Two Australian bars have been crowned as a part of the globally recognised award platform, with The World's 50 Best Bars Awards for 2023 announced last night, Tuesday 17 October, at a ceremony in Singapore.
The World's 50 Best Bar Awards are one of the most influential bar awards in the world, honouring the very best of the drinks industry on an international scale, as voted by a panel of as voted for by 680 drinks experts.
Taking home the top gong was Barcelona's Sips, followed by New York's Double Chicken Please and Mexico City's Handshake Speakeasy in 2nd and 3rd places respectively.
The best bar in the Australasia region is Sydney's long-standing winner Maybe Sammy, which jumped a whopping 14 places to take home 15th place this year in the global list.
Located in The Rocks, Maybe Sammy takes inspiration from Hollywood's golden age in the 1950s. In practice, this translates to bar staff decked out in matching double-breasted pink jackets, guests sprayed with bubbles on arrival, and cocktails delivered with smooth service and a magic touch. From the bar's current cocktail menu, Mirage, our picks are the Golden Pear and Terra Nova both of which exemplify why equal parts showmanship and expert drinks making have earned Maybe Sammy a spot on the list.
On the achievement, co-founder Stefano Catino said: "Vince and I continue to be humbled by the support, respect and love the industry and our guests have for Maybe Sammy. We have the best collection of people working alongside us at Maybe Sammy, a passionate group of talented individuals who continue to push themselves to excel and make the bar even better than we could have dreamed."
Over in Melbourne, Caretaker's Cottage in the CBD was awarded with 23rd place — a massive achievement for such a young bar.
The pint-sized establishment opened last year inside a 1914 brick cottage; it is well-loved by Melburnians for its charming pub-like feel, concise but brilliant cocktail list, and Guinness on tap. Now, this tiny bar has been placed on the global stage.
The World's 50 Best Bars list is owned and organised by William Reed Business Media, a UK-based business media organisation. The company is also responsible for The World's 50 Best Restaurants list.
See the full list of The World's 50 Best Bars for 2023 here.