Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy tops The World’s 50 Best Bars

If you think the speakeasy trend is over, well, think again. When The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 were announced on October 22, a Mexican City speakeasy took the No. 1 spot—the second time in recent years that a speakeasy has won. (The Barcelona speakeasy Paradiso, which is accessed through a pastrami shop, won in 2022.)

It’s the first time CDMX has topped this global chart, but anyone who has visited knows it is a terrific city for cocktails. The winning Handshake Speakeasy is a terrific example of what makes it so great. Secreted behind a black door marked with a silver number 13, it is a Prohibition-themed enclave where bar director and co-owner Eric Van Beek has built a shrine to molecular mixology. It’s a must on any cocktail-loving travellers’ list.

Overall, the 2024 list features bars from 28 cities with 16 new entries spread across Bangkok, Bogotá, Guadalajara, Hong Kong, Lima, Melbourne, Mexico City, Milan, New York, Paris, São Paulo, Singapore and Tokyo.

Canada once again did not make the top 50 list; however, Toronto’s Bar Pompette was recognized at No. 70 and Calliope Draper, a bartender at Edmonton’s Partake, received The 50 Best Bars Roku Scholarship, in recognition for her role as a transgender leader creating safer spaces for all in the hospitality realm.

In addition:

• Monica Berg of London’s Tayēr + Elementary won the Roku Industry Icon Award.

• Singapore’s Cat Bite Club received the Campari One to Watch Award.

• Zest in Seoul won the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award.

• Buenos Aires’ Florería Atlántico claimed the title of Rémy Martin Legend of the List.

• Superbueno, in New York, was named London Essence Best New Opening.

• Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award was awarded to Lyaness in London.

• The winner of the Bareksten Best Bar Design Award is Himkok in Oslo.

With four bars, New York City continued its dominance in North America, with Double Chicken Please (No.14) and Overstory (No.15) joined by new entries Martiny’s (No.24) and Superbueno (No.27).

London retains its crown as the cocktail capital of Europe with four bars out of 19 for the continent, including No.4 Tayēr + Elementary, although the Best Bar in Europe title once again went to Barcelona’s Sips at No.3, with Paradiso (Barcelona) at No.10 and host city Madrid’s Salmon Guru at No.23.

And, with four bars on the list, Singapore leads in Asia, with stalwart bars Jigger & Pony at No.5 and Atlas at No.43 joined by new entries Nutmeg & Clove (No.28) and Analogue Initiative (No.47). In Hong Kong, new entry Bar Leone has stormed into the list at No.2, taking the title of The Best Bar in Asia as well as Disaronno Highest New Entry.

The World’s 50 Best Bars are:

1. Handshake Speakeasy Mexico City
2. Bar Leone Hong Kong
3. Sips Barcelona
4. Tayēr + Elementary London
5. Jigger & Pony Singapore
6. Line Athens
7. Tres Monos Buenos Aires
8. Alquímico Cartagena
9. Zest Seoul
10. Paradiso Barcelona
11. Himkok Oslo
12. BKK Social Club Bangkok
13. Connaught Bar London
14. Double Chicken Please New York
15. Overstory New York
16. Lady Bee Lima
17. Baba au Rum Athens
18. Coa Hong Kong
19. The Cambridge Public House Paris
20. Tlecān Mexico City
21. Caretaker’s Cottage Melbourne
22. CoChinChina Buenos Aires
23. Salmon Guru Madrid
24. Martiny’s New York
25. Bar Benfiddich Tokyo
26. Maybe Sammy Sydney
27. Superbueno New York
28. Nutmeg & Clove Singapore
29. Satan’s Whiskers London
30. Panda & Sons Edinburgh
31. Tan Tan São Paulo
32. Licorería Limantour Mexico City
33. Drink Kong Rome
34. Jewel of the South New Orleans
35. Byrdi Melbourne
36. Locale Firenze Florence
37. Scarfes Bar London
38. Moebius Milano Milan
39. Bar Nouveau Paris
40. Mimi Kakushi Dubai
41. Bar Us Bangkok
42. Virtù Tokyo
43. Atlas Singapore
44. La Sala de Laura Bogotá
45. Röda Huset Stockholm
46. Florería Atlántico Buenos Aires
47. Analogue Initiative Singapore
48. El Gallo Altanero Guadalajara
49. Danico Paris
50. 1930 Milan

For more details and the full list of winners, visit theworlds50best.com.