Two Australian bars have been named in the World’s 50 Best bars 51–100 longlist this evening, a ranking that celebrates world-leading bars that haven’t quite made it into the top 50. Sydney’s tiny laneway mezcal bar Cantina OK has been named the 96th best bar in the world, while Melbourne’s minimalist Above Board has come in at number 100. Both bars have appeared on the top-50 list previously: Cantina OK was ranked at 41 in 2022 and Above Board came in at 44 in 2021.
Bars from 35 cities around the world are featured on the longlist, with 12 new entries for 2024. Topping the longlist at 51 is The Bar in Front of the Bar in Athens, which has risen from the 98th spot in last year’s ranking. The USA leads the tally, with seven bars on the list – including four in New York City (one of which, Dante, is Australian-owned) – closely followed by Mexico, which boasts five bars in the 51–100.
Four bars in London have been longlisted. And for the first time Sri Lanka has entered the list, with Smoke & Bitters, a beachside bar in Hiriketiya, coming in at 86. Both the top 50 bars and the longlist are chosen by a panel comprising more than 700 drinks experts, writers, bartenders and other specialists, highlighting the world’s most extraordinary bars and cocktail cities.
The 51–100 list has been dropped ahead of the top 50 announcement ceremony, which will be held on October 22 in Madrid. Last year, two Australian bars made it to the top 50: theatrical Sydney bar Maybe Sammy was ranked 15th in the world and Melbourne’s pub-slash-bar Caretaker’s Cottage made it to number 23 after placing 60th in 2022. Last week, it was announced that Caretaker’s Cottage is this year’s recipient of the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award, with 50 Best praising the way it manages to “stand out as the friendliest [bar] in a country renowned for its genial nature”.
