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A pair of acclaimed Vancouver bars have not only maintained their presence on a prestigious awards list but one has also risen in the ranks, as North America’s 50 Best Bars of 2025 were revealed last night at an exciting bar star-studded ceremony held right here in Vancouver.
What’s shaking in Vancouver? Quite a bit, when it comes to the cocktail scene.
The announcement of the 2025 North America’s 50 Best Bars rankings takes place in Vancouver for the first time on Tuesday, April 29, and there are several prominent local and global bar stars stirring up some excitement as part of the festivities.
Leading up to and capping off the awards ceremony there will be numerous events showcasing incredible spirits and talented cocktail pros, including those visiting from around North America and beyond. Top spots for tipples across the city will be opening up their bars for collabs, showcases, seminars, and guest shifts.
Along with Vancouver serving as host city for the first time is another thrilling first: An extended list of rankings honouring spots 51 to 100 was recently revealed.
Toronto’s Bar Pompette has been announced as the winner of the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award, part of the fourth annual North America’s 50 Best Bars awards, sponsored by Perrier. Created to recognize the importance of hospitality in the bar experience, the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award is voted on by the 300-plus members of the North America’s 50 Best Bars Academy, who are asked to name the bar where they have received the single-best hospitality experience within the 18-month voting period. The Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award is the first award in a series of special awards announced leading up to the highly anticipated awards ceremony for North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025.
Bar Pompette is a refined yet relaxed Toronto gem, known for its take on modern and classic cocktails. Located in the heart of Little Italy, the bar’s minimalist-chic design evokes the effortless charm of a Parisian café, which is juxtaposed with the creativity and inventiveness that drives the cocktail offering. Since earning a spot on the list in 2023, Bar Pompette has continued to elevate Toronto’s cocktail scene, with a seasonally rotating menu that highlights innovative flavors and expert craftsmanship. Guests can choose how they want to experience Bar Pompette, whether it’s imbibing casually or experiencing the process behind each drink, including a guided visit to the cocktail lab. With small bites from its sister French brasserie, guests are offered a taste of France while remaining grounded in the vibrant energy of Toronto. At Bar Pompette, the drinks, ambiance, and hospitality create a seamless blend of past and present, somewhere for people to linger, glass in hand, time and time again.
Emma Sleight, Head of Content for North America’s 50 Best Bars, says: “It’s been incredible to see Bar Pompette’s growth since its first recognition on the list in 2023. From the expertly curated cocktail menu — where each drink tells a story of seasonal creativity and truly impressive craftmanship — to the inviting ambiance of its open-air patio and cosy, Cognac-colored banquettes, Bar Pompette creates that rare alchemy where world-class drinks and genuine, welcoming service collide. It’s a transportative destination, offering a taste of France with every sip, while managing to remain firmly rooted in the heart of Toronto’s dynamic cocktail scene. It’s that magical synergy between exceptional drinks and a welcoming atmosphere that keeps guests coming back to Bar Pompette. ”
Co-founder Hugo Togni, a former chef, contributes culinary expertise to the bar’s creative yet approachable drinks menu. Signature drinks like the Nitro Colada — served on tap with centrifuge-clarified pineapple juice and coconut oil-washed rum — and the Cornichon, a Martini-inspired cocktail featuring dill pickle distillate, showcase the team’s playful creativity. Even with these sophisticated methods, Bar Pompette remains a true neighborhood bar, where the focus is always on making every guest feel welcome.
Hugo Togni, Co-Owner of Bar Pompette says, “We are truly humbled and grateful to receive this award. More than just a bar, Bar Pompette is built on passion, dedication, and a genuine love for hospitality. Our team—many of whom have been together for nearly three years—has become like family, and that chemistry is what makes every service special. To us, it’s not just about making great drinks, but about creating a space where people feel at home, whether it’s their first visit or their fiftieth. Hospitality is at the heart of what we do, and we’re excited to keep sharing that experience with our guests every day.”
Matt Magliocco, Executive Vice President of Michter’s Distillery, says: “Bar Pompette is a wonderful bar, and their hospitality is second to none. Congratulations to Maxime Hoerth, Hugo Togni, and the entire Bar Pompette team on this extremely well-deserved recognition.”
The North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025 awards ceremony will take place in Vancouver, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. This represents the first time the awards ceremony will be staged in Canada and recognizes the region’s presence on the global cocktail scene. North America’s 50 Best Bars aims to provide consumers with an exceptional list of expert-approved drinking destinations across North America.
The countdown of the list of North America’s 50 Best Bars and the awards ceremony will also be broadcast to a global audience who are not able to attend in person, and bar and cocktail lovers will be invited to join through the 50 Best Bars TV YouTube channel.
If it’s spring it must be competition season and Canada’s best bars and bartenders are winning awards all over the place. Here are just a few that have made news the past few months.
On a balmy night in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, a new North America’s Best Bar 2024 was crowned: Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City. At the same time, 2024 represented a strong showing for Canadian bars, with seven places landing on the list from the Great White North. Dozens of Canadians representing several bars made the trip to San Miguel de Allende for the ceremony, busily making plans for collabs, guest shifts and pop-ups with their North American and global colleagues in attendance.
North America’s 50 Best Bars were revealed on May 4 in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico—a list that included seven Canadian entries, including one bar from B.C. New York’s innovative foodie-cocktail hotspot Double Chicken Please was named North America’s Best Bar.
We all know what a dynamic cocktail scene Vancouver has, and what a talented group of bartenders we have slinging drinks here.
Now the rest of the world is getting an idea, too. Well, sort of.
Two sets of “best bar” rankings have just been released, with nods to some of our favourite watering holes. But as always, some of our very best cocktail destinations couldn’t make the list because they just don’t qualify as bars. (Because of our licensing rules, they are often technically considered restaurants.) No matter. We know who you are.