London's Connaught Bar tops the list, while Singapore’s Jigger & Pony makes a huge leap into the top ten
In what has been described as a show of strength for the global bar community, organisers this morning (5 November, 3pm UK time) revealed The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020 list. Announced in an online awards ceremony, the 12th edition of the annual ranking also crowned a new No.1, London’s Connaught Bar, which out-performed its peers from 23 countries to earn the title of The World’s Best Bar and The Best Bar in Europe.
“It displays to the world that even in the face of the ever-shifting challenges and restrictions being thrown at them, bars are still doing everything that they can to continue to provide great hospitality experiences,” shares Mark Sansom, content editor for The World’s 50 Best Bars.
Giorgio Bargiani, head mixologist of Connaught Bar, adds: "It's a big accomplishment for us and a testament of our daily commitment that we have towards our guests and our team. We are lucky because we always managed to be surrounded by people who believe in Connaught Bar, and they are all a part of this win. Our spirits are together, so even if we are socially distanced right now, we are going to have a good celebration today and will be raising our glasses to everyone who believed in and supported us."
(Related: The Tatler Bar is Your New Online Destination For the Finest Spirits and Champagnes)
Among the bars closer to home to make the list, Singapore’s Atlas is the country’s best performer, climbing four places to land at No.4, and earning The Best Bar in Asia title in the process.
"The win is quite special for us, and I'm super proud of our team," says Atlas' head bartender Jesse Vida, who affirms how Asia has one of the most amazing bar cultures in the world. "2020 has obviously been a weird year for all of us, so it's nice to see the recognition of what bars have been doing here," he adds.
The little red dot’s Jigger & Pony (which topped the 2020 Asia’s 50 Best Bars list) also made an impressive climb, working its way up from No.29 when it first entered the list last year to break into the top 10 by clinching the No.9 spot.
"We are really grateful for the recognition in this tough time," shares its elated co-founder Indra Kantono, who adds that "climbing 20 spots on the ranking recognises the teamwork that drives us at Jigger & Pony to create memorable experiences for every single guest, centred around our philosophy of convivial hospitality".
He adds: "This is a win not just for Jigger & Pony, but a win for the cocktail bar community in Singapore. It has been a really tough year for everyone around the world, and there is still so much uncertainty ahead of us. We are not out of the woods yet but tough times will spark new ideas, new ways of doing things."
