5 of the world’s
best bartenders
and the bars you can find them behind
5 of the world’s
best bartenders
and the bars you can find them behind
Rémy Savage
A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London
Does it get any cooler than a bar with literally no name? The only way to find this secret spot is to keep an eye out for the yellow triangle, red square and blue circle that denotes Rémy Savage and Paul Lougrat’s tipple joint. Very London of them.
Super duper Bauhaus in style, this bar is all about minimalism, functionalism and excellently designed furniture. We would live here if we could. And then there are the drinks—oh boy. The bar stocks just 20 bottles, all of them chosen via a blind tasting, and the menu itself is just 12 cocktails deep. Six classics and six customs created by Rémy. This is a very intentional drinking experience—while it might seem simple from the outside, the attention to detail is astounding.
Georgio Bargiani
The Connaught, London
The Connaught is delivering some real James Bond energy, we’ll tell you that much. And bartender Georgio Bargiani is at the helm, navigating the Martini Trolley (a real thing, THEY HAVE A MARTINI TROLLEY) like it’s an Aston Martin. They really should’ve called it the Aston Martini Trolley. Missed opportunity.
This bar is pure elegance, and really epitomises what a good hotel bar should be. It’s classy and shiny, the couches are plush and the staff are magnificent. Highlight? The Cloud Nine—a bourbon, orange vermouth, pistachio raspberry glass of deliciousness that would send even Bond to his knees.
Luke Whearty
Byrdi, Melbourne
“Born out of a desire to adapt to the environment.” But what does this mean for a cocktail bar? It means Luke Whearty and his team at Byrdi are taking native Aussie ingredients and using them to reimagine a cocktail menu. Impressive, no?
Tucked into Ella, a food precinct in Melbourne city, this bar is beautifully fit-out and even comes with its own lab to create new ingredients. Luke takes a particularly chef-like approach to his creations, so expect fermentation, smoking and a bit of sous-vide action in your drinks. With a three-section menu divided into Seasonal Drinks, Fermented Drinks and Highballs—BYO adventurous palate and Byrdi will do the rest.
Ezra Star
Mostly Harmless, Hong Kong
Don’t like crowds? Don’t like drink lists? Perfect. Ezra Star has set up just the drinking vibe for you. You can find her crafting concoctions of perfection at Mostly Harmless in Hong Kong where the menu (four drinks only) is written daily on the white subway tiles. How personal. How delightful.
Mostly Harmless is a real homage to Hong Kong’s seasonal produce, with the ever-changing menu a reflection of Star’s trips to the local markets. Craving a cocktail that’s even more intimate? The crew behind the bar are happy to custom create, so don’t be shy. Tell them how you feel! Tell them what you want! Go for it!
Adrián MichalCík
Pier 42, Oslo
The Norway-based bartender is a bit of a titan mixologist at the moment, having just taken out the Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year. No big deal. Very casual accomplishment. If you fancy a beverage or two from the world’s (literal) greatest, jump on a flight to Oslo and head straight to Pier 42.
Unsurprisingly Pier 42 was also named in the world’s top 10 bars this year—so you know you’re onto a thirst-quenching winner. Having been named after the New York City landmark where Scandinavians (apparently famously) set foot on American soil, the drinks list is—quite aptly—inspired by America. All the cocktails here are named for different Americanisms, so expect to find things like the Statue of Liberty and Cross-Country Skiing on the menu. Hope you like drinking bourbon in classy bars.
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