The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020

On November 5, 2020, the World’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony took place, albeit virtually due to Covid-19. As the exclusive official partner for the tequila category, Altos Tequila sponsored the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award, as it does every year. This year’s winner is Renato “Tato” Giovannoni, Owner of Florería Atlántico.

The mastermind behind this Buenos Aires bar, which pays tribute to the diverse immigrant history of Argentina, takes the cocktail sector’s top peer-voted award. This award is voted for by the bartenders behind the bars on this year’s World’s 50 Best Bars list, who are asked to name one peer who pushes the boundaries of what it means to be a great bartender.

Armed with a degree in filmmaking and experience in graphic design, Giovannoni has merged his aptitude for art and his love for cocktail creation. Since starting his career in his early teens working in his father’s bars, restaurants and nightclubs, he has traveled the globe for pop-ups and guest shifts, spreading the message of Argentine bar culture far and wide.

Giovannoni founded Florería Atlántico in 2013 and in that same year achieved the impressive feat of leading the bar onto the World’s 50 Best Bars list. In 2019, the bar was placed at No.3 in the prestigious ranking, making it the first Latin American bar to make the top three. A speakeasy hidden beneath a florist, Florería Atlántico is a tribute to the iconic drinks that were introduced and enjoyed by immigrants between the 1900s to 1920s.

The bar also features a local section that spotlights the unique flavors of Argentina. Always looking for new platforms of expression, Giovannoni published Coctelería Argentina: el mar de Tato in 2016, a book that documents his original cocktail creations and experiences as a bartender.

On winning this year’s award, Giovannoni comments, “Winning the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award was truly unexpected. Not only does Florería Atlántico represent Argentina on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, I now have the honor and responsibility of representing my country. It has always been my dream to carry my nation’s flag around the world through my work. More than an accomplishment, it is also an affirmation of the work we have put in, to capture the essence of Argentina and Latin America, while elevating creativity and sustainable practices in our industry.”

The Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award was introduced to the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2017, when Iain Griffiths was the winner. Joe Schofield, who plans to open a new bar in Manchester, UK in 2021, won in 2018, and Monica Berg of Tayēr + Elementary in London was the winner in 2019.

Carlos Andres Ramirez, Global Advocacy Manager for Altos Tequila, says, “For Altos Tequila, it is an honor to sponsor the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award for the third consecutive year. Supporting the bartending community has been one of our main pillars since the creation of Altos. During this difficult time, it is more important than ever to support the World’s 50 Best Bars with initiatives like the Recovery Fund and this digital awards ceremony so that the spirit of collectiveness and togetherness remains strong. We are sure we will gather together again next year to celebrate. Congratulations to the peer-voted 2020 Bartenders’ Bartender.

Among other highlights at the virtual ceremony, the list of the top 50 bars was presented; the ranking features bars from 23 countries and sees London’s Connaught Bar clinch the No.1 spot and take home The World’s Best Bar and The Best Bar in Europe awards.

Under the masterful leadership of Agostino Perrone, the venue’s Director of Mixology, Connaught Bar stays true to its principles of presenting artful drinks with graceful service in an elegant setting. Designed by the late David Collins, the Cubist-inspired bar celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2018 and is known for its unique Martini trolley, where bartenders give a personalized drink experience to guests.

At No.2 this year, is last year’s winner Dante in New York, which also takes The Best Bar in North America title, sponsored by Asahi Super Dry. Coming in at No.3 is The Clumsies in Athens, while Singapore’s Atlas lands at No.4.

The UK leads Europe with nine bars on the list and Connaught Bar as The Best Bar in Europe, sponsored by Perrier. London’s Tayēr + Elementary wins Highest New Entry Award at No.5 and Kwānt clinches Best New Opening at No.6.

Other London bars on the list include American Bar at No.20, Lyaness at No.29, Swift at No.33, Three Sheets at No.34 and Artesian at No.41. Edinburgh’s Panda & Sons (New Entry) completes the UK’s showing at No.32. Greece sees two bars from Athens on the list, The Clumsies with a record-high position at No.3 and Baba au Rum at No.31; while Spain takes three spots with Barcelona’s Paradiso at No.19 and Two Schmucks (New Entry) at No.26, as well as Madrid’s Salmón Gurú at No.22. Italy boasts two bars, with Milan’s 1930 at No.25 and Rome’s Drink Kong (New Entry and last year’s Campari One to Watch) at No.45. France, Russia, Norway, Sweden, and Germany each have one bar on the list, with Paris’ Little Red Door at No.24, St Petersburg’s El Copitas at No.27, Oslo’s Himkok at No.30, Stockholm’s Tjoget at No.36, and Berlin’s Buck & Breck at No.37.

North and South America (10 bars) [MOU1] New York’s Dante is The Best Bar in North America, at No.2 in the global ranking. Four other bars from New York make the list this year, including Attaboy at No.12, Nomad Bar at No.13, Katana Kitten at No.16 and Employees Only at No.38. Florería Atlántico in Buenos Aires places No.7 and is named The Best Bar in South America, sponsored by iichiko Saiten. This is followed by Mexico City’s Licorería Limantour at No.17, Lima’s Carnaval at No.21, Cartegena’s Alquímico (New Entry) at No.47, and Buenos Aires’ Presidente at No.50.

Meanwhile, Asia receives 15 bar awards. Singapore’s Atlas at No.4 is The Best Bar in Asia. Also from Singapore, Jigger & Pony places No.9, while Manhattan and Native take the No.14 and No.18 spots, respectively. China leads the way in Asia with five bars on the list, including Hong Kong’s Coa at No.8 and The Old Man at No.15. Shanghai’s Sober Company is placed at No.42, and from Taipei, Indulge Experimental Bistro is at No.43, while Room by Le Kief (New Entry) enters the list at No.46. Japan sees three bars from Tokyo on the list, including The SG Club at No.10, Bar Benfiddich (New Entry) at No.40 and High Five at No.48. Thailand, Malaysia, and South Korea have one new bar each on the list—Bangkok’s The Bamboo Bar (New Entry) at No.35, Kuala Lumpur’s Bar Trigona (New Entry) at No.44, and Seoul’s Charles H (New Entry) at No.49.

Australia receives three bar awards and the Middle East one. Australia places three bars from Sydney, with Maybe Sammy taking The Best Bar in Australasia, at No.11; Cantina OK! (New Entry) at No.28; and Bulletin Place at No.39.

Congratulations and “salud” to all the winners, many of them members of our Tahona Society family and global finalists, like Jose Luis Leon from Licorería Limantour. Let us keep working together and supporting each other. If you would like contact information for any Tahona Society members, let us know so we can arrange it and continue to expand our growing vibrant network.

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