The Connaught Bar named world’s best cocktail spot

The Connaught Bar, run by Italian mixologist Ago Perrone at The Connaught hotel in London, has topped The World’s 50 Best Bars list for a second time.

Ago Perrone perfects high Martini high pour at The Connaught Bar in London

The 2020 list features bars from 23 countries, with 11 new entries spread across Australia, Colombia, Greater China, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand and the UK.

Alex Kratena of Tayēr + Elementary

The 12^th edition of the top 50 was announced in an online ceremony yesterday, providing the bartending community with some positive news at a tricky time.

The judges praised the way the Connaught Bar “stays true to its principles of presenting artful drinks with graceful service in an elegant setting”.

“We are continually heartened by the industry’s resilience and positivity as countries continue to operate in varying degrees of recovery. Hats off to Connaught Bar, undoubtedly one of the finest cocktail bars of our time.

“The institution has earned a place on the list every year since 2010 and it has gradually grown in stature to become the world-beating bar it is today.

“Ago Perrone and his team are dedicated to excellence and look at every element of the guest experience to choreograph a faultless service. The Martinis aren’t bad, either,” said Mark Sansom, content editor for The World’s 50 Best Bars.

Stepping inside the Art Deco-inspired Connaught Bar in Mayfair is like stepping back in time to a more stylish and glamourous era when classic cocktails were only just being invented.

Kwānt in Mayfair

Designed by David Collins, the mirrored bar is framed by Art Deco detailing while Cubist touches add to the geometric aesthetic and textured walls shimmering in platinum silver leaf add an extra layer of opulence.

No visit would be complete without a trip to its famous Martini trolley. Connaught Martinis are only “quietly stirred”, never shaken, and are served with a unique twist tailored to your taste with handmade bitters.

Taking the second spot on this year’s list was Dante in New York, while The Clumsies in Athens came third, Singapore’s Atlas came fourth and Alex Kratena and Monica Berg’s Tayēr + Elementary in east London took the fifth spot, making it the highest new entry on the list.

Moroccan-inspired subterranean bar Kwānt in Mayfair, run by The American Bar at The Savoy’s former head bartender Eric Lorincz, came sixth on the list, highlighting how London remains one of the leading cocktail capitals of the world.

“We hope the announcement of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020 will act as a show of strength for the global bar community. It displays to the world that even in the face of the ever-shifting challenges and restrictions being thrown at them, bars are doing everything they can to continue to provide great hospitality experiences,” Sansom said.

Enclosed is the World’s 50 Best Bars list in full