Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
31. Tan Tan, São Paulo
32. Licorería Limantour, Mexico City
33. Drink Kong, Rome
34. Jewel of the South, New Orleans
35. Byrdi, Melbourne
36. Locale Firenze, Florence
37. Scarfes Bar, London
38. Moebius Milano, Milan
39. Bar Nouveau, Paris
40. Mimi Kakushi, Dubai
41. Bar Us, Bangkok
42. Virtù, Tokyo
43. Atlas, Singapore
44. La Sala de Laura, Bogotá
45. Röda Huset, Stockholm
46. Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires
47. Analogue Initiative, Singapore
48. El Gallo Altanero, Guadalajara
49. Danico, Paris
50. 1930, Milan

Additionally, here are all the Special Awards given out the same evening:

Campari One To Watch Award – Cat Bite Club, Singapore
Bareksten Best Bar Design Award – Himkok, Oslo
Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award – Lyaness, London
Roku Industry Icon – Monica Berg from Tayēr + Elementary, London
Disaronno Highest New Entry Award – Bar Leone, Hong Kong
London Essence Best New Opening – Superbueno, London
Nikka Highest Climber Award – The Cambridge Public House, Paris
Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award – Florería Atlántico
Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award – Zest, Seoul
Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award – Iain McPherson from Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award – Caretaker’s Cottage, Melbourne
50 Best Bars Roku Scholarship – Calliope Draper

For more information on The World’s 50 Best Bars, visit their official website or follow them on Instagram. To check out the extended list of The World’s 50 Best Bars, ranked from 51 to 100, read our previous story.

Featured image: Handshake Speakeasy by María Mondragón