The Savoy's American Bar named Best in the World
The bar, which was also named Best Bar in Europe at the ceremony, held last night (5 October), took the top spot from the 2016 number one, The Dead Rabbit in New York.
The World's 50 Best Bars list spans 24 cities in 19 countries, with this year’s ranking featuring seven new entries and four re-entries. The ranking is created by the votes of an Academy of over 500 industry experts from 55 countries.
Eight London bars feature in the World’s 50 Best Bars list this year, with three in the top five - American Bar at The Savoy, Ryan Chetiyawardana’s bar Dandelyan at The Mondrian Hotel (number two), and The Connaught Bar at the Connaught Hotel (number four).
American Bar has featured in the top 10 four times since its first appearance six years ago. Following an extensive three-year refurbishment in 2010, the bar reopened under head bartender Erik Lorenz and manager Declan McGurk. The bar has 125 years of cocktail history.
Bar Termini in Soho jumped 21 places up the list to number nine. Nightjar, a regular on the list at number, has been joined by its sister venue Oriole at number 17, both of which are owned by husband and wife team Edmund Weil and Roisin Stimpson.
The Bartenders’ Bartender award went to Iain Griffiths, the bartender behind London bars Dandelyan and White Lyan.
One London bar did drop off the list; Callooh Callay, last year’s number 48, was not included this year. Last year’s number 47, Bramble in Edinburgh, also dropped out of the listing.
Europe remains the international drinking stronghold, with 19 bars included in this year’s ranking. The US has 13 bars on the list, seven of which are New York-based.
The highest ranking US bar was The NoMad at NoMad Hotel (number three), which also took the award for Best Bar in North America.
From Asia, bars in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan, and for the first time Taiwan, were all recognised in the awards. Manhattan bar (Number seven), located in the Regent Hotel Singapore, took home Best Bar in Asia.
The annual award ceremony, now fully owned and organised by William Reed Business Media, took place at London’s Southwark Cathedral on 5 October.
