Hotel bars and speakeasies dominate fourth Pinnacle Guide list
The Pinnacle Guide has unveiled the latest additions to its world’s best cocktail bars list, which takes the total number of pinned venues around the globe to 146.
In the fourth iteration of the list, 61 bars have been newly recognised with pins – 43 with one pin and 18 with two pins – making it the biggest announcement of pins to date.
No new bars have been awarded three pins, meaning London’s Lyaness is still the only three-pin bar in the world.
The Pinnacle Guide co-founder Siobhan Payne said: “We have been blown away by the applications in this round – not only by the number that we’ve received, but also the incredible calibre of the applications. It’s clear The Pinnacle Guide is gaining real momentum and we couldn’t be prouder of this latest announcement of pinned bars.”
The pioneering recognition system was created with the mission to challenge the status quo. It is the first to formally reward exemplary standards on both sides of the bar.
Starting with a transparent self-nomination process, The Pinnacle Guide first evaluates bars across key criteria, including their drinks programme, staff welfare and sustainability efforts. This is followed by multiple in-person, anonymous reviews by a global network of industry enthusiasts and experts.
In this round, the guide has extended its reach to include two new countries, Canada and Ireland, including two-pin bars in Vancouver (Prophecy) and Dublin (Bar 1661).
In Greece, the guide has gone beyond Athens for the first time, with Purovoku Project in Thessaloniki and Red Nose Bar in Volos both being awarded one pin.
Switzerland and Italy are now home to two two-pin bars each, with Caaa By Pietro Catalano in Lucerne, N/5 The Bar in St Moritz, The Court in Rome, and Montalcino’s The Lobby Bar all scooping the recognition. Meanwhile, Mexico City’s Fo+Ma, and Bekeb in San Miguel De Allende have strengthened Mexico’s two-pin list.
While the UK remains the leading market with 45 pinned bars, including 12 new recognitions this round, other countries are making gains.
Dubai has quadrupled its total pinned bars, jumping from two to eight, while Italy has taken its total to 15 with nine new recognitions.
The US received the most new two-pin bars in this round, with six in total across as many different cities.
In terms of venue style, hotel and rooftop bars have continued to set the benchmark for excellence. In this round, Dover Yard (London), Arts Bar (Venice), Dean & Nancy on 22 (Sydney), The Aubrey (Hong Kong), and The Sidecar (Dublin) have all joined the list.
Meanwhile, speakeasies have been recognised for their exceptional craft, consistency, and design, with several recognitions nodding to their enduring popularity, including 1930 Cocktail Bar (Milan), Murder Inc (London), Sugar Monk (NYC), Realm of the 52 Remedies (San Diego) and Castalia (Detroit).
Owner-operated and independent bars are thriving outside of capital cities, such as in Kerry, Ireland, and Newquay, England.
Multiple venues in this round blur the line between restaurant and bar, reflecting the trend of cocktail programmes integrated into high-end dining.
Bars such as Mirate (Los Angeles) and Papercut (Austin) embrace highly conceptual and immersive design tied to food and culture.
The US additions to the list range from the conceptual (Realm of the 52 Remedies, San Diego) to neighbourhood staples (Standby, Detroit), speakeasies (Sugar Monk, NYC), and large-scale cocktail powerhouses (The Roosevelt Room, Austin).
The full list of newly pinned bars can be seen below. Click to read the first, second, and third iterations of the list.
The Pinnacle Guide is considered to be the most comprehensive accolade for cocktail bars globally, rapidly becoming the ultimate symbol of excellence and a trusted resource for discerning drinkers around the world.
Pins are held for two years, and bars can reapply to retain or raise their current pinned status.
We explored the benefits of being formally recognised by awarding bodies such as The Pinnacle Guide earlier this year.
New one-pin bars
- 1920 Speakeasy, Dubai, UAE
- 1930 Cocktail Bar, Milan, Italy
- Aguardiente, Marina Di Ravenna, Italy
- Arts Bar, Venice, Italy
- Bagheera, Vancouver, Canada
- Bar Am Wasser, Zurich, Switzerland
- Bar Dali, Dubai, UAE
- Bar Pompette, Toronto, Canada
- Castalia, Detroit, USA
- Cloakroom Bar, Montreal, Canada
- Cortiletto, Marzamemi, Italy
- Dean & Nancy on 22, Sydney, Australia
- Eve Bar, London, UK
- Florattica Rooftop, London, UK
- Galaxy Bar, Dubai, UAE
- Giacosa 1815, Florence, Italy
- La Petite Maison, Dubai, UAE
- Library Bar, Toronto, Canada
- Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions,
- Vancouver, Canada
- Night Hawk, Singapore, Singapore
- Panamericano Bar, Miami, USA
New two-pin bars
- Bar 1661, Dublin, Ireland
- Bekeb, San Miguel De Allende, Mexico
- Caaa By Pietro Catalano, Lucerne, Switzerland
- Dover Yard, London, UK
- Fo+Ma, Mexico City, Mexico
- Gentlemen 1919, Paris, France
- Mirate, Los Angeles, USA
- Murder Inc, London, UK
- N/5 The Bar, St. Moritz, Switzerland
- Papercut, Austin, USA
- Press Club, Washington, DC, USA
- Prophecy, Vancouver, Canada
- Realm Of The 52 Remedies, San Diego, USA
- Standby, Detroit, USA
- The Clumsies, Athens, Greece
- The Court, Rome, Italy
- The Lobby Bar, Montalcino, Italy
- The Manor Bar, Montecito, USA
- Pig’s Lane, Kerry, Ireland
- Purovoku Project, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Rayo, Mexico City, Mexico
- Red Nose Bar, Volos, Greece
- Rumore Bar Americano, Milan, Italy
- Salmon Guru, Dubai, UAE
- Santa Cocktail Club, Florence, Italy
- Scales, London, UK
- Sexy Fish, Dubai, UAE
- Soma Canary Wharf, London, UK
- Soma Soho, London, UK
- Sugar Monk, New York, USA
- Suite 115, Toronto, Canada
- The Aubrey, Hong Kong
- The Cocktail Trading Company, London, UK
- The Fountain Inn, Washington, DC, USA
- The Hideout, Bath, UK
- The Pisco Bar At Coya Mayfair, London, UK
- The Roosevelt Room, Austin, USA
- The Royal Cocktail Exchange, London, UK
- The Sidecar, Dublin, Ireland
- Tom Thumb Cocktail Bar, Newquay, UK
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