World’s Best Bars: How many are in South Africa?

Fifty of the world’s best bars for the year 2022 will soon be announced at an awards ceremony in Barcelona. Where does SA feature?

The world’s 50 best bars for 2022 will be revealed at an awards ceremony in Barcelona, Spain on Tuesday, 4 October.

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First published in 2009, the World’s 50 Best Bars provides an annual ranking of bars as voted for by 650 drinks experts from across the globe.

Ahead of that announcement, an extended 51-100 list of bars has been revealed containing as many as four watering holes in South Africa – three in Cape Town and one in Johannesburg.

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The 51-100 list includes 32 cities and features 15 new entries.

Singapore leads the list with eight bars, while the UK leads in Europe with four bars out of 18 across the continent.

SOUTH AFRICA BARS IN WORLD’S TOP 51-100 LIST

At No 100 on the list, Sin + Tax in Parkwood, Johannesburg is a re-entry.

“The low-lit and intimate space has a few seats at the blue-tiled bar or low-slung leather couches to sink into,” say the compilers of the list.

“When it comes to the drinks, the menu is seasonal and bartenders work hard at evolving the offering with flavour-centric combinations – but rest assured, the classics are not forgotten either.”

At No 92, The House of Machines is a new entry, located on Shortmarket Street in Cape Town’s CBD.

“The drinks list suits the rustic yet contemporary environs, with its exposed brickwork and heavy wooden beams – an accessible, unpretentious selection of twists on classics alongside some straightforward spirit-and-mixer options,” said the list’s compilers.

At No 88 on the list, the Art of Duplicity in Cape Town is a hidden bar, with little more on its website than a link to book a table.

“Obtain the password, locate the secret venue within a Victorian warehouse in central Cape Town, and you’ll be immersed in a time gone by, when Prohibition was in force and cocktails were served behind closed doors such as this one.

The bartenders look the part, as does this intimate space, right down to the last vintage detail. Cocktails are among the best in the city – an inventive list of signature drinks, beautifully presented,” according to the list’s authors.

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At No 53, Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen is in Gardens, Cape Town.

This Cape Town venue aims to turn local cocktail tradition on its head with its menu of bold and expertly crafted drinks, the list’s authors said.

“Inside it’s all dark hues, rustic wood and touches of greenery to create a warm yet relaxed vibe. When it comes to those drinks, however, the territory is less familiar. Sustainability runs through the entire offering, with closed-loop ingredients being reused and adapted into new elements. They also use a completely waterless system, chilling each drink without using ice.

“The bartenders’ uniforms have also garnered plenty of attention, what with them all dressed in lab coats and busily mixing up their concoctions.”

Forget the list above, what in YOUR opinion is the best bar in Mzansi?

By: Garrin Lambley