In every city, there’s a roster of cocktails you have to try before saying goodbye: the unforgettable drinks that define the spirit of a place. In New York, The Dead Rabbit’s legendary Irish coffee and Dante’s famously fluffy Garibaldi are drinks of mythic status, while across the Atlantic, London's Connaught Bar and Dukes set the global standard for martinis. But beyond these classics, there’s a world of liquid treasures waiting to be discovered – here are 50 gems you’ll be talking about long after the last sip.
ASIA
1. Pineapple Arrack at Native, Singapore
@nativebarsg
At Native, a boundary-pushing bar where local and low-waste ingredients rule, you’ll find some truly wild creations featuring ingredients such as fermented grasshoppers and freeze-dried ants. But one standout that keeps guests coming is the Pineapple Arrack: a lush blend of pineapple skin, aromatic Sri Lankan spices, and arrack, mellowed with coconut water and topped with frozen baked pineapple and a dusting of cinnamon. Think of it as a pineapple upside-down cake, sans the cake.
2. Meow Now Brown Cow at Cat Bite Club, Singapore
@catbiteclub
Known for inventive drinks and a quirky vibe, Cat Bite Club is one of Singapore’s hottest new cocktail bars. On the menu, the Meow Now Brown Cow stands out – a decadent mix of tequila, banana cordial, sherry, coffee, bitters, salt and spiked vanilla cream. It’s the ultimate nightcap, so good you’ll want two because the first disappears fast
3. Our Final Warning at Penicillin, Hong Kong
@penicillin_bar
True to its name, Penicillin is science-driven in its ingredient development. The Final Warning – a bold twist on the negroni – features in-house distilled watermelon gin, omija berry vermouth with its five-flavour profile, and jalapeño Campari. The result is a thoughtfully crafted, complex cocktail that reinvents a classic for adventurous drinkers
4. Glizztini at Tokyo Confidential, Tokyo
@tokyoconfidentialbar.jpg)
(Image: Millie Tang)
Tokyo Confidential’s debut menu, Second Base, honours baseball’s hotdog snacking traditions with the Glizztini – a savoury tribute to the Gibson. Mixing gin, mugi shochu, tomato pickle, Lillet Blanc, mezcal, onion brine and MSG, it’s served in a short martini glass with red and yellow cacao butter, mimicking ketchup and mustard, theatrically dispensed tableside. An unexpected hit, this cocktail knocks it out of the park.
5. Rhubarb Gimlet at Charles H, Seoul
@charleshseoul
This elegant five-star hotel bar, inspired by bon vivant Charles H. Baker, serves some of Seoul's finest drinks. The star? Its Rhubarb Gimlet – a captivating mix of gin, Lillet Blanc, and rhubarb-strawberry cordial that brings the essence of spring to every sip.
6. Double Dance Lover at Tropic City, Bangkok
@tropiccitybkk
Thailand's first tropical bar may radiate vibe with its lush tropical decor, colourful lights and local DJs, but the cocktails are the real draw (it ranked No.24 on The World's 50 Best Bars 2022). A crowd favourite is the Double Dance Lover, a clarified milk punch with gin, pandan, lemon, mango sticky rice tea and goat’s milk. Served over a large ice cube and garnished with tropical flowers, it looks as good as it tastes.
7. Bellini at Bar Leone, Hong Kong
@barleonehk
Bar Leone made history by claiming the No.1 spot in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 just a year after opening. Among its stellar drinks, the bellini shines – a meticulous blend of quality peach purée, orange blossom water, and chilled prosecco. Served in a petite highball glass instead of the usual champagne flute, it offers a memorable spin on this Venetian classic.
8. Parakeet at Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur
@fskualalumpur
Bar Trigona at the Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur highlights Malaysian flavours, and the Parakeet is no exception. This daisy-style cocktail blends mezcal, salted cucumber, lime leaves and finger lime for an earthy, vegetal drink bursting with citrus. It’s a nuanced take on the mezcal margarita.
9. Babylon at Hideaway Café and Bar, Goa
@hideaway.goa
Visit Hideaway Café and Bar for its vibey live music but stay for the Babylon – a refreshing blend of vodka, passion fruit, coconut water and lemongrass oil. Not far off a pornstar martini, it’s said to "pair well with old hexes or exes”.
NORTH AMERICA
10. Venado at Zapote Bar, Playa del Carmen
@zapotebar
The Venado, featured on the Call of the Wild menu, reimagines the classic mojito with a minimalist flourish. This clarified, force-carbonated rum cocktail uses Mayan ingredients such as oregano-infused rum, hoja santa with chocolate crumb, and Mayan lime and salvia oleo saccharum. The result is a clean, herbal sipper with a mint-chocolate chip flavour.
11. Mexi-Thai at Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
@handshake_bar
The Mexi-Thai, the crown jewel at Handshake Speakeasy (named The World’s Best Bar 2024), is a gimlet inspired by tom yum soup. It combines coconut oil-washed tequila with makrut lime distillate and tomato cordial, finished with three drops of basil oil. While a soup-inspired cocktail might sound off-beat, the Mexi-Thai elegantly blends the dish’s bold flavours – citrussy lime leaf, tropical coconut and savoury tomato – into a sophisticated sip.
12. Key Lime Pie at Double Chicken Please, New York City
@doublechickenpleasenyc
We’re convinced this cocktail tastes more like Key Lime Pie than the actual dish. Co-founder GN Chan has crafted a shaken mix of gin, lime, cream, winter melon syrup, Empirical’s The Plum, I Suppose spirit and egg white, which is then topped with soda and garnished with a clever lime spray applied via a custom stencil that reads ‘key lime pie’. One of the greats.
13. French 75 at Jewel of the South, New Orleans
@jewelnola
When bartender Chris Hannah left Arnaud's French 75 Bar to open his own spot, he brought with him a refined version of the French 75 and New Orleans classics, such as the Brandy Crusta. His French 75 swaps gin for cognac, balanced with lemon, simple syrup and sparkling wine, pouring a perfected version of the classic in the city where it was popularised.
14. Tropipop at Thunderbolt, Los Angeles
@thunderboltla.jpg)
(Image: Shelby Moore)
The Tropipop, a carbonated riff on the piña colada, is the signature drink here. Made with rums, pineapple, coconut and lactose, this effervescent highball showcases precision technique and tropical flavour. So popular, it’s now available as a canned cocktail on Livewire.
15. Tascalate at Tlecān, Mexico City
@tlecan
The Tascalate cocktail honours a 3,000-year-old Mexican drink, made from pulverised toasted dry corn, cacao and achiote. Reimagined as an egg white sour, it’s made with mezcal, lemon, agave nectar and a house-made Tascalate mix, served in a coupe and dusted with fermented cacao powder.
16. B612, For Consuelo at Library by the Sea, Grand Cayman
@librarybytheseagc
Every drink at this dazzling, seaside bar (named No.25 on North America’s 50 Best Bars list) is inspired by a literary classic, and the B612, For Consuelo (inspired by The Little Prince) is one of the best. Named after Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s wife and muse, it blends gin, cacao distillate, rose water, hibiscus, Italicus, oloroso sherry, goat kefir and Cocchi di Torino. Served in a handmade asteroid vessel, it’s as stunning as it is delicious.
17. Mordy Vice at Bar Mordecai, Toronto
@barmordecai
At Bar Mordecai, the Miami Vice gets a soft serve boost. The Mordy Vice swaps the classic strawberry daiquiri for a strawberry-elderflower margarita, perfectly complementing the tropical piña colada flavours. A limited time treat, it’s one you’ll want to snag when it’s on the menu.
18. Spiritual Stimulant at Bar Pompette, Toronto
@barpompette_to
Bar Pompette, with its Parisian café vibe, serves a surprising twist on the espresso martini. The Spiritual Stimulant combines toasted kombu syrup, dill umami bitters and sesame oil, offering a savoury, Asia-inspired take on the cult classic.
19. Vodka y Soda at Superbueno, New York City
@superbuenonyc.jpg)
(Image: John Shyloski)
Don’t be fooled by the name – this isn’t your average vodka soda. It’s a blend of pasilla chili-infused vodka, clarified guava cordial, salt, velvet falernum and soda. Light yet full-bodied, the tropical drink blends vibrant flavours with a spicy kick from the chili.
EUROPE
20. 20th Century at Foco, Barcelona
@foco.bcn.jpg)
This revision of the classic 20th century elevates every component of the original. Instead of the standard daisy format, it’s reimagined as a sgroppino, served in two parts: a draught cocktail of champagne cordial, caramelised white chocolate and gin, paired with house-made yuzu sorbet. Playful, uplifting and approachable.
21. Pesto Martini at Moebius Milano, Milan
@moebiusmilano
This Italian update on the dirty martini starts with house-made pesto blended with vodka. The mixture is frozen and filtered, then paired with vermouth and white balsamic vinegar for balance. Bold but worth the leap of faith.
22. Caribbean Negroni at Punch Room, Madrid
@punchroomedition
Ordering a negroni-style cocktail at a punch-focused bar might seem odd, but this one’s worth it. Coconut oil-washed gin forms a rich base, complemented by martini bitter, cynar and banana liqueur. Instead of stirring, a splash of coconut water adds a tropical touch.
23. Champagne Piña Colada at Coupette, London
@coupettelondon
Since its 2017 debut, this iconic cocktail has grown in popularity, inspiring countless variations worldwide. Made with house rum, pineapple juice, lime, coconut sorbet and champagne, its brioche notes and citrus acidity pair beautifully with the tropical base.
24. Sweet Vernal Grass With Good Cream at Röda Huset, Stockholm
@rodahusetsthlm
This clarified milk punch combines homemade sweet vernal grass liqueur, vodka and an apple-based sour mix, clarified with ‘good cream’ sourced from top artisanal producers. The result is a smooth, translucent drink where each ingredient’s character shines.
25. Pineapple | Miso at Silverleaf Bar, London
@silverleaf_bar
The Pineapple | Miso stands out in the 'new fashioned' trend – a smoother, more acerbic upgrade on the old fashioned. This spirit-forward drink blends 13-year-old whisky, brown butter-washed bourbon, pineapple and miso caramel. The pineapple offsets the miso’s saltiness, while the brown butter adds a sweet, nutty note, uniting all the flavours.
26. Ramos Gin Fizz at Bar Nouveau, Paris
@bar_nouveau_.JPG)
The ramos gin fizz, alongside the sazerac, is a New Orleans classic. This gin-based cocktail blends citrus, egg white, cream, orange flower water and soda, with a dense, stable cream head and well-balanced flavours. It sounds simple, but it's a technical feat.
27. Juniper at The American Bar at Gleneagles, Auchterarder
@thegleneagleshotel
At Gleneagles’ American Bar, the martini is crafted with meticulous care. Juniper, featured on the award-winning menu (it bagged the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award at The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023), is a silky pre-batched martini served from the freezer in a bespoke Richard Brendon glass. Guests can customise their drink, choosing from three single-botanical gins highlighting juniper from Tuscany, Serbia, and Macedonia, respectively.
28. Rapscallion at Ruby, Copenhagen
@rubycph
The Rapscallion is a manhattan that evokes cosy winter nights by the fire, blending peated Scotch and sweet sherry, stirred and served in a pastis-coated Nick & Nora glass with a lemon twist. While easy to mix at home, it’s worth trying at the bar that created it.
SOUTH AMERICA
29. Petronium at Alquímico, Cartagena
@alquimicocartagena
One of the best sellers at this lively spot is Petronium, a refreshing mix of tequila, viche (local Colombian rum), lulo puree, and lemon and orange juices. This easy-drinking cocktail is a hit with margarita lovers, and you’ll feel all the better for ordering it, given Alquímico's Community menu supports an association committed to improving the living standards of local farmers.
30. El Triple Tini at Tres Monos, Buenos Aires
@3monosbar
At Tres Monos, El Triple Tini makes its mark – a low-ABV version of the Bamboo with sake, dry vermouth, and a mix of strawberry, orange and celery. Dry, fruity and herbal, it’s easy to sink two without feeling wobbly.
31. Tropical Old Fashioned at Sub Astor, São Paulo
@subastor
Sub Astor is a sultry, dimly lit den that delivers an intimate escape from the city's din. A top choice is the Tropical Old Fashioned, a warm-weather iteration of the classic with whisky, cachaça, banana, pineapple, cocoa bitters and herbal liqueur.
32. Ke Reine el Penicillin at CoChinChina, Buenos Aires
@cochinchina.bar
The menu at CoChinChina blends French-Vietnamese-inspired drinks with updates on classics, all crafted by owner Inés De Los Santos. One to note is Ke Reine el Penicillin, made with whisky, palo santo tincture, honey and lemon juice; fresh, earthy and silky.
33. Santo Spritz at Juliana, Guayaquil
@juliana.gye
Juliana (which won the Best Cocktail Menu Award at The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022) is putting Ecuador on the cocktail map. In a country that holds seven per cent of the world’s biodiversity, this bar’s menu highlights local ingredients such as macambo, house-distilled oyster shell spirits and sunfo. Don’t miss the Santo Spritz, which mixes vodka, palo santo, grapefruit, soursop and cava into an airy, complex yet easy-drinking cocktail.
34. Negroni de La Sala de Laura at La Sala de Laura, Bogota
@lasaladelaura
La Sala de Laura, sister bar to Leo (No. 43 at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023), pushes cocktail creativity to new heights with distillates inspired by Colombia’s ecosystems. The Negroni de La Sala de Laura, which uses Territorio distillate, sweet vermouth, Campari, and cocoa husk is in a league of its own.
35. Pisco Punch at Carnaval, Lima
@carnavalbar
First-timers at this theatrical drinking spot should plump for the seven-house special tasting, but only amateurs leave without trying the Pisco Punch. The bar’s version, served from a decanter with botanicals, is an uplifting upgrade, made with pisco, Lillet blanc, pineapple juice, elderberry and spices.
36. 19h30 at Tan Tan, São Paulo
@tantannb
End a night out in São Paulo with the 19h30, which nicely lifts your standard old fashioned. Made with Scotch, cachaça, cynar, cold brew and cacao bitters, it’s served on the rocks and garnished with grated dark chocolate.
OCEANIA
37. Snow at Byrdi, Melbourne
@byrdimelb
Byrdi’s seasonal menu is all about inventive ferments, distillates and garnishes, alongside a growing list of house classics. Snow, made with Victoria-grown yuzu, citrus coconut ice and Geraldton Wax Pow Pow, is a knockout – blended, freeze-dried and served thoughtfully with a spoon.
38. H.S.L Special at Above Board, Melbourne
@aboveboardbarmelb
With just 12 seats, Above Board feels like an intimate omakase where you still have control. Don’t miss the H.S.L Special – an unorthodox sour made with amaro montenegro, crème de mûre, lime and absinthe. Classically structured yet bursting with flavour.
39. Margarita OK! at Cantina OK!, Sydney
@cantina.ok
Tiny in size (just 20 standing spots), this micro mezcaleria packs a punch. Come for the next-level agave spirits, especially the house margarita – made with tequila, mezcal, lime and orange oil, poured over hand-shaved ice from a Japanese kakigori shaver.
40. Mini Irish Coffee at Maybe Sammy, Sydney
@maybe_sammy_sydney
Named after jazz icon Sammy Davis Jr., this retro party bar comes from the team behind Sydney’s Maybe Frank. Among its quirky touches (think bubbles fired from the house bubble gun), the Mini Irish Coffee is top drawer, offering up a moreish blend of whiskey, Honduran coffee, muscovado sugar, honey, almonds and freshly whipped cream.
41. Daiquiri at The Everleigh, Melbourne
@theeverleigh
Name a classic and The Everleigh will likely make the best version you’ve had. Pick its daiquiri, which is shaken to perfection with bubbles glistening, served in a chilled coupe. It’s so good, you might just ask for a ‘smackiri#(ask your bartender).
42. Africola at PS40, Sydney
@ps40bar
This drink tops PS40’s menu for good reason. Not your ordinary Irish coffee, it combines coffee liqueur and cola, topped with hot coconut foam, described as “two textures and two temperatures taking you to flavour town”. Agreed.
43. Rainfalls at Dean & Nancy on 22, Sydney
@deanandnancyon22
At this sky-skimming bar, order the Rainfalls – a smoky martini made with gin, geosmin vodka, vermouths and a pine Scotch spray, capturing the fresh aroma of the weather event it’s named after.
44. House Martini at Caretaker's Cottage, Melbourne
@caretakers.cottage
From the gin blend to the homemade dry vermouth, it’s the attention to detail that takes this martini up a notch. Served tableside from a frozen bottle, the viscous cocktail stays piercingly cool from first sip to last.
AFRICA
45. Elixir of the Gods at Hero Bar, Nairobi
@hero_nairobi
Punchily named Elixir of the Gods, this sour blends smoky mezcal, lime, sugar and lacto-fermented spiced watermelon, appealing to a range of flavours. Kick back and enjoy alongside sweeping views from the Kenyan bar’s terrace.
46. Niwatori Tea at Art of Duplicity, Cape Town
@art.of.duplicity
At this hidden speakeasy, the Niwatori Tea (meaning ‘chicken’ in Japanese) comes with its own ritual, where coffey grain whisky, wild mushroom sherry, clarified chicken consommé, spicy tea syrup and kombu bitters are set alight and tossed between mixing tins to blend.
47. The XXX at Sin + Tax, Johannesburg
@sin_tax_bar
Tucked inside a local pizza joint, this speakeasy keeps its drinks menu under wraps. Once you’ve finally got hold of it, it’s The XXX you’ll want – a mix of blanco tequila, tomato, gochujang,and lime, garnished with charred cherry tomatoes. Savoury with a hint of spice, it’s perfect for adventurous tequila lovers.
48. Emefa at Front/Back, Accra
@frontbackaccra
Set within The Container art gallery in the Ghanaian capital, this members' club is spread across three spaces: The Restaurant, The Library and The Terrace. The cocktail list is consistent throughout, but the Emefa is the crowd-pleaser: a margarita riff with tequila, rosemary-infused beetroot jam, lime and agave nectar. A purple-hued marg – need we say more?
49. The One With The Paintbrush at Fable, Cape Town
@fablecpt
This Cape Town bar draws on local lore for its cocktails, each inspired by a different fable. The One With The Paintbrush, named after a South African tale of forbidden love, symbolises opposing forces – in the cocktail’s case, colours – coming together. A house classic, it combines gin, lychee, citrus and soda into a tropical highball, garnished with a paintbrush. Swirl to add sparkle.
50. Swan Lake Julep at Shinkō, Cairo
@shinkocairo
This sophisticated lounge offers one of Cairo’s finest drinking experiences. Don’t leave without trying the Swan Lake Julep – a bracing take on the whisky classic, made with a house whisky blend, lemon verbena, fruit ferment and what the menu calls a ‘shinko strange herb’, all served over shaved ice.
Discover more fantastic hotels, restaurants and bars with 50 Best Discovery, and start planning your next adventure.
