THE MOST AUTHORITATIVE BAR INDUSTRY SURVEY EVER 2010 SUPPLEMENT SPONSOR LEADER SuppleMent edItOrS Tom SandhaM tom Sandham [email protected] World class Supplement Editor lucy BrItner +44 (0)1293 590046 [email protected] ManagIng edItOr chrIStIan davIS +44 (0)1293 590047 could say there’s nothing I like more than a Clubhouse in Chamonix, Jonathan Downey was at [email protected] night in the bar. But then, I’ve never had a night pains to emphasise the importance of decent coffee prOductIOn edItOr Jaq BayleS with Sienna Miller and I figure that’s possibly and orange juice in all of his venues. This wasn’t +44 (0)1293 590048 equally entertaining – OK, perhaps a lot more. something he would compromise on, yet it’s often [email protected] I Of course, the second event is unlikely to happen the outstanding bartender training or cocktails that deSIgner neal hOnney (not impossible though and Sienna, if you’re reading earn him global recognition. The point is, nothing [email protected] this, my wife says you’re my free pass so think about goes to chance in his bars, which is why they will cOntrIButOr Ben Mcfarland it), but going back to the first, and my love of a good always impress. advertISeMent Manager JuStIn SMIth drink, the bar statement still needs a lot of work. Of course, a bar experience is subjective and +44 (0)1293 590041 Because the truth is there’s nothing like a night in some readers won’t agree with what they find here, [email protected] a “great bar” – and there’s nothing worse than a night but it’s worth noting the list is comprehensive and SenIOr SaleS executIve carMen Poel franceSch in an average one. very much a global one. There’s often a perception, +44 (0)1293 590042 [email protected] This goes some way to explaining why a particularly in some of the leading cocktail cities SaleS executIve RENATA STEFANOvIc supplement celebrating the very best in the world is such as London and New York, that the best bar in the +44 (0)1293 590043 an extremely worthwhile endeavour. world offers a specific experience. [email protected] If we speak frankly about the world of bars, Quality drinks and ingredients are often key for bar puBlISher ruSSell Dodd many industry insiders would admit there are some professionals in such cities, but the truth is the rest of +44 (0)1293 590052 distinctly average venues out there. And, at a time the world is not so impressively supplied. As a result when the world economy has had a Mike Tyson-esq you’ll find some bars here that simply offer a great Cover IMage: Shutterstock bite taken out of its ear, bars are facing the reality night out with a commitment to great service, many Drinks International that fashions, or certainly fads, are fleeting, while of which have “disco drinks” in place of seriously Gateway House 42a East Park genuine class, flair or panache can be permanent. serious stiff and stirred cocktails. Crawley Evidence of this can be discovered in the following The fact that this is happening in Mumbai, West Sussex RH10 6AS pages. Now in its second year, this is a list of the Wellington or Cancun should come as no surprise United Kingdom very best and has been voted on by hundreds of bar to any of us and we need to be open to the fact that tel: +44 (0)1293 590040 professionals around the planet. And in it we find a the specifics of a great night in Africa can be very fax: +44 (0) 1293 474010 number of the same bars earning the same plaudits different to those of that in Japan. eMaIl addreSSeS are: [email protected] they did 12 months ago. Xavier Padovani, the Hendrick’s Gin global brand reader ServIceS/SuBScrIptIOnS pleaSe cOntact: This comes as no surprise, since much of this ambassador, recently recounted to me a magnificent Drinks International Subscriptions Department quality I speak of relies on consistency. If they were bar experience he enjoyed in Denver. tel: +44 (0)20 8253 7061 among the best last year then the likes of Milk & El-Chapultepec has a bit of a reputation in the city eMaIl: [email protected] Honey, PDT and Le Lion should surely still be worthy, itself, but it blew him away and he’d not heard about www.drinksint.com which makes it all the more important to feature it before visiting. He described this jazz bar serving Drinks International will not accept liability for loss or on the list. Mexican food as one of the best bar experiences he’d damage to transparencies and other material and cannot Attention to detail is also crucial for the top bars in had in a long time – this from a man who spends his return transparencies or photographs. the world. During a recent trip to the Match Group’s life travelling to preeminent drinking holes around © Agile Media Ltd 2010. the world. All rights reserved. Bartenders at number One bar Milk & honey, london, His enthusiasm reminded me of a night I’d spent in give their views on what makes a great bar on page 58 the old Liar’s Club (which unfortunately moved away from the beach due to licensing issues) in San Diego, where a barman named The Polynesian Powerhouse Drinks drank three pints of stout in under 10 seconds. I had INTERNATIONAL one of the best nights of my life but I’d concede that it might not make it on to a list like this. What we do find though, is a fine selection of historic stalwarts, relatively new venues that truly stand out and have done for a few years now, as well as some very new faces that have made a huge impact. It’s an impressive selection and, for those just starting their drinking travels, a perfect guide to great bars you should be ticking off along the way. 50 NOVEMBER 2010 DRINKSINT.COM THE WORLD’S 50 BEST BARS 03 November 2010 www.drinksint.com How we did it: Who, what, when, where, how and why? Find out on 6 page six Top 50: The best bars in the world, according to 700 voters from 50 9 countries Statistics: How the participants break down in terms of where they 53 are from and which bars they voted for Up and coming: Supplement editor Tom Sandham provides his list of 56 favourites and looks at the ones that THE MOST AUTHORITATIVE BAR SURVEY EVER got away Interview: Lucy Britner catches up with the team that makes Milk & 58 Honey number one Supplement sponsor 04 THE WORLD’S 50 BEST BARS World’s 50 BEST BARS SURVEY We Want thIs top 50 poll to Be as transparent as possIBle. after all, there’s no sense In gIvIng you a lIst WIthout emphasIsIng that It truly Is one of the most comprehensIve surveys of Its kInD In the WorlD. SO here’s hoW It Works ow in its second year, the for inclusion bars had to be mentioned as Drinks International World’s among the best in their region by at least 50 Best Bars survey has two reputable sources. N gone to extreme lengths All of the interviewing was conducted and spared no expense to ensure this by Hill Taylor Partnership and analysed by is a thorough and legitimate revelation Leslie Henry Marketing & Research. of what bar professionals around the This last detail might be a little world consider to be the leading bars specific, but the point is that, while on the planet. there’s an editor name on the So let us emphasise that this survey introduction page, and indeed a was conducted via telephone. This means publishing brand on the front of this OUR AIM, AS EVER, the starting point for all the data was an supplement, this is not a list compiled IS TO CREATE actual person, not an automated message by the journalists at Drinks International. DEBATE. THE or a lazy friend or relative; not a robot It’s completely independent, which you BEAUTY OF THE and not even a cyborg. An actual person. should remember if you decide you don’t This is very important to the Drinks agree with anything… BAR INDUSTRY International team as it ensures the In total, 700 interviews were carried IS THAT it’s FULL response is personally delivered. out. That’s a lot right? Indeed it is – in OF AMBITIOUS An initial sample was selected to get the fact it’s an incredible amount for a trade AND INTELLIGENT ball rolling and this came from the sources poll of this nature and further evidence one might imagine – word of mouth, the that this was a painstaking process. PEOPLE WITH internet and tourist publications. To qualify That these 700 came from as many OPINIONS 06 THE WORLD’S 50 BEST BARS natIonalItIes representeD AsiA PAcific (140) australia new Zealand china/hong kong India* Japan * singapore sri lanka thailand EuroPE (316) austria/germany/ switzerland* france Italy* netherlands nordic region (Denmark, finland, Iceland, norway, sweden) spain russia/ukraine* poland/Belarus/estonia, latvia, lithuania* uk as 50 countries around the world is even cEntrAl & Latin more impressive. AmEricA (150) So, in short, we are saying this year’s Brazil* World’s 50 Best Bars is a truly global representation of views, which is why caribbean you’ll find an extraordinary mix of venues (12 islands/countries)* here, from London, Paris and Rome to Rio, central america Tokyo and Mumbai.