Let’s take a moment to give big props to all of this year’s Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards Top 10 regional honorees. The list takes in bars from Antigua and Auchterarder to Aguadilla and Accra (and that’s just the A’s….)
What’s next? The good news is they all have some time to bask in the glory of making it this far before the next stage of the process on 21 May where the Top 10 nominees will be announced; that’s followed by the Top 4 finalists along with the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award, Tales Visionary Award, International Timeless Award, and US Timeless Award announcements on 9 June.
Then it’s the big one, the Spirited Awards, where the Top 4 will be celebrated, the winners announced and receiving their highly coveted crystal plates on 24 July at the 19th Annual Spirited Awards Ceremony at the Fillmore New Orleans. But that’s in the future, for now it’s all about the Top 10 honorees, by region…
US CENTRAL
Best US Bar Team
Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 – New Orleans, LA
Best Intentions – Chicago, IL
Cobra – Columbus, OH
Daydreamer – Austin, TX
Lemon – Chicago, IL
Meteor – Minneapolis, MN
Midnight Rambler at the Joule – Dallas, TX
Porco Lounge & Tiki Room – Cleveland, OH
The Meadowlark – Chicago, IL
The Roosevelt Room – Austin, TX
Three Dots And A Dash and The Bamboo Room – Chicago, IL
*11 honorers due to a tie
Best US Cocktail Bar
Bar Tonique – New Orleans, LA
Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 – New Orleans, LA
Best Intentions – Chicago, IL
Here Not There – Austin, TX
Kiesling – Detroit, MI
Lemon – Chicago, IL
Meteor – Minneapolis, MN
Reserve 101 – Houston, TX
The Roosevelt Room – Austin, TX
Three Dots And A Dash – Chicago, IL
Best US Hotel Bar
Bandista at The Four Seasons Hotel – Houston, TX
Chandelier Bar at the Four Seasons – New Orleans, LA
Carousel Bar & Lounge at Hotel Monteleone – New Orleans, LA
Catbird at The Thompson Hotel – Dallas, TX
Cindy’s Rooftop at Chicago Athletic Association Hotel – Chicago, IL
Equipment Room at Hotel Magdalena – Auto, TX
Hot Tin at the Pontchartrain Hotel – New Orleans, LA
Lazy Bird at The Hoxton – Chicago, IL
Midnight Rambler at the Joule – Dallas, TX
Vol. 39 at the Kimpton Gray Hotel – Chicago, IL
Best US Restaurant Bar
Apothecary – Dallas, TX
Arnaud’s French 75 Bar – New Orleans, LA
Club Lucky – Chicago, IL
Cobra – Columbus, OH
Espiritu Mezcaleria – New Orleans, LA
Grey Ghost – Detroit, MI
Kumiko – Chicago, IL
Maple and Ash – Chicago, IL
Maxwells Trading – Chicago, IL
Murray’s Tavern – Austin, TX
Spoon and Stable – Minneapolis, Mn
*11 honorers due to a tie
Best New US Cocktail Bar
Bisous – Chicago, IL
Common Decency – Chicago, IL
Fern Bar – Kansas City, MO
Good Company – St. Louis, MO
Gus’s Sip & Dip – Chicago, IL
Nickel City – Houston, TX
Nightbloom – New Orleans, LA
Papercut – Austin, TX
Public Parking – Madison, WI
Truce – Chicago, IL
US EAST
Best US Bar Team
Allegory at the Eaton Hotel – Washington, D.C
Blossom Bar – Brookline, MA
Champagne Bar at the Four Seasons Surf Club – Miami, FL
Double Chicken Please – New York, NY
Eleven Madison Park – New York, NY
Jojo’s Beloved – Atlanta, CA
LPM Restaurant & Bar Miami – Miami, FL
Milady’s – New York, NY
Overstory – New York, NY
Service Bar – Washington, D.C
Superbueno – New York, NY
*11 honorees due to a tie
Best US Cocktail Bar
Bar Americano – Brooklyn, NY
Bar Kaiju – Miami, FL
Birds of Paradise – Boston, MA
Double Chicken Please – New York, NY
Martiny’s – New York, NY
Overstory – New York, NY
Pearl Diver – Nashville, TN
Service Bar – Washington, D.C
Superbueno – New York, NY
Best US Hotel Bar
Champagne Bar at the Four Seasons Surf Club – Miami, FL
Coquette at the Omni Seaport Hotel – Boston, MA
Dear Irving on Hudson at the Alia Hotel – New York, NY
Lobby Bar at the Hotel Chelsea – New York, NY
Nubeluz at the Ritz Carlton New York, Nomad – New York, NY
Raines Law Room at Nine Orchard Hotel – New York, NY
Swizzle Rum Bar & Drinkers at the Stiles Hotel – Miami Beach, FL
The Portrait Bar at the Fifth Avenue Hotel – New York, NY
White Limozeen at the Graduate – Nashville, TN
Best US Restaurant Bar
Amazonia – Washington, D.C
Bangkok Supper Club – New York, NY
Bresca – Washington, D.C
Cote Korean Steakhouse – New York, NY
Gramercy Tavern – New York, NY
LPM Restaurant & Bar Miami – Miami, FL
Macchialina – Miami, FL
Papi – Portland, ME
Sunny’s – Miami, FL
The Grey – Savannah, GA
Best New US Cocktail Bar
Bar Contra – New York, NY
Bar Madonna – Brooklyn, NY
Bar Snack – New York, NY
Clemente Bar – New York, NY
Coqodaq – New York, NY
Coral Club – Nashville, TN
Loma – Providence, RI
Merai Bar – Boston, MA
Press Club Cocktail Bar – Washington, D.C
Sip & Guzzle – New York, NY
Viceversa – Miami, FL
*11 honorers due to a tie
US WEST
Best US Bar Team
Capri Club – Los Angeles, CA
Cleaver – Butchered Meats, Seafood & Classic Cocktails – Las Vegas, CA
Highball Cocktail Ball – Phoenix, AZ
Mírate – Los Angeles, CA
Realm of the 52 Remedies – San Diego, CA
Rob Roy – Seattle, WA
Strong Water Anaheim – Anaheim, CA
Thunderbolt – Los Angeles, CA
True Laurel – San Francisco, CA
Yacht Club – Dever, CO
Best US Cocktail Bar
Baby Gee – Long Beach, CA
Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour – Phoenix, AZ
Capri Club – Los Angeles, CA
Highball Cocktail Bar – Phoenix, AZ
Killer Whale Sex Club – Phoenix, AZ
Lady Jane – Denver, CO
Realm of the 52 Remedies – San Diego, CA
Thunderbolt – Los Angeles, CA
Trick Dog – San Francisco, CA
True Laurel – San Francisco, CA
Best US Hotel Bar
Cavaña at Luma Hotel – San Francisco, CA
Green Lady Cocktail Room at the White Sands Hotel – Honolulu, HI
Little Rituals at the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott – Phoenix, AZ
Mountaineering Club at the Graduate Seattle Hotel – Seattle, WA
Pacific Standard at the Kex Portland – Portland, OR
Ski Lodge at Superfrico at the Cosmopolitan – Las Vegas, NV
The Chandelier Bar at the Cosmopolitan – Las Vegas, NV
The Lafayette Hotel and Club – San Diego, CA
The Manor Bar at the Rosewood Miramar Beach – Montecito, CA
The Vault at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco – Salt Lake City, UT
Best US Restaurant Bar
Dalida – San Francisco, CA
Donna’s – Los Angeles, CA
Huarachis Taqueria – Phoenix, AZ
Kato Restaurant – Los Angeles, LA
L’Oursin – Seattle, WA
Mírate – Los Angeles, CA
Palomar – Portland, OR
The Butterscotch Den – Sacramento, CA
Valentine – Phoenix, AZ
Viridian – Oakland, CA
Best New US Cocktail Bar
Camélia – Los Angeles, CA
Carry On – Phoenix, AZ
Happy Medium – San Diego, CA
Night On Earth – Los Angeles, CA
Pretty Penny – Phoenix, AZ
Real Charmer – Los Angeles, CA
Roma Norte – San Diego, CA
Starlite at the Beacon Grand Hotel – San Francisco, CA
Tallboy – Oakland, CA
Too Soon – Oakland, OR
CANADA
Best International Bar Team
Atwater Cocktail Club – Montreal, QC
Bar Mordecai – Toronto, ON
Bar Pompette – Toronto, ON
Civil Liberties – Toronto, ON
Honi Honi Tiki Lounge – Edmonton, AB
Hoof Cocktail Bar – Toronto, ON
Humboldt Bar at the Doubletree By Hilton Hotel & Suites – Victoria, BC
Jungle Room – Vancouver, BC
Library Bar at the Fairmont Royal York – Toronto, ON
The Cloakroom Bar – Montreal, QC
The Keeper Bar – Vancouver, BC
*11 honorees due to a tie
Best International Cocktail Bar
Atwater Cocktail Club – Montreal, QC
Bar Mordecai – Toronto, ON
Bar Pompette – Toronto, ON
Citrus & Cane – Victoria, BC
Cry Baby Gallery – Toronto, ON
El Pequeno Bar – Montreal, QC
Hoof Cocktail Bar – Toronto, ON
Milky Way Cocktail Bar – Montreal, QC
Missy’s This That – Calgary, AB
The Cloakroom Bar – Montreal, QC
The Keeper Bar – Vancouver, BC
*11 honorees due to a tie
Best International Restaurant Bar
Bar Dominion – Montreal, QC
Bar Jacques – Quebec City, QC
Bar Kismet – Halifax, NS
Bar Raval – Toronto, ON
Highwayman Restaurant & Bar – Halifax, NS
Homer St. Cafe – Vancouver, BC
Le Swan – Toronto, ON
Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions – Vancouver, BC
Quetzal – Toronto, ON
Simple Things – Toronto, ON
Best New International Cocktail Bar
Bar Ocelli – Ottawa, ON
Civil Works – Toronto, ON
Good Thief – Vancouver, BC
Le French Line – Montreal, QC
No Vacancy – Toronto, ON
Prophecy Bar at Rosewood Hotel Georgia – Vancouver, BC
Salon Badin – Montreal, QC
Slice of Life – Toronto, ON
Suite 115 – Toronto, ON
Vieux Caffé – Quebec City, QC
LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
Best International Bar Team
Bar Carmen – Medellín, Colombia
Bijou Drinkery Room – Mexico City, Mexico
Bon Vivants – Nassau, Bahamas
El Barón Cafe & Cocktail Bar – Cartagena, Colombia
Kaito Del Valle – Mexico City, Mexico
La Factoría – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Lady Bee – Lima, Peru
Library By The Sea at the Kimpton Seafire Resort – Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands
Subastor – Sao Paolo, Brazil
Tlecan – Mexico City, Mexico
Tres Monos – Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ulew Cocktail Bar – Antigua, Guatemala
*12 honorees due to a tie
Best International Cocktail Bar
Bijou Drinkery Room – Mexico City, Mexico
Bon Vivants – Nassau, Bahamas
Café De Nadie – Mexico City, Mexico
Chintonería – Buenos Aires, Argentina
El Baron Cafe & Cocktail Bar – Cartagena, Colombia
Handshake Speakeasy – Mexico City, Mexico
Hanky Panky – Mexico City, Mexico
La Factoria – Sân Juan, Puerto Rico
Nicanor Casa De Bebidas – Guayaquil, Ecuador
Santan Bar – Sao Paulo, Brazil
Tlecan – Mexico City, Mexico
Tres Monos – Buenos Aires, Argentina
*12 honorees due to a tie
Best International Hotel Bar
173 At Hotel Iberia – San Juan, Puerto Rico
1919 Restaurant at the Condado Vanderbilt – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Coa at the Dorado Beach Ritz-Carlton Reserve – Dorado, Puerto Rico
Hotel B Relais & Chateaux – Lima, Peru
Library By The Sea at the Kimpton Seafire Resort – Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Beach
King Cole Bar at the St. Regis – Mexico City, Mexico
Kumo at Aire De O:Live – Isla Verde, Puerto Rico
Pony Line at the Four Seasons – Buenos Aires, Argentina
The M Bar at Nobu Los Cabos – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Zapote Bar at the Rosewood Mayakoba – Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
Best International Restaurant Bar
Arca Tulum – Tulum, Mexico
Aruba Day Drink Bar – Tijuana, Mexico
Bar Carmen – Medellín, Colombia
Casa Prunes – Mexico City, Mexico
Jardin Tragos Y Pasteles – Bogota, Colombia
Lady Bee – Lima, Peru
Mamba Negra – Medellin, Colombia
Mangle Bar – Panama City, Panama
Siam Thai – Santiago, Chile
Best International Cocktail Bar
Bar Mauro – Mexico City, Mexico
Cafe Arixi – Mexico City, Mexico
Cask – Georgetown, Cayman Islands
Decadente Salón De Tragos – Bogota, Colombia
Exímia Bar – Sao Paolo, Brazil
Form – Matter (Fo-Ma) – Mexico City, Mexico
Less Is More – Mexico City, Mexico
Lost Paradise – Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
The Green Light – Cordoba, Argentina
Vertical Cocktail Bar – Querétaro, Mexico
ASIA PACIFIC
Best International Bar Team
Bar Leone – Hong Kong, China
Bar US – Bangkok, Thailand
Caretaker’s Cottage – Melbourne, Australia
Hope & Sesame Guangzhou – Guangzhou, China
Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel – Singapore
Nutmeg & Clove – Singapore
Penrose – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Speak Low – Shanghai, China
Virtú at the Four Seasons Tokyo Otemachi – Tokyo, Japan
Best International Cocktail Bar
Above Board – Melbourne, Australia
Bar Cham – Seoul, South Korea
Bar Leone – Hong Kong
Bar US – Bangkok, Thailand
Byrdi – Melbourne, Australia
Caretaker’s Cottage – Melbourne, Australia
Coa – Hong Kong, China
Double Deuce Lounge – Sydney, Australia
Maybe Sammy – Sydney, Australia
Offtrack – Singapore
Best International Hotel Bar
Argo at the Four Seasons – Hong Kong, China
Charles H. at the Four Seasons Hotel – Seoul, South Korea
Dean & Nancy on 22 at the A By Adina – Sydney, Australia
Firefly at the Kempinski Bangkok – Bangkok, Thailand
Gold Bar at the Tokyo Toranomon Edition – Tokyo, Japan
Mo Bar at the Mandarin Oriental – Shenzhen, China
Origin Bar at the Shangri-La Hotel – Singapore
The Aubrey at the Mandarin Oriental – Hong Kong, China
Virtú at the Four Seasons Tokyo Otemachi – Tokyo, Japan
The Bamboo Bar at the Mandarin Oriental – Bangkok, Thailand
Best International Restaurant Bar
Bar Bellamy – Melbourne, Australia
Burnt Ends – Singapore
Caffe Fernet – Singapore
Fura – Singapore
Mad:Men – Tapei, Taiwan
Pantja – Jakarta, Indonesia
Puffy Bois Pizza – Singapore
Ralph’s Bar – Chengdu, China
Sugarhall – Singapore
The Waratah – Sydney, Australia
Best New International Cocktail Bar
Bar Sumi – Sydney, Australia
Cosmo Pony at the Grand Hyatt Hotel – Jakarta, Indonesia
Dry Wave Cocktail Studio – Bangkok, Thailand
Futura – Tapei, Taiwan
Gokan – Hong Kong, China
Goldwater – Melbourne, Australia
Modernhaus – Jakarta, Indonesia
Punch Room at the Tokyo Ginza Edition – Tokyo, Japan
Swirl – Shanghai, China
MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
Best International Bar Team
Coya Dubai – Dubai, UAE
Fable – Cape Town, South Africa
Front/Back Accra – Accra, Ghana
Funky Monkey Cocktail Bar & Restaurant – Diani, Kenya
Hero at the Trademark Hotel – Nairobi, Kenya
LPM Restaurant & Bar Dubai – Dubai, UAE
Salmon Guru Dubai – Dubai, UAE
Sin + Tax – Johannesburg, South Africa
The Drinkery – Cape Town, South Africa
Zuma Dubai – Dubai, UAE
Best International Bar Team
Coya Dubai – Dubai, UAE
Fable – Cape Town, South Africa
Front/Back Accra – Accra, Ghana
Funky Monkey Cocktail Bar & Restaurant – Diani, Kenya
Hero at the Trademark Hotel – Nairobi, Kenya
LPM Restaurant & Bar Dubai – Dubai, UAE
Salmon Guru Dubai – Dubai, UAE
Sin + Tax – Johannesburg, South Africa
The Drinkery – Cape Town, South Africa
Zuma Dubai – Dubai, UAE
Best International Hotel Bar
Bascule Bar at the Cape Grace – Cape Town, South Africa
Blind Tiger at the Jumeirah Al Naseem – Dubai, UAE
Bvlgari Bar at the Bvlgari Resort – Dubai, UAE
Flashback Speakeasy Bar & Lounge at the Paramount Hotel Dubai – Dubai, UAE
Hero at the Trademark Hotel – Nairobi, Kenya
Library Bar at the Abu Dhabi Edition – Abu Dhabi, UAE
The Lighthouse Bar at The Oyster Box Hotel – Durban, South Africa
The Manhattan Lounge at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort – Abu Dhabi, UAE
Upepo at Kwetu Nairobi by Hilton – Nairobi, Kenya
Views Rooftop Bar & Lounge at the Neil – Stone Town, Tanzania
Best International Restaurant Bar
Asoka – Cape Town, South Africa
Beit é Selam – Nairobi, Kenya
Cultiva – Nairobi, Kenya
Funky Monkey Cocktail Bar & Restaurant – Diani, Kenya
Kloof Street House – Cape Town, South Africa
LPM Restaurant & Bar Dubai – Dubai, UAE
Mimi Kakushi – Dubai, UAE
Nobu Dubai – Dubai, UAE
Upper Union – Cape Town, South Africa
Z Kitchen – Lagos, Nigeria
Best New International Cocktail Bar
Adaline – Dubai, UAE
Anthm – Cape Town, South Africa
Bissa – Abidjan, Cote D’Lvoire
Enigma Sky Lounge – Accra, Ghana
Mr Panther – Lagos, Nigeria
Obscura Cocktail Bar & Eatery – Johannesburg, South Africa
Salvaje – Dubai, UAE
Social Paradise – Beirut, Lebanon
Tavern Drinkery House – Batroun, Lebanon
Vici – Lagos, Nigeria
EUROPE
Best International Bar Team
Baba Au Rum – Athens, Greece
Bar 1661 – Dublin, Ireland
Foco – Barcelona, Spain
Line Athens – Athens, Greece
Moebius Milano – Milan, Italy
Panda & Sons – Edinburgh, Scotland
Paradiso – Barcelona, Spain
Satan’s Whiskers – London, UK
The Cambridge Public House – Paris, France
Best International Cocktail Bar
A Bar With Shapes For A Name – London, UK
Baba Au Rum – Athens, Greece
Bar Nouveau – Paris, France
Foco – Barcelona, Spain
Himkok – Oslo, Norway
Kwant – London, UK
Line Athens – Athens, Greek
Paradiso – Barcelona, Spain
Satan’s Whiskers – London, uk
The Cambridge Public House – Paris, France
Best International Hotel Bar
Atrium Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze – Florence, Italy
Avra Bar at Four Seasons Astir Palace – Athens, Greece
Bar Les Ambassadeurs at Hotel De Crillon – Paris, France
Mirror Cocktail Bar at Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel – Bratislava, Slovakia
Punch Room at the Barcelona Edition – Barcelona, Spain
Punch Room at the London Edition – London, UK
Ritz Bar at The Ritz – Paris, France
Side Hustle at the NoMad Hotel London – London, UK
The American Bar at Gleneagles – Auchterarder, Scotland
The Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel – London, UK
Best International Restaurant Bar
Angelita – Madrid, Spain
Bacchanalia Mayfair – London, UK
Balthazar – London, UK
Bar Lupo – Zurich, Switzerland
Café Moderne – Paris, France
Dry Milano – Milan, Italy
La Punta Expendio De Agave – Rome, Italy
Le Mary Celeste – Paris, France
Locale Firenze – Florence, Italy
LPM – Limassol, Cypress
Moebius Milano – Milan, Italy
*11 honorees due to a tie
Best New International Cocktail Bar
Archive & Myth – London, UK
Bar Glue – Liverpool, UK
Cue – Amsterdam, Netherlands
Devil’s Cut – Madrid, Spain
Esencia By Sips – Barcelona, Spain
Salmon Guru – Milan, Italy
Scuro Cocktail Bar – Bologna, Italy
Three Sheets Soho – London, UK
Victory at the 25Hours Paper Island – Copenhagen, Denmark
Walk In – Athens, Greece
