We’ve had the World’s 50 Best Bars, a list compiled annually since 2009 by UK-based business media company William Reed. Now – for the first time – Europe’s 50 Best Bars have been revealed… and Greece is doing very well in the watering hole department.
The inaugural list was revealed yesterday in Amsterdam at a live awards ceremony. It was the result of the vote of more than 300 drinks experts from across the region.
While London still had the most entries in the Top 50 with a total of seven bars, followed by Barcelona with six and Paris with five, it was a good night for Athens, as the Greek capital took both the top spot with Line and second place with The Bar in Front of the Bar. Which is a corking name.
Fellow Athenian bars Barro Negro, Baba au Rum and The Clumsies followed at No.13, No.14 and No.30 respectively, while Thessaloniki-based Gorilla took the No.33 spot.
Check out the Top 50 here and here are the top 10 European bars for 2026:
10. Connaught Bar, London
Open since 2008, Connaught Bar is a regular on The World’s 50 Best Bars list and is renown for its illustrious martini trolley.
“Perhaps the quintessential luxury hotel bar experience, Connaught Bar has perfected luxe hospitality and service. Led by legendary bartending trio Agostino Perrone, Maura Millia and Giorgio Bargiani, there’s a good reason why this bar has remained at the top of the game for the last 15 years.” @theconnaught
9. Paradiso, Barcelona
Another World’s Best Bars regular, the wood interior and surreal décor makes Paradiso a must-visit.
“Behind the fridge door of a pastrami shop in Barcelona, you’ll find this Gaudi-inspired speakeasy. Inside, a wonderland of cocktails awaits, dreamed up by the Paradiso team, led by husband-and-wife duo Giacomo Giannotti and Margarita Sader.” @paradiso_barcelona
8. Mirror Bar, Bratislava
“A glamorous, emerald-toned lounge centred around a striking central tree anchor, Mirror Bar is an intimate, theatrical and unforgettable. Recognised with the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award 2026, the bar serves reinterpreted classics and avant-garde creations like the Lantern of Infinity inside handcrafted vessels made by local Slovak artists.”
7. The Cambridge Public House, Paris
Founded by three friends in 2019 and inspired by the great British pub (the name is a bit of a giveaway), this bar blends Parisian cocktails with a selection of classic British bar snacks.
“Half-traditional pub, half-cocktail bar: The Cambridge is a one-of-a-kind drinks outpost, located within Paris’ cultural Marais district. Within the space, the team have mastered the perfect pour of Guinness and remarkably balanced cocktails with equal expertise.” @thecambridge_paris
6. Moebius Milano, Milan
“Marrying industrial minimalism with raw brutalism, this visually arresting Milanese venue is home to a trio of spaces, including a casual tapa bistrot, an exclusive fine dining counter restaurant and bar with one of Europe’s best drinks programmes.” It’s signature cocktail? The Pesto Martini.
5. Bar Nouveau, Paris
Despite its name, you won’t find a single modern bottle of booze on the shelves at this relatively new, dual-floored Paris bar. The only bottles on display at Bar Nouveau are a selection of vintage vermouths, liqueurs and more.
4. Himkok, Oslo
A Top 10 regular, Himkok is a moody delight.
“Translated as ‘homecooked’, Himkok is a masterclass in building the ultimate cocktail experience from scratch. Expect everything from gin and vodka taps cascading over the entrance to house-frozen ice and barrels of aquavit maturing around the premises.” @himkok.oslo
3. Sips, Barcelona
A previous No.1 on The World’s Top 50 Bars, Sips is an immersive experience and one of Europe’s very best.
“When two of the industry’s most creative minds come together, expect the spectacular. That’s exactly what happened when Simone Caporale and Marc Alvarez created Sips in 2021. Just two years into its existence and it’s named The World’s Best Bar and The Best Bar in Europe 2023, sponsored by Perrier. Within the drinkery, it’s all about serious cocktails served in unserious forms, such as the Primordial – a blend of 12-year-old Scotch, Ruby Port and peranashi – which is served to visitors in a metal cast of two hands.” @sips.barcelona
2. The Bar in Front of the Bar, Athens
“From the outside, The Bar in Front of the Bar looks to be another street-corner spot that celebrates Greece’s al fresco drinking culture with a daily rotating line-up of highly crushable drinks. But step through the door to enter a plush lounge delivering innovative serves created in collaboration with local farmers and producers.”
1. Line, Athens
No stranger to the Best Bars list, Line frequently flirted with the Top 10. Now, it’s in at the top spot and earned the inaugural title of The Best Bar in Europe.
“A former art gallery, now bar, Line is home to some of the most thought-provoking drinks around. Everything, from its beloved distillates to its bread-based snacks, is made in-house, resulting in an experience worth the short trip outside of Athens city centre.” @line.athens
“Sustainability is the lifeblood of Line’s operation with ingredients and often discarded byproducts recycled, upcycled and reused across its operation – be it in its Delusional Margarita, infused with ketchup, mustard and potato water, its remarkable bread or its signature Why-Ins, made with every fruit other than grapes.”
“Line was born from a difficult time during Covid-19. This is a dream come true,” said co-founder Dimitris Dafapoulous about the bar’s win.
Fellow co-founder Vasilis Krystis added about the great night for Greece: “There is a natural personality expressed by Greek bartenders around the world. It’s in our DNA to express ourselves behind the bar without any rules, which is something that anyone who visits Athens will discover.”
Have fun. Drink responsibly.