The Global Scene
If you're looking to grab a drink, the 2026 World’s 50 Best list just dropped, and the vibes are immaculate. After 800 expert judges cast their votes in Milan, Bar Leone in Hong Kong—led by Lorenzo Antinori—retained its crown as the number one bar on the planet for the second year in a row. It’s giving Roman neighborhood charm, focusing on timeless classics over flashy gimmicks.
NYC Makes Its Mark
While heavy hitters like Superbueno and Double Chicken Please dropped off the list this year, NYC still holds it down with four spots securing a spot in the top 50.
- Schmuck: Located in the East Village, this place is essentially a high-end house party. Owners Moe Aljaff and Juliette Larrouy leaned on AI to get the business off the ground, and now they’re serving up wild hits like a strawberry-parmesan cocktail.
- Sip & Guzzle: This West Village spot jumped from 39th to 14th place. It’s got a split personality: a sleek, samurai-inspired speakeasy downstairs and a casual, fried-chicken-loving vibe upstairs.
- Martiny’s: Located in Gramercy, this three-floor lounge is the brainchild of Takuma Watanabe. Known for the "Grand Martiny’s," the spot leans heavily into Japanese cocktail culture.
- Bar Snack: Also in the East Village, this joint keeps it real with "dressed up classics for dressed down people." Their "snaquiri" daiquiris and late-night spice bags have become absolute cult favorites.
Why it matters
Getting ranked on the World’s 50 Best list is the ultimate W for the local hospitality scene. Even as some NYC legends fell off the list, these four spots proved that the city's bar culture is still highkey evolving, keeping the nightlife scene fresh and relevant.
