Top six Europe bars to visit in 2016

While London and Paris are still at the vanguard of the European cocktail movement, other markets are finding their feet through a combination of local pride and a healthy disregard for the rules, writes Haley Forest.

These are our recommendations of the best bars to visit in Europe next year

The modern movement in cocktails continues to sweep across Europe, much to the joy of the barfly, booze house, and cocktail geek. As each generation of bartender moves from strength to strength, more and more bars are being opened, many by bartenders themselves, some with years of experience under their belt, others with raw passion as their guide.

This explosion is no longer contained in the larger markets. Frequently we hear about great bars in random places, like RUAS in Trondheim, Imperii in Leipzig and Jiggers in Ghent. While London and Paris are still breeding grounds for new ideas and young bartenders, these smaller cities have no qualms about trying something different, inspiring industry professionals the world over to step up their game and join the revolution.

We’re also seeing these bars bringing something back home as well, using their venues as a platform to promote their culture through local ingredients and products, locally inspired décor and a general celebration of their unique markets – which makes them worth paying attention to.

Click through the following pages to discover our pick of the top six Europe bars to visit in 2016, as well as our European Bar to Watch 2016. While these bars are not necessarily new, they look set to offer exciting things for discerning barflies in the year ahead.

Lost + Found Drinkery – Nicosia, Cyprus

Seating only 20 guests, this bar school space turned miniature cocktail den is the concept of Dinos Constantinides. He has quietly been making a name for himself out in Cyprus and word seems to have travelled fast – drinkers pack the pavement outside drinking cocktails ordered by palate preference and flavour profile. Filled with antiques and bric-a-brac “found” by friends and regulars, it’s a neighbourhood bar, only this neighbourhood feels vibrantly international indeed.

Imperial Craft – Tel Aviv, Israel

While Tel Aviv may seem like a no man’s land for cocktails, this is the perfect boozy oasis. With a nod to the colonial era, this small bar has become the landing spot for international bartenders and any locals who want to geek out on the craft of drinks. What’s more, it’s constantly pushing itself – and the cocktail community – forward. After jumping nearly 40 places this year to 17th in this years 50 Best Bars, Imperial is well on its way to international acclaim.

The Clumsies – Athens, Greece

Call it a hunch, but these guys are being ironic with the name. Articulate, immaculate and precise, everything has been carefully thought out with different areas allowing for the individual needs of guests, whether it’s all-out party, perfect cocktails, or intimate seclusion. Complete with a mixologist lab for experimentation and bartender playtime, it’s no surprise this bar was shortlisted for best new international cocktail bar at Tales of the Cocktail this year.

The Blind Pig – London, UK

Housed upstairs in the Michelin-starred Social Eating House from chef Jason Atherton, The Blind Pig has some seriously big boots to fill. Originally set up by puntastic mastermind Gareth Evans, the bar is currently being run by Kyle Wilkinson and Liam Webster, who are pumping out drinks as engaging for the tongue as the brain, keeping things light, easy and perfectly executed every time. After it took home the Spirited Award at Tales of the Cocktail for Best International Restaurant Bar, we can’t wait to see what’s next.

Le Syndicat – Paris, France

This place was always going to be good. Many months in the making, Sullivan Doh’s labour of love was interesting from the word go, with a back bar loaded exclusively with French products, loud hip hop on the playlist and an industrial chic setting of what looks like an abandoned building. Don’t let any of that fool you, however – the hospitality, care and intelligence here are second to none, with the team always prepared to go that extra mile to make sure that your experience at Le Syndicat is one you will remember for a very long time.

European Bar to Watch 2016: Himkok – Oslo, Norway

So much more then just a speakeasy, this hard to find number is giving Oslo the final push towards becoming a global hotspot. Loaded with two cocktail bars, a tapas kitchen, a cider garden, an in-house micro-distillery, barber shop and even hydroponic turbines to grow its herbs, this Norwegian focused multi-level space is unlike almost anything else out there.

Starting with the idea of creating the perfect spirit, the bar developed out of a desire to create its own signature taste, then took things up a notch by adding the high-volume element while maintaining world-class cocktails. This all goes on while the bar distills its own vodka, gin and aquavit.

Although Himkok opened less then a year ago, the team is still pushing itself to do more, finding new ways to evolve. Walls lined with jars of pickled ingredients, cages of equipment waiting to be used, house-made spirits – these guys certainly aren’t going to rest on their laurels. With talent like London-based Monica Berg and Alex Ruas with Behind Bars Consulting behind the bar, we are expecting this place to go far.