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

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