After 10 years in the making, the first-ever list of North America’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, was revealed on 7th June 2022. More than 600 cocktailians from across the continent flocked to New York for the ceremony, which revealed the 50 finest drinking destinations from Canada, US, Mexico and the Caribbean – as judged by the leading experts in the North American bar community. Pull out that diary, conjure up a thirst and book a trip to these mixological heartlands today
New York
One of the world’s hotbeds of fine drinking and a cornerstone of the cocktail renaissance, New York is officially the finest place to imbibe in North America, based on the 50 Best voting. Plan a route to get through the city’s 11 listed bars and build the itinerary for the ultimate drinking weekend.
Starting with The Best Bar in North America, sponsored by Perrier, work your way between no-menu Attaboy (No.1), Japanese dive bar Katana Kitten (No.4), aperitivo afficionado Dante (No.8), food-focussed Double Chicken Please (No.17), bitters-driven Amor y Amargo (No.23), sophisticated Dear Irving (No.26) and sky-scraping Overstory (No.27), which won the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award. On day two, take a hearty breakfast and follow that up with the free-pouring Employees Only (No.30), one-time World’s Best Bar The Dead Rabbit (No.31), Mace (No.35), which earned the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award, and classically brilliant Clover Club (No.43).
Attaboy co-founders Sam Ross and Michael McIlroy and GM Haley Traub received The Best Bar in North America Award, sponsored by Perrier, at the awards ceremony in New York
Mexico City
CDMX was the second-best-performing city in the inaugural ranking, bringing six bars to the party, including the venues ranked as No.2 and No.3 overall in the continent. Its leading venues are wildly varied, featuring speakeasies, neon-fringed party bars, Japanese-influenced drinking dens and private saloons.
Take your liquid pick between: Handshake Speakeasy (No.2), Licorería Limantour (No.3), Baltra Bar (No.7), Kaito del Valle (No.13), Café de Nadie (No.15) and Hanky Panky (No.16).
The Jamaica Mezcal, served at Licorería Limantour, ranked No.3 at North America's 50 Best Bars
Toronto
Ontario’s cosmopolitan capital contributed four of Canada’s eight bars to the list. It makes the most of its multicultural roots with bars influenced by traditions from all corners of the globe. World’s 50 Best Bars list regular Civil Liberties (No.10) leads the way, followed by fermentation-forward Mother (No.38), Gaudi-inspired Bar Raval (No.41) and Bar Mordecai (No.47), which is headed up by this year’s Roku Industry Icon, the community-focussed Christina Veira.
Christina Veira, from Bar Mordecai in Toronto, received the Roku Industry Icon Award 2022
Miami
Securing a trifecta of hostelries for the Sunshine State in the North America’s 50 Best Bars ranking, Miami has a long-established cocktail culture which is well regarded the world over. Leading the way are Cuban-influenced Café La Trova (No.6), good time-focussed Sweet Liberty (No.14) and the tropical Broken Shaker (No.32). With 300 sunny days each year and all three listed bars offering a 4am licence or later, the party never stops.
The interior of Sweet Liberty in Miami, ranked No.14 on the inaugural list
Los Angeles
Another coastal destination with three of the continent’s top bars, LA is right towards the top of the list for locations to imbibe in North America. Its bar scene showcases California’s wonderful produce extensively, through forward-thinking, egalitarian bars that put the guest experience first.
Leading the way is ultra-casual Thunderbolt (No.9), with the second outpost of Death & Co (No.34) and all-female-owned Genever (No.50), which rounds out the list.
Thunderbolt earned The Best Bar in West USA Award, sponsored by Asahi Super Dry, represented by Mike Capoferri at the awards ceremony
Now catch up on the best moments from the North America's 50 Best Bars celebrations in New York:
The first edition of North America’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, was announced at a live awards ceremony in New York on Tuesday 7th June 2022. Browse the website to discover the ranking and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube to stay up to date with all the news and announcements.
