Hong Kong cocktail bar Bar Leone has done something no other venue has managed: topped The World's 50 Best Bars list two years in a row. The 2026 edition of the awards was announced at a live ceremony in Milan, and the Hong Kong spot — which in 2025 became the first Asian bar ever to claim the No.1 position — held onto the crown, again taking both The World's Best Bar and The Best Bar in Asia titles.

The list spans 26 cities this year, and a few shifts stand out. Paris has overtaken London as Europe's most represented cocktail city for the first time, with four bars making the cut: The Cambridge Public House (No.13), Bar Nouveau (No.15), newcomer De Vie (No.23) and Danico (No.26). New York matches Paris with four entries, including Schmuck, a new opening that debuted at No.11 and picked up the Best New Opening Award.

Europe's top honours went to Milan's Moebius Milano at No.2 — a nice bit of theatre given the ceremony was held in its home city. Athens now has three bars ranked, led by Line at No.5, which also won the Sustainable Bar Award. London's best-placed venue is the evergreen Connaught Bar at No.8, and Edinburgh's Panda & Sons took the Best Cocktail Menu Award.

The Global South had a strong year. Cartagena's Alquímico in Colombia is the Best Bar in South America at No.3, while Mexico City claims three spots, with Handshake Speakeasy at No.6 and Bar Mauro the highest new entry at No.10. Bangkok cemented its status as a cocktail capital with three bars, Bar Us landing at No.4 — the highest placement ever for a Thai venue on this list. Seoul's Zest follows at No.7.

Elsewhere, Dubai's Mimi Kakushi retained its Best Bar in the Middle East title at No.42, Melbourne's Caretaker's Cottage is Best Bar in Australasia at No.45, and Front/Back in Accra became the Best Bar in Africa — part of Ghana's first-ever appearance in the ranking.

For travellers, this list is essentially a ready-made pub crawl itinerary for 2026. If you're passing through Hong Kong, Bar Leone is the obvious pilgrimage — expect a queue and book ahead. Bangkok, Paris, New York and Mexico City each offer three or four ranked venues, making them the smartest picks for a cocktail-focused city break. Even better: many of these bars are affordable by Western standards, particularly the Bangkok, Mexico City and Colombian entries, where a world-class cocktail often costs a fraction of what you'd pay in London or New York.

Special awards are worth noting too, as they flag venues with something extra. The Bar in Front of the Bar in Athens climbed 28 places to No.19 and won Highest Climber; Barcelona's Paradiso received the Legend of the List Award for consistent excellence; and Shingo Gokan, founder of Hong Kong new entry Gokan (No.41), took the Industry Icon Award. If your trip dates don't line up with the headliners, any of these recognised venues are a reliable bet for a memorable night out.

Credit: Bangkok Post Life