The World’s Bes T Bars 50 2012 worlds50bestbars.com 2012 3 Welcome THE GLOBAL BAR INDUSTRY’S BIGGEST AND BEST-EVER SURVEY Welcome to the World’s 50 Best Bars 2012. The first readers of this magazine will be those who attended the inaugural World’s 50 Best Bars awards night. We are so excited to bring this event to the industry – especially during London Cocktail Week. It’s an important occasion to recognise the very CONTENTS>> best in the global bar business. This year, the Academy of 5 58 voters grew to feature almost How We Did It Ones to Watch 150 contributors from 38 countries and we believe this Lucy Britner offers the low-down on the 2012 poll The hot prospects for 2013 is the biggest industry poll of its kind. We have also awarded 7 62 Regional Winners, Highest The World’s Best Bar The Academy Climbers and Highest New The bar at the top of its game is profiled by Tom Sandham Introducing this year’s world-class voters Entries. You can read the full breakdown on page 70. 8-33 66 On the list, you’ll spot a The World’s Best Bars The top ’tender plethora of new venues. It’s Tom Sandham gives the low-down on bars 1-20 Lucy Britner meets Artesian head barman Alex Kratena great to see so much enthusiasm for quality in every aspect of 35-57 70 presenting a new bar. It’s also The World’s Best Bars The List heartening to see so many Lucy Britner rounds up bars 21-50 A quick look at who’s up, who’s down and who’s new familiar names here. It takes a special kind of bar to stay in the hearts and minds of a panel of SUPPLEMENT EDITOR ART DIRECTOR SENIOR AccOUNT MANAGER Lucy Britner Amber Stoddart Roger Betríu voters who do nothing but visit +44(0)7841 644905 [email protected] +44 (0)1293 590043 bars. One thing though – when [email protected] [email protected] DRINKS INTERNATIONAL is the speakeasy trend going to COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Zurich House, East Park, Crawley, West Sussex fade? If I had a pound for every MANAGING EDITOR Justin Smith PUBLISHER Christian Davis +44 (0)1293 590041 Russell Dodd RH10 6AS United Kingdom mention of an unmarked door, +44 (0)1293 590047 [email protected] +44 (0)1293 590052 Prohibition-era or speakeasy, [email protected] [email protected] TE L: +44 (0)1293 590040 I’d be able to afford a round in a SENIOR AccOUNT MANAGER F A X: +44 (0) 1293 474010 PRODUCTION EDITOR Carmen Poel CONTRIBUTORS WWW . words50bestbars.com luxury hotel bar. Jaq Bayles Francesch Tom Sandham Lucy Britner +44 (0)1293 590048 +44 (0)1293 590042 Camper English EDitor [email protected] [email protected] worlds50bestbars.com 2012 5 WHAT WE ASK OF HOW WE DID IT THOSE WHO ast year we introduced been assembled, making this the sional opinion of those at the top VOTE the Academy, a most authoritative international of their game. It’s not just about group of people we bar survey ever conducted. the service, the menu and the >Please vote for the believe to be among Our hope is that the Academy decor – it’s about how that fits best three bars in the the most influential will continue to grow, bringing together. For example, a voter world, in your and knowledgeable votes from even more people might hate taxidermy but that professional opinion Lbar industry professionals on from around the world. doesn’t mean they can’t appreci- >You cannot vote for the planet. Academy members This year, editor Lucy ate why it would play a part in venues you own or include the likes of Gaz Regan, Britner and US drinks writer making PDT or Zetter Town- work in Salvatore Calabrese, Hidetsugu Camper English were helped house special. >The venues must Ueno and Dale DeGroff; with regional Academy Finally, all votes are still be open world-class (and World Class) recommendations from confidential. We publish a list bartenders including Erik Yangdup Lama in India, Kurt of voters (pages 62-65) and the >You should have Lorincz and Manabu Ohtake; Schletcher in South Africa, Des top 50 but we don’t disclose who visited the bars in the champion brand and category Mulcahy in Australia, Helmut voted for where. past two years ambassadors such as Ian Burrell Adam in Germany and Andy As in all industries, politics can >Votes should and Tomas Estes, as well as bar Bishop in Russia. sometimes rear its not-always- be given in an owners and bartenders from our In the box, you’ll find the rules attractive head. So, to ensure the approximate order previous top 50 lists. for voting and the requests we longevity of the list, we keep all of 1, 2, 3. which This year we welcomed make of our voters. We have votes a secret. And for those who is used in the case votes from around 150 people been asked why there are not send us emails asking if their bar of a tie in nearly 40 countries. Never more criteria to define a ‘best can feature in next year’s top 50, before has a group of such bar’. The answer is that it is we only get to choose three bars quality, number and spread important to trust the profes- each, just like everyone else. 50 worlds50bestbars.com 2012 7 World’s Best Bar & Best UK Bar ARTESIAN 1C PORTLAND PLACE, REGENT STREET, LONDON, UK ARTESIAN-BAR.CO.UK 01 THIS YEAR LONDON HAS KICKED Elsewhere, a list of gin & tonic varia- Comprehensive coverage on the NEW YORK BETWEEN THE LEGS AND tions reminds patrons they are in a very spirits list also warrants a thumbs-up SNATCHED BACK THE BEST BAR British establishment, this being the and includes an eye-watering collection CROWN FROM PDT. And it has done so fi rst London hotel to have a lift, no less. of rums, each producing region lapping lovely libations in the luxury of Each of these intricate in-house represented in a sterling fashion. the Langham Hotel’s Artesian bar. intoxications comes complete with Décor plays homage to classic hotel The Artesian is a worthy number one glorious garnishes, a collection of style but also smacks the more austere and for many will be far from a surprise impressive rim dressings that would features on the cheek with a kiss from a victor – indeed, it already has a trophy bring a blush to the most couture of set of purple lips, with lush fabrics and cabinet creaking under the weight of catwalks. Interestingly, most of the leathers hugging fi xtures and fi ttings. global gongs. At Tales of the Cocktail edible varieties offer more nutritional Glassware is glamorous and the ostenta- this year it claimed World’s Best Hotel substance than a model could shake a tious bar, complete with mirrored pa- Bar as well as the World’s Best Interna- limp wrist at. goda, gives even the most conservative tional Bartender in Alex Kratena and it But if this barrage of modern cocktail of hotel guests a knowing glad eye. is universally accepted that the bar is choice frustrates your frontal lobe, What perhaps sets Artesian apart, properly special. there’s a fi ne selection of classics. Famil- though, is the service. The staff make The cocktail menu has attracted much iar fellows such as the Daiquiri, Negroni you feel warmer inside than a Welcome of the credit, and with good reason. It and Old Fashioned are there to restore Break coffee, but in a much more wel- effortlessly blends modern innovation some balance and satisfy a simpler come fashion. The charm is effortless, with a classic reverence and each selection process. an unrelenting exhibition of courtesy. If beautifully designed concoction justifi es they deserve a number one shout for any its luxury price tag. The Langham reason, we’d put this at the forefront for, Cobbler, for example, peers into the past The cocktail menu in truth, if the drinks weren’t quite right, for inspiration but challenges current the décor let the place down and the taste buds with a blend of lychee and effortlessly blends music policy was a little off, we could still aged sake; while the Club Netherlands modern innovation be convinced to return to a bar based on twists a classic in the Clover Club with with a classic the staff’s charm. When combined with tongue-tingling fl oral botanicals from its all the other successful facets, this makes bespoke syrup. reverence it a deserving winner. 50 worlds50bestbars.com 2012 9 Best Bar North PDT America 113 SAINT MARKS PLACE, NEW YORK, US PDTNYC.COM WHILE THIS SEXY SPEAKEASY MAY MICHAEL TAFT CREDIT: HAVE SLIPPED INTO SECOND SPOT THERE’S STILL PLENTY TO CELEBRATE IN ONE OF NEW YORK’S FINEST. It’s almost impossible to write about PDT without mentioning the bar’s entrance, a standout feature that, we admit, is as appealing to a lazy journalist as a politician’s tapped phone. But far from novelty, the bar’s opening gambit remains worthy of praise. For those still unfamiliar, you access PDT 02 through a secret wall in a phone booth in the Crif Dogs hotdog shop next door. all contribute to making both décor It’s very cool but is it enough to earn the and atmosphere here comfortable for bar such a lofty position on this poll? a small group of friends or a date who No, but it’s worth noting that whenever needs impressing.