Bar Spirit Forward becomes India’s Best Bar
Bangalore’s Bar Spirit Forward took first place in the 2025 edition of the 30 Best Bars India list.
The sixth edition of the list was announced during a ceremony at the Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage hotel in Goa.
Bar Spirit Forward debuted on the list in second place last year, just behind Lair in New Delhi, which this year fell to fifth place.
Second place went to another Bangalore bar, Soka.
The full list features six bars from the city, with four in the top 10.
30 Best Bars India described it as “India’s fastest-growing bar city”.
Bar Outrigger, which positioned third, was the highest-ranking debut on the list, followed by Boilermaker in fourth place. Both bars are based in Goa.
In the top 30, 20 bars returned from last year, with seven new bars entering the rankings for the first time. The remaining three bars resumed their place on the list after losing out in 2024.
For the first time in six editions, neither Delhi nor Mumbai featured in the top four. Delhi’s highest-ranked bar was Lair in fifth place, with Mumbai’s top entry, Americano, in 10th.
Vikram Achanta, co-founder of 30 Best Bars India, said: “We received a record-breaking 1,276 nominations across all award categories this year. That number reflects not just the rising quality of bars across India, but also a new level of self-confidence among bar owners and a willingness to put themselves forward and be judged alongside the country’s very best.
“What’s especially exciting is seeing cities like Kolkata emerge as serious hubs, something that was almost non-existent just two years ago.”
Kolkata secured four spots in the list, including three debuts: Nutcase Etc (15th), Conversation Room (26th), and Little Bit Sober (27th). The city’s AM PM bar moved up nine spots to place 13th, making it the highest climber on the list.
New Delhi’s Sidecar, founded by Sharik Khan, Minakshi Singh, Yangdup Lama and Gautam Nijhawan, continued its fall down the rankings, going from fourth to eighth. The bar topped the list in 2023.
Cobbler & Crew in Pune fell by 12 spots, and Copitas at the Four Seasons Hotel in Bangalore declined by 18 places.
Radhakrishnan Nair, co-founder of 30 Best Bars India, added: “The centre of gravity is clearly shifting away from traditional metros like Bombay and Delhi. This year, the top awards have gone to bars outside these cities for the first time, and it also shows that no position at the top is secure anymore.”
Individual prizes
As well as the top 30 list, the awards ceremony featured several individual prizes.
ZLB 23 at the Leela Palace in Bangalore was named The Singleton Best Hotel Bar for a second year, while Bangalore’s Muro was the Aperol Spritz Best Restaurant Bar.
The Tanqueray Best Cocktail Menu was awarded to Avartana at ITC Grand Chola in Chennai.
Meanwhile, Burma Burma Restaurant and Tea Room in Mumbai took home the award for MTSR Best Non-Alcoholic Menu.
New for this year were wine prizes, with Captain’s Cellar at the Taj Mahal in New Delhi being named the Aspri Best Hotel Wine Bar.
Wine in Progress in Bangalore and Indian Accent in Mumbai were jointly awarded Aspri Best Independent Wine Bar.
Macleigh Fernandes from Boilermaker, and Mayur Marne from Cobbler & Crew, Pune, shared the Don Julio Best Bartender award.
Boilermaker was also honoured with the title of Bacardi Reserva Best Bar Team.
SpeedX Best Bar Design went to Kolkata’s Conversation Room, while the Toki Traditions Reinvented prize was awarded to Ness to Trident Nariman Point.
The Industry Icon Award was given to Ajay Gowda, recognising for his impact on Bangalore’s drinking culture through ventures such as Byg Brewski, Bob’s Bar and Yaakay.
The final prize was Godawan Best Work in Sustainability, which went to The Colony Bar at The Grand Hyatt Kochi.
30 Best Bars India full list
New entrants are marked with an asterisk.
- Bar Spirit Forward, Bangalore
- Soka, Bangalore
- Bar Outrigger, Goa*
- Boilermaker, Goa*
- Lair, New Delhi
- Hideaway, Goa
- ZLB23, The Leela Palace, Bangalore
- Sidecar, New Delhi
- Dali & Gala, Bangalore*
- Americano, Mumbai
- PCO, New Delhi
- Hoots’, New Delhi
- AM PM, Kolkata
- Muro, Bangalore
- Nutcase Etc., Kolkata*
- The Library Bar, The Leela Palace, New Delhi
- Bandra Born, Mumbai
- HOME, New Delhi
- Cobbler & Crew, Pune
- Slow Tide, Goa
- Comorin, Gurgaon
- Bar Kin-Rü, Hyderabad
- Japonico, Gurgaon*
- Lair, Gurgaon*
- Native Cocktail Room, Jaipur
- Conversation Room, Kolkata*
- Little Bit Sober, Kolkata*
- Papa’s, Mumbai*
- The Bombay Canteen, Mumbai
- Copitas, Four Seasons Hotel, Bangalore
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