The Best Bar In North America Was Just Revealed — And It’s Not in NYC

Photo Credit: Handshake SpeakeasyAt a high-energy ceremony at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, North America’s 50 Best Bars revealed its 2025 rankings—and for the second year running, Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City has claimed the No.1 spot. In addition to being crowned The Best Bar in North America, the minimalist, avant-garde speakeasy was also named The Best Bar in Mexico, thanks to its innovative flavor combinations and sleek new location inside the NH Hotel in Colonia Juárez.

2025 Highlights at a Glance:

Photo Credit: 50 Best

• No.1: Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City

• 26 U.S. bars, including Superbueno (No.2), Jewel of the South (No.4), and Sip & Guzzle (No.5)

• 14 Mexican bars, with strong showings from Tlecān (No.3) and Licorería Limantour (No.9)

• 8 Canadian bars, led by Bar Pompette in Toronto (No.7), awarded The Best Bar in Canada

• 2 Caribbean bars, including Library by the Sea (No.30), named The Best Bar in the Caribbean

Special Awards and Top Honors:

Photo Credit: Sip and Guzzle

• Roku Industry Icon: Julie Reiner, Clover Club & Milady’s, New York

• Campari One To Watch: Lemon, Chicago

• Three Cents Best New Opening: Clemente Bar, New York (No.11)

• Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award: Thunderbolt, Los Angeles (No.24)

• Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu: Civil Works, Toronto

• Nikka Highest Climber: Mírate, Los Angeles (No.12, up 34 spots)

• Disaronno Highest New Entry: Sip & Guzzle, New York (No.5)

• Best Bar Design (St-Germain): Carry On, Phoenix

• Rémy Martin Legend of the List: Licorería Limantour, Mexico City (No.9)

New York City Dominates Yet Again:

Photo Credit: Superbueno

With 11 bars on the list, NYC proves it remains the cocktail capital of the U.S. Notables include:

• Superbueno (No.2) – Best in Northeast USA

• Clemente Bar (No.11) – Best New Opening

• Overstory (No.6), Martiny’s (No.15), Employees Only (No.18), and Dante (No.46)

Emerging Stars Across the Continent:

Photo Credit: Jewel of the South

• Café La Trova (No.13) continues to represent Miami’s Latin flair

• Arca (No.27) in Tulum and Selva (No.29) in Oaxaca showcase Mexico’s regional depth

• Bar Mauro (No.14) and Bijou Drinkery Room (No.34) join Mexico City’s growing cocktail dynasty

• Cure (No.50) and Jewel of the South (No.4) spotlight New Orleans’ legacy

• Civil Liberties (No.21), Botanist (No.26), and Cloakroom (No.31) strengthen Canada’s standing

• Silver Lyan (No.48) and Allegory (No.45) mark Washington D.C. as a city to watch

See the full list of winners here! 

Photo Credit: Handshake Speakeasy

Position Bar Town
1 Handshake Speakeasy Mexico City
2 Superbueno New York
3 Tlecān Mexico City
4 Jewel of the South New Orleans
5 Sip & Guzzle New York
6 Overstory New York
7 Bar Pompette Toronto
8 El Gallo Altanero Guadalajara
9 Licorería Limantour Mexico City
10 Kumiko Chicago
11 Clemente Bar New York
12 Mírate Los Angeles
13 Café La Trova Miami
14 Bar Mauro Mexico City
15 Martiny’s New York
16 Pacific Cocktail Haven San Francisco
17 True Laurel San Francisco
18 Employees Only New York
19 Double Chicken Please New York
20 Baltra Bar Mexico City
21 Civil Liberties Toronto
22 Aruba Day Drink Tijuana
23 Service Bar Washington DC
24 Thunderbolt Los Angeles
25 Best Intentions Chicago
26 Botanist Bar Vancouver
27 Arca Tulum
28 The Keefer Bar Vancouver
29 Selva Oaxaca
30 Library by the Sea Grand Cayman
31 Cloakroom Montreal
32 La Factoría San Juan
33 Maison Premiere New York
34 Bijou Drinkery Room Mexico City
35 Hanky Panky Mexico City
36 Atwater Cocktail Club Montreal
37 Bar Mordecai Toronto
38 Meadowlark Chicago
39 Bisous Chicago
40 Kaito del Valle Mexico City
41 Yacht Club Denver
42 Katana Kitten New York
43 Angel’s Share New York
44 Mother Toronto
45 Allegory Washington DC
46 Dante New York
47 Café de Nadie Mexico City
48 Silver Lyan Washington DC
49 Bekeb San Miguel de Allende
50 Cure New Orleans

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