The 50 Best Bars in North America (includes Platform 18, Phoenix, AZ)
The bar awards are voted on by a group of 260 anonymous regional voters, who are selected by one of eight regional chairpersons representing different parts of the continent. According to the 50 Best organization, voters are made up half of bar owners and bartenders, a quarter “drinks writers and educators,” and a final quarter “well-traveled cocktail experts.”
Who might a well-traveled cocktail expert be? What criteria is in place in order to deem someone well-traveled, or a cocktail expert? Your guess is as good as mine, but if past awards are any indication, voting is heavily influenced by where voters are offered press trips, and which destinations have cushy tourism budgets. Whereas awards like Michelin stars are judged by thousands of inspectors who pay for their meals to ensure they get the same treatment as any other diner, voters weighing in on the World’s 50 Best lists have no such requirements. Voters are asked to make their selections based on where they’ve had their best meals (or drinks) in the last 18 months, and critics of the list argue that it’s likely many of their selections are influenced by the venues and destinations that offer them free or discounted travel and meals.
This year’s 50 Best Bars list is dominated by American bars. One bar in the Caribbean made the list, and Central America was not even granted consideration. When it comes to representation, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list has a history of largely ignoring restaurants in places like India or the continent of Africa—except for South Africa. The awards didn’t include a category for the Middle East and North Africa until last year, and have been criticized year after year for a category dedicated to the best female chef, in a move that some see as only further widening gender disparity in the restaurant industry.
Despite its shortcomings, inclusion on this list is considered a great honor for any bar, and aside from bragging rights, a spot on the list can lead to a serious uptick in business. Double Chicken Please is one of twelve New York City bars which made the top 50—last year's winner, Attaboy, dropped to number 13. Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy remained in second place, while Katana Kitten, Licorería Limantour, and Jewel of the South round out the top five spots.
Here are all 50 bars:
Double Chicken Please, New York City
Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
Katana Kitten, New York City
Licorería Limantour, Mexico City
Jewel of the South, New Orleans
Dante, New York City
Overstory, New York City
Kumiko, Chicago
Café La Trova, Miami
Thunderbolt, Los Angeles
Zapote Bar, Playa del Carmen
Civil Liberties, Toronto
Attaboy, New York City
Employees Only, New York City
Bar Pompette, Toronto
Baltra Bar, Mexico City
Rayo, Mexico City
Mace, New York CIty
Botanist Bar, Vancouver
Hanky Panky, Mexico City
El Gallo Altanero, Guadalajara
Sabina Sabe, Oaxaca
Arca, Tulum
La Factoría, San Juan
Café de Nadie, Mexico City
Kaito del Valle, Mexico City
Herbs & Rye, Las Vegas
Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco
Martiny’s, New York City
Death & Co (Los Angeles), Los Angeles
Selva, Oaxaca
Atwater Cocktail Club, Montreal
Service Bar, Washington D.C.
Sweet Liberty, Miami
Cloakroom, Montreal
Cure, New Orleans
Mother, Toronto
Milk Room, Chicago
Maison Premiere, New York City
Aruba Day Drink, Tijuana
Bar Leather Apron, Honolulu
Yacht Club, Denver
Bar Mordercai, Toronto
The Dead Rabbit, New York City
Allegory, Washington D.C.
Clover Club, New York City
Brujas, Mexico City
Platform 18, Phoenix
Youngblood, San Diego
Milady’s, New York City