Sips, Barcelona crowned The World’s Best Bar 2023

New York’s Double Chicken Please is runner up followed by Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy.

18 October 2023 - 11:16am

It was an emotional win for Simone Caporale (middle) and Marc Álvarez (right) from Sips, Barcelona (All photos: The World's 50 Best Bars)

The industry’s foremost mixologists flew in from around the world to gather at the Pasir Panjang Power Station in Singapore for The World’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony yesterday, but Simone Caporale and Marc Álvarez from Sips are returning to Barcelona victorious — their “drinkery house” won first place and was dubbed The Best Bar in Europe.

Located in the heart of Barcelona’s L'Antiga Esquerra de l'Eixample district, Sips is a swanky hideaway that opened in 2021 during uncertain times but held on to “a dream to prove ourselves that we could do something” conviction, as shared by Caporale in his acceptance speech.

Barely two years after inception, they claimed pride of place on the world stage. But this isn’t unfamiliar territory. The duo has led illustrious careers before their partnership — Caporale having been part of the team that led Artesian from London to win The World’s Best Bar title four times, while Álvarez spent almost a decade at Spanish chefs Ferran and Albert Adrià’s revolutionary (but now defunct) elBarri restaurant group.

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Sips’ disruptive approach to creative mixology shines through in innovative haute couture drinks at pret-a-porter prices

“It feels unreal. Tomorrow we might realise, but for the time being, it’s something like a dream,” said Caporale at the press conference later that night. “It’s just an incredible feeling. Thank you so much to everyone who made this dream happen,” Álvarez added.

Sips is only the second bar from Barcelona that has taken top spot in the award’s history, following Paradiso, who won last year, but is now at fourth place. New York’s Double Chicken Please ranks No 2, moving up four places after entering the list at No 6 last year. Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy climbs from No 11 to No 3 while London’s Connaught Bar ascends from No 8 to No 5.

In the host city of Singapore, Jigger & Pony landed No 14 alongside Sago House (No 32) and Atlas (No 48). Newcomer Zest from Seoul joins the Asian contingent and is the winner of this year’s Disaronno Highest New Entry Award, at No 18. Winning The Best Bar in Asia is BKK Social Club at No 13. Unfortunately, no Malaysian bars made it to this year's list.

Special awards were also given to honour players outside of the No 1-50 ranking. Highlights include Lima’s Lady Bee bagging Campari One To Watch, Singapore’s Night Hawk receiving the inaugural Bareksten Best Bar Design Award and Renato 'Tato' Giovannoni of Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires, being voted as Roku Industry Icon.