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A new ranking reveals the world’s 50 best bars for 2026 — and four Big Apple watering holes made the cut.
Unveiled in Milan earlier this week, the 18th edition of the annual list saw roughly 800 expert judges cast votes from around the globe.
Topping the list once again is Bar Leone, an acclaimed Italian-themed cocktail hotspot in Hong Kong’s bustling Central District that also nabbed top honors in 2025. Bar Leone was named the best bar in Asia in 2024, while ranking second globally. By 2025, it was crowned the World’s Best Bar — a title it now proudly retains.
Co-founded by Italian bartender Lorenzo Antinori, the bar draws inspiration from the lively vibe of Rome’s Trastevere neighborhood. Antinori attributes the venue’s wild success to its laser focus on timeless classic drinks rather than flashy, trendy theatrics.
Four NYC bars earned spots among the global top 50, with three making debuts on the list. Superbueno, Double Chicken Please and Overstory — three NYC bars — failed to make the cut this year, despite appearing on the 2025 list.
11. Schmuck
Schmuck, an East Village cocktail spot from two Barcelona-based bar owners, opened in 2025 and quickly earned rave reviews. Co-owners Moe Aljaff and Juliette Larrouy designed the bar to feel like an intimate house party where guests can move from room to room.
The bar is split across two distinct spaces: the Living Room and the Kitchen Table. Each area has a distinct vibe and menu, but guests are encouraged to roam freely and feel right at home.
Aljaff told The Post in 2025 that he was opening Schmuck with just $10 and change in his checking account. The two used AI for everything from explaining how their water filtration system worked to providing average prices and licensing laws to help prevent them from getting swindled or fined.
The Living Room menu features abstract takes on classic flavors, including crowd-favorites like “Bread and Tomato” and “Caramelized Apple” cocktails. The Strawberry & Cheese drink topped with parmesan sounds questionable but gets rave reviews. The food menu delivers a fusion of European and Middle Eastern flavors, including White Bean Cacio e Pepe and Smoked Labneh. Schmuck is located at 97 1st Ave. at the corner of East 6th Street.
14. Sip & Guzzle
Sip & Guzzle soared to 14th place this year, jumping from its No. 39 ranking in the 2025 list. Inspired by the dual energies of New York and Tokyo, the West Village destination draws its theme from an 1860 tale of a samurai visiting the US.
Downstairs, “Sip” offers a sleek speakeasy vibe with standouts like the Yakitini dirty martini and the Strawberry Hot Pot cocktail, alongside food standouts like the bluefin tuna tartare and tea-smoked caviar.
Upstairs at “Guzzle,” the mood is more casual, with nearly every table ordering a plate of spicy fried “electric” chicken. Sip & Guzzle is located at 29 Cornelia St. in Manhattan.
46. Martiny’s
Takuma Watanabe was a bartender at Angel’s Share in NYC before opening his solo venture, Martiny’s, in 2022. The Japanese cocktail lounge spans three floors and is located between Union Square East and Irving Place in Gramercy. The bar is named after Philip Martiny, the sculptor who crafted the arch in Washington Square Park.
Watanabe, named Bartender of the Year in 2024, is famous for the Grand Martiny’s – a wine-like martini variation with gin — as well as creative drinks like the Caprese cocktail with whiskey and tomato water and the matcha-infused Tea Ceremony cocktail.
49. Bar Snack
This East Village spot bills itself as serving “dressed up classics for dressed down people.” Bar Snack takes its name from the “snaquiri” – a smaller portion of a classic daiquiri.
Naturally, the bar boasts an extensive daiquiri selection alongside a food menu offering bar food with a fun twist. The cult-favorite is the Spice Bag: chicken tenders and fries tossed in a bag with peppers and curry sauce. Aiming to serve as a friendly neighborhood joint, the kitchen stays open until midnight, seven days a week.
