If finding clients the ideal spots to cheers over drinks is a must for their perfect Mexico vacation, you may want to take note of the venues that took home awards in the second annual North America’s 50 Best Bars Awards, which were recently named in a ceremony in San Miguel de Allende.
The awards, which are determined based on votes from hundreds of bar industry experts across the globe, are conducted by 50 Best, an organization that also names The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and The World’s 50 Best Bars. It was certainly appropriate for the North American ceremony to take place in Mexico, considering the nation received an impressive 14 awards.
Read on for your travel guide to Mexico’s hottest bars.
Mexico City: Leading the Pack with Memorable Bars
Mexico City is clearly home to the highest concentration of great bars, according to the awards; a total of eight venues from Mexico’s capital appear on the list.
Among the winners is Handshake Speakeasy, which ranks as the No. 2 best bar in all of North America, giving it the honor of simultaneously winning as the best bar in Mexico. With its stylish 1920s vibe, Handshake Speakeasy provides an atmospheric backdrop for creative cocktails, with specialties like an old-fashioned made with brown-butter mushroom.
Also high on the winners' list is Licoreria Limantour, which ranked at No. 4 in North America and serves sophisticated refreshments in Mexico City’s Polanco district, and Baltra Bar, which landed in the 16th spot and is a favorite in the hip Condesa neighborhood, thanks to cocktails such as the Old George Sour — made with Patron tequila — and the Sumi, made with Tanqueray gin.
In addition, Mexico City’s Rayo took home the London Essence Best New Opening award; it ranked No. 17 in the overall North American list, which is the best rank for any new bar to open during the voting period.
Rayo in Mexico City ranked No. 17 on the North American list for the 50 Best Bars on the continent.
Credit: 2023 North America’s 50 Best BarsThe Best Bars Around Mexico
Several bars in other destinations around the nation also scored well. Coming in at No. 11 is Zapote Bar, located in the Riviera Maya at Rosewood Mayakoba. With indoor-outdoor seating, the venue serves a wide variety of wine, craft beer and cocktails.
In nearby Tulum, Arca landed at No. 23. At this tropical venue, guests can stake a table beneath a palm tree and sip house cocktails that include the Har Mar Superstar — made with mezcal, ginger and honey — and Mayami Nice, a combination of Aconte 7 rum, Xtabentun anise liqueur and passion fruit.
The top winner in Guadalajara, meanwhile, is El Gallo Altanero, which ranked No. 21 in North America and serves up tequila and other local favorites in a coolly traditional atmosphere. Rounding out Mexico’s list of winners are Aruba Day Drink in Tijuana, and Sabina Sabe and Selva, both in Oaxaca.
Zapote Bar at Rosewood Mayakoba
Credit: 2023 Rosewood Hotels & ResortsOther Award-Winning Bars
North America’s 50 Best Bars Awards may be noteworthy for the continent-wide approach to excellence in mixology and design, but there are lots of other bars around Mexico that are garnering praise. Acre Bar at Acre Resort in Los Cabos, for example, sought guidance from Vancouver’s award-winning The Keefer Bar to create its own cocktail program, which includes beverages made with the resort’s own brand of mezcal, La Tierra de Acre.
The most recent edition of the Los Cabos Culinary Awards named several of what the organization considers the destination’s best bars, including Arbol, located inside Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort (winner in the tourist corridor); La Lupita Taco & Mezcal (winner in Cabo San Lucas) and Javier’s at Cabo Azul Resort (winner in San Jose del Cabo).
For a second opinion about the best bars in Mexico City, Afar has named top venues that include Gruner Hof Biergarten and Bucardon. Frommer’s, meanwhile, has sorted its choices for best bars in Puerto Vallarta by category, with praise for Twisted Palms Rooftop Lounge (for a sophisticated scene), The Palm Cabaret & Bar (for cabaret) and Andales (for dancing).
If a party vibe is your client’s goal, it may be helpful to turn to USA Today’s 10 Best awards, which last year named the best bars in Cancun, including Congo Bar, Monkey Business and one of the most legendary brands in beachfront nightlife: Senor Frog’s.
