The World’s 50 Best Bars have been unveiled for 2019, and 10 of the entries find their home in London.
Making up 20% of this year’s list, London’s bar scene has put in a strong showing, with some of the bars that have been heralded as among the best in the world including Coupette in Bethnal Green (number 23) and Swift in Soho (number 41).
Despite this, the ‘best bar’ accolade has gone to Dante in New York, a cocktail bar found in Greenwich Village. Dante has won plaudits for blending tradition with modernity, and for its traditional Italian cocktails such as Negronis and Camparis, which are paired with wholesome Italian comfort food.
Lyaness at Sea Containers London
The best rated drinking establishment in London is The Connaught Bar at Mayfair’s The Connaught Hotel, which took the number two position. Our SquareMeal review of the bar describes it as an “elegant and stylish lounge which simply oozes class.”
In 2018, a London bar topped the list with cocktail king Ryan Chetiyawardana’s Dandelyan securing the top spot, his flagship bar at the Sea Containers hotel along the South Bank. Chetiyawardana responded to the news by promptly closing down the bar and reopening it under a new concept called Lyaness. It could be argued that World’s 50 Best didn’t take to kindly to the developments, with Lyaness appearing quite far down 2019’s list, clocking in at number 39.
One of the cocktails at Swift in Soho
For the full list of London drinking dens featured in the World’s 50 Best Bars, see below:
Number 2: The Connaught Bar, Mayfair
Number 5: American Bar at The Savoy, Covent Garden
Number 16: Three Sheets, Dalston
Number 23: Coupette, Bethnal Green
Number 28: Scout, Hackney
Number 39: Lyaness, South Bank
Number 40: Happiness Forgets, Hoxton
Number 41: Swift, Soho
Number 47: Kwant, Soho
Number 48: Artesian, Marylebone
If you love keeping up with the latest and greatest bars in the capital, check out 32 of London’s best cocktail bars.