Paradiso is 'The World's Best Bar 2022'

Paradiso in Barcelona has been crowned the Best Bar in the World 2022 by The World's 50 Best Bars at a celebratory red-carpet ceremony, sponsored by Perrier and live-streamed from Barcelona.

Marking the first time a bar outside of north America and London had been victorious, it was also the first time the event had been held outside of London in its 14-year history.

Mark Sansom, content director of The World’s 50 Best Bars, payed tribute to the "outlandishly inventive cocktail programme, sustainable ethos, work in the global bar community and brilliant sense of fun," portrayed by the playful speakeasy, which is secluded behind an antique refrigerator in the back of an unassuming pastrami shop in Barcelona’s El Born district.

Tayēr + Elementary in London remains in second place, making them the best bar in London after Connaught Bar was toppled from the throne following two consecutive years in the top spot. Sips in Barcelona, at no.3, also won the Nikka Highest Climber Award 2022, while Licorería Limantour in Mexico City, no.4, was named Best Bar in North America.

The 2022 list features bars from 26 cities, with three new cities - Florence, Lisbon and Naples - joining for the first time. Fourteen new bars enter the list, spread across Athens, Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Dubai, Florence, Hong Kong, Lisbon, London, Naples and New York. However, London and New York continue to dominate the list with five and six bars listed respectively.

Individual awards 2022

A number of individual awards were given in recogition of outstanding achievements by bartenders and bars:

The Campari One to Watch Award went to Roda Huset in Stockholm, no.78 in the list and barely a year old.

The Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award was won by Little Red Door in Paris.

The peer-voted Altos Bartenders' Award, went to French-born Jean Trinh from Alquimico in Cartagena, Colombia. 

Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu went to Juliana in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

The first ever '50 Best The Blend Scholarship' went to Drew Fleming of Kiki Lounge, Isle of Man.

The Roku Industry Icon Award went to Agostino Perrone from The Connaught Bar in London.

Michter's Art of Hospitality Award went to Hanky Panky in Mexico city.

The World's 50 Best Bars 2022

1. Paradiso, Barcelona 

2. Tayēr + Elementary, London 

3. Sips, Barcelona 

4. Licorería Limantour, Mexico City

5. Little Red Door, Paris

6. Double Chicken Please, New York

7. Two Schmucks, Barcelona

8. Connaught Bar, London 

9. Katana Kitten, New York

10. Alquimico, Cartagena

11. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City

12. Jigger & Pony, Singapore

13. Hanky Panky, Mexico City

14. BKK Social Club, Bangkok

15. Salmon Guru, Madrid

16. Drink Kong, Rome

17. Coa, Hong Kong

18. Floreria Atlantico, Buenos Aires

19. The Clumsies, Athens

20. Baba au Rum, Athens

21. Cafe la Trova, Miami

22. Attaboy, New York

23. Satan's Whiskers, London

24. Tropic City, Bangkok

25. Kumiko, Chicago

26. Sidecar, New Delhi

27. Tres Monos, Buenos Aires

28. Argo, Hong Kong

29. Maybe Sammy, Sydney

30. Swift, London

31. Line, Athens

32. Baltra Bar, Mexico City

33. Manhattan, Singapore

34. Overstory, New York

35. 1930, Milan

36. Dante, New York

37. A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London

38. Zuma, Dubai

39. Locale Firenze, Florence

40. Red Frog, Lisbon

41. Cantina OK!, Sydney

42. CoChinChina, Buenos Aires

43. Himkok, Oslo

44. Carnaval, Lima

45. Galaxy Bar, Dubai

46. L'Antiquario, Naples

47. Employees Only, New York

48. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo

49. Lucy's Flower Shop, Stockholm

50. Bulgari Bar, Dubai