Here’s the top 50 bars in the world - and the best is in London

INTERNATIONAL - Fancy a few cocktails at the world’s best bar? Better be quick: It’s preparing to close.

Dandelyan, in the Mondrian, London,on Wednesday was named the world’s finest in the World’s 50 Best Bars awards. The victory came just two days after the bar’s founder Ryan Chetiyawardna, AKA Mr Lyan, announced on Instagram that he planned to celebrate Dandelyan’s fourth birthday by replacing it with something new. 

“We are so excited to have it at this point, to have this pinnacle, and then to look at what we can do next,” he said last night on accepting the award at an event attended by bartenders, drinks writers and enthusiasts in the Roundhouse, London. “I made an announcement to you on Monday that we’re going to kill Dandelyan, we’re going to close it. And it feels so wonderful to do it at this point and move on.” He didn’t give a date.

Dandelyan first entered the list at No. 50 in 2015, before jumping to No.3 in 2016 and placing second last year. In grabbing the top spot, it toppled the American Bar, at the Savoy hotel in London. Manhattan, Singapore, rose four places to third; The NoMad, New York, slipped one place to fifth.  And the Connaught Bar, London, slipped to fifth from fourth.

London has a total of 10 bars on the 2018 list, including newcomers Scout (28), Three Sheets (29), Swift (46) and Coupette (18). The others are Bar Termini (6), Oriole (17) and Happiness Forgets (35). 

The U.S. has 10 bars on the list, with The NoMad crowned Best Bar in North America for the second consecutive year. The others are Dante, New York (9); Attaboy, New York (15); Dead Rabbit, New York (16); Sweet Liberty, Miami (21); Employees Only, New York (26); Tommy’s, San Francisco (40); Blacktail, New York (41); Trick Dog, San Francisco (44);  and Lost Lake, Chicago (50).

Chetiyawardana has received many accolades in recent years, including World’s Best Bartender 2015. He’s known for innovative cocktails. His current “Modern Life of Plants” menu “explores industrialisation and large scale food systems,” according to the bar’s website. It’s divided into three sections: Mint, Grape and Hops. Dandelyan has received multiple plaudits.

The World’s 50 Best Bars is owned and organised by William Reed Business Media, the group behind the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards. The rankings are based on the votes of 505 drinks writers, bartenders and cocktail aficionados in 55 countries.

Here is a list of the top 5 and the full 50 bars in the world: 

1. 

Dandelyan – London, U.K

View this post on Instagram

A true Cosmo should have a very pale blush pink – you just want the dryness of the cranberry balancing the drink out – but our 'Canon Cosmo' has a much richer hue. Using a homemade 'pink sour mix' we lend a complex tartness and sweetness that's leagues away from the pre-bought stuff. Using burnt orange and concord grape we nod to the classic, but add a richer complexity. For Cosmo lovers and loathers alike. 🦁🍇🍊🍸😻🌿

A post shared by Dandelyan(@dandelyanbar) on Sep 20, 2018 at 12:51am PDT

2. American Bar – London, U.K

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When you have the world's best bar team together, the possibilities for cocktail magic are endless. What's your tipple? #AmericanBar #SavoyStyle #londoncocktails

A post shared by The Savoy(@thesavoylondon) on Sep 10, 2018 at 10:00am PDT

3. Manhattan – Singapore

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Craft cocktails or a cheesy sandwich to welcome the upcoming weekend? Have both at @manhattan_sg Violet Hour, between 5.00pm and 7.00pm, from Monday to Friday. Credit: @Enarawhisky

A post shared by Regent Singapore(@regentsingapore) on Sep 20, 2018 at 2:00am PDT

4. The NoMad – New York, U.S

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Congratulations to our team at The NoMad Bar in New York City for being named the Best Bar in North America and #4 in the World at this year’s, World’s 50 Best Bars. Photo by @francescotonelli #thenomadhotelNYC #thenomadbar #Worlds50BestBars

A post shared by The NoMad Hotel(@thenomadhotel) on Oct 3, 2018 at 1:53pm PDT

5. Connaught Bar – London, U.K.

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Friday night at The Connaught Bar #londoncocktails #theconnaughtbar #mayfairmoments #cheerstotheweekend

A post shared by The Connaught(@theconnaught) on Sep 28, 2018 at 12:22pm PDT

6. Bar Termini – London, U.K.

7. The Clumsies – Athens, Greece

8. Atlas – Singapore

9. Dante – New York, U.S.

10. The Old Man – Hong Kong, China

11. Licorería Limantour – Mexico City, Mexico

12. Bar High Five – Tokyo, Japan

13. Native – Singapore

14. Florería Atlántico – Buenos Aires, Argentina

15. Attaboy – New York, U.S.

16. The Dead Rabbit – New York, U.S.

17. Oriole – London, U.K.

18. Coupette – London, U.K.

19. Himkok – Oslo, Norway

20. Speak Low – Shanghai, China

21. Sweet Liberty – Miami, U.S.

22. Baba Au Rum – Athens, Greece

23. Operation Dagger – Singapore

24. Le Syndicat – Paris, France

25. Lost & Found – Nicosia, Cyprus

26. Employees Only – New York, U.S.

27. Central Station – Beirut, Lebanon

28. Scout – London, U.K.

29. Three Sheets – London, U.K.

30. Black Pearl – Melbourne, Australia

31. Tales and Spirits – Amsterdam, Netherlands

32. Linje Tio – Stockholm, Sweden

33. Little Red Door – Paris, France

34. 28 HongKong Street – Singapore

35. Happiness Forgets – London, U.K.

36. La Factoría – Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

37. Paradiso – Barcelona, Spain

38. Indulge Experimental Bistro – Taipei, Taiwan

39. El Copitas – St Petersburg, Russia

40. Tommy’s – San Francisco, U.S.

41. BlackTail – New York, U.S.

42. Candelaria – Paris, France

43. Schumann’s – Munich, Germany

44. Trick Dog – San Francisco, U.S.

45. Fifty Mils – Mexico City, Mexico

46. Swift – London, U.K.

47. Salmon Guru – Madrid, Spain

48. Buck and Breck – Berlin, Germany

49. Bar Benfiddich – Tokyo, Japan

50. Lost Lake – Chicago, U.S.

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