My Best Bars of 2022
After a long year of visiting many bars around the world, here is a curated list of the ones that impressed me the most in 2022.
The time has come for me to drop my ‘best of 2022’ lists, starting with my best (read: favorite) bars. After visiting 10 countries and nearly 200 bars this year, I’ve gathered some serious intel on the best places to drink cocktails around the world.
Many of these bars could easily be on the 50 Best Bars list—and, in fact, many of them are—but a hefty handful of the bars mentioned are simply places that I enjoyed drinking in for one reason or another. When curating my best bars of 2022, I considered ambiance, service, hospitality, design (both aesthetic and function), cocktails, food, the overall bar concept and subjective experience. The result: a mix of bars that serve some damn good cocktails in spaces that you could easily spend a full day in.
It’s worth noting that many of the bars on the list are London-based since that’s where I live and have drunk the most. But, I will say, despite that being the case, I genuinely believe that, at this moment in time, there’s no better place on Earth to drink cocktails than London (possibly Singapore, but I haven’t been yet, so TBD). As a whole, the bar scene in London is truly ahead of the curve. So much so, that if you took a few of the lesser-known/recognized London cocktail bars and plopped them into another major market like New York City, I thoroughly believe they’d be making serious waves. No cap. (Alright, I’m off my soap box now.)
Anyway, without further ado, here are my Best Bars of 2022.
(Note: This list is comprised of bars visited before Dec 15, 2022. Any bars visited after that date will be considered for the 2023 list.)
El Patio at Marbella Club
City: Marbella, Spain
Favorite drink: The Traveller Paradise — a blend of Irish whiskey, lemon juice, Galliano, sumac cordial and za’atar tincture. So simple, yet impeccably balanced. Probably the best use of Galliano I’ve seen in a cocktail.
Vibe: This all-day bar and restaurant at the luxurious, and historic, Marbella Club is, aesthetically, my favorite bar of 2022. The immersive and vibrant Mediterranean design and decor truly spares no detail. I could try and explain how extraordinary the place is, but my Instagram reel does a better job at capturing its beauty. The food is fresh and flavorful, and the cocktails are all subtle twists on classics executed to perfection. In addition to The Traveller Paradise, the Alfonso Meets Frida—mezcal, lime, orange liqueur and corn cordial—is the Margarita twist you didn’t know you needed. If you have the chance to visit, I can’t recommend it enough. Personally, I can’t wait for my next visit back.
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Silverleaf Bar
City: London
Favorite drink: Pineapple | Miso (duh). Craigellachie 13 year scotch, Eagle Rare 10 year bourbon, brown butter, pineapple and miso caramel.
Vibe: Sure, the futuristic Tom Dixon-designed space is chic AF, but you’re coming for the cocktails and hospitality. The drinks menu here is, overall, the best I’ve tasted in 2022. It’s just hit after hit of clean, minimalist drinking with focused and approachable flavors. Excited to watch this bar prosper in 2023, and make sure you put it on your list whenever you’re in London.
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Ave at Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, Grand Cayman
City: Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
Favorite drink: Escape (If You Like Piña Coladas). If a Ramos Gin Fizz and Champagne Piña Colada had a baby, it’d be this cocktail.
Vibe: Is this what heaven is like? Well, when the sun sets at Ave, this nautically-designed bar’s floor-to-ceiling glass windows allow the space to be enveloped by a copper-gold sheen that makes it feel that way. And, to be fair, if I were to die with an Escape in my hand during golden hour at Ave, I can safely say that I’d die the happiest man on Earth. I love everything about this bar, from where it’s located, to the drinks which have a sense of place, and the Cayman kind hospitality.
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Pulitzer's Bar at Hotel Pulitzer
City: Amsterdam
Favorite drink: Golden Fields Fashioned — Inactive Yeast Genever, coffee-infused Michter’s Rye, banana, and bitters. Although they serve a damn good Daiquiri as well, I might add.
Vibe: Pulitzer’s Bar exudes a sense of timelessness. It’s a place where worries are wiped away from your mind, and you’re simply able to be present in a stunning art deco-influenced space that feels something like a millionaire’s study. The approachable twists on classics are well-done and purposeful, but for me this bar is all about the ambiance and hospitality. If someone told me I could only go to three bars for the rest of my life, Pulitzer’s Bar would be on that list. It’s a special place that’s worth a stop — both for its eclectic Dutch architecture and delightful drinks.
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Lyaness
City: London
Favorite drink: Dufftown Manhattan — Glenfiddich 15, fruit furikake, green peppercorn vermouth, koseret bitters + peppercorn-soaked olive (no longer on menu).
Vibe: Easily one of London’s most bustling and innovative bars located right on the River Thames. It’s perfect for large groups, or intimate date nights, and the cocktails are unlike anything you’ll drink anywhere else (in true Lyan style). A must-stop when in London.
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KOL Mezcaleria
City: London
Favorite drink: Cucumber & Pine Martini
Vibe: KOL Mezcaleria’s escapist, Mexican-influenced interiors are paired with a range of creative cocktails that showcase agave spirits with British flavors. The list is split into five seasonally rotating flavor profiles, which recently have included fig leaf-and-pine and coffee-and-woodruff. For each flavor profile, guests can choose between two cocktails, each of which is a reinvented classic: one of the two drinks contains a Mexican spirit as the base, while the other uses a more familiar spirit such as gin or whiskey. I personally believe it’s the most underrated cocktail bar in London, and if you haven’t been yet, you should make that happen sooner rather than later.
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The Lowback
City: London
Favorite drink: Pink Gibson — Boatyard vodka, Audemus umami gin, Aperitivo Co. dry vermouth, pink pickled onion, frozen to perfection.
Vibe: Located in Canary Wharf (London’s mini Manhattan) beneath its sister restaurant, Hawksmoor, The Lowback is a laidback, chic brasserie that serves up the best burger and martinis that I’ve had in London. The martinis are so good that I tried 4 of the ones on offer during my first visit there. Ironically, I was the one who helped carry another journalist out of the bar. Morale of the story: Go here for a damn good time and a flawless martini; but do be warned that you can end up with noodle legs by the end of the evening if you aren’t careful.
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Side Hustle at The NoMad Hotel
City: London
Favorite drink: Margarita or Walter Gibson Martini (or any classic cocktail, really).
Vibe: Unlike many of London’s five-star hotel bars, Side Hustle isn’t stuffy, nor does it take itself too seriously. The Mexican-flavored bar serves killer tacos and tostadas with non-stop Latin jams, and the best margaritas in London. For a fun night out with exceptional food and drink, and talented bartenders, look no further.
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Two Schmucks
City: Barcelona
Favorite drink: Melon, Cheese & Pepper
Vibe: Sadly, while there’s still a bar in Barcelona called “Two Schmucks,” it’s no longer run and owned by the people who made it the special place that it was. It’s a long story, but you can find out more via the link below which drives to Moe’s Instagram page where he shares more about it. (Moe is one of the original founders of the bar and brand who was controversially pushed out by some scumbag and venture capitalist investors). Anyway, RIP to the real Two Schmucks — it was a privilege to drink there and experience the madness while it was still around.
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Le Syndicat
City: Paris
Favorite drink: Lil’ Wine (no longer on menu).
Vibe: The OG five-star dive bar where you can vibe to some hip-hop while drinking gastronomic cocktails made strictly with French spirits. It’s the bar where you want to finish your night because you never know when you’ll actually leave.
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SIPS
City: Barcelona
Favorite drink: Mosaic Cocktail — pisco, palo santo, tonic water.
Vibe: Currently ranked as the 3rd best bar in the world, according to 50 Best Bars, owner/bartender Simone Caperole’s “drinkery house” is a can’t miss mixology experience in Barcelona. The open-concept design focused around an island bar deconstructs any pre-conceived notions about what a bar should be, and leaves guests both intrigued and inspired. The cocktails are all a bit out there with unique garnishes, ices, and serving vessels, but it all makes sense within the high-concept space (and more importantly, the drinks are delicious).
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Tayer + Elementary
City: London
Favorite drink: One Sip Martini. A gin and fino sherry martini in a shot glass, served with a chilled, blue cheese-stuffed olive. It’s one of my favorite drinks in London.
Vibe: The dual-concept bar, which is currently ranked 2nd in the world, features a fast-paced casual cocktail bar in front (i.e Elementary) with a high-concept and innovative cocktail bar in the back (i.e Tayer). Depending on what you’re after, one space might be a better fit than the other; but if you’re interested in seeing how this bar is pushing the boundaries of flavor, you must check out Tayer. There’s always a wait, but it’s well-worth it.
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Little Red Door
City: Paris
Favorite drink: Olive — olive spirit, grape eau de vie and a savory soda. Crushable.
Vibe: This unassuming, intimate Parisian cocktail den reinvented itself during the pandemic, and it’s paid off. Currently ranked 5th on the world’s 50 Best Bars list, Little Red Door has gone from strength to strength in the last couple of years due to the bar’s newfound dedication to sustainable producer relationships. The bar’s menu is exceptional, highlighting the producers and produce that they work with and source for their high-concept cocktails. It’s one of the must-visit bars in the city of love.
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Frequence
City: Paris
Favorite drink: I forget the name, but it was made with coffee spirit, barley shochu, almond, orange blossom
Vibe: Record bars are in again, and Frequence is a damn cool one. I haven’t been late-night, but apparently the downstairs area gets lit once the DJ gets playing and the creative minimalist cocktails get traded in for things that are easier to toss back whilst dancing the night away. I was there earlier in the evening, and I enjoyed sitting there with a couple of friends, working through the menu, and simply enjoying the cool, hipster-ish space. It’s flirted with the 50 Best list, and is one to watch for the future.
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Satan's Whiskers
City: London
Favorite drink: Literally any classic cocktail (that’s their schtick).
Vibe: Satan’s Whiskers is the cool neighborhood cocktail bar you wish you lived near (or, in my case, am glad I don’t live near because they’d take all my money). The bartenders are subtly slick, and knowledgeable; their classic cocktails, which rotate on the regular, are all prototypical examples of said classics; and the cheese toastie is absolute crack. It’s a bar where it’s easy to spend an evening tossing back a few Sazeracs, or Mai Tais, before crushing one of those killer toasties and heading back home tipsy and filled with carbs and cheese. Oh yeah, and they’re also ranked 23rd on the 50 Best list, so there’s that too (if you care).
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Super Lyan
City: Amsterdam
Favorite drink: Mayaimi Vice - Cocchi rosa strawberry colada, coconut daiquiri foam (literally, run for this drink)
Vibe: Super Lyan, sister bar to London-based Lyaness, is bubbly, vibrant and a place to crush some playful cocktails in an eccentrically-designed, yet chic, space. Sitting at the bar is always a good shout as the bartenders are always engaged and ready to show you a good time, and the cocktails are bound to deliver. The Mayaimi Vice is on the “Lyan All-Stars” list and is honestly one of my favorite drinks anywhere, and their previous menu of reinvented cocktails from the Savoy Cocktail Book was super well-done. All-in-all, if you’re looking for the most contemplative, and tasty cocktails in Amsterdam, Super Lyan is the spot.
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