The American Bar at The Savoy Is the ‘World’s Best’

The American Bar at The Savoy claims the title of World’s Best for the first time.

Perhaps one of London’s most iconic social spaces, the storied American Bar at The Savoy has stormed to the top of the global rankings, as named last night at a fittingly glitzy ceremony in the arches of Southwark Cathedral.

Having first featured in the #Worlds50Best bars six years ago, The American Bar has been in the top ten four times, staking its claim most firmly after a thorough architectural and mixological refurbishment. Under the stewardship of Erik Lorincz and Declan McGurk, the bar has gone from strength to strength, matching its patchwork of history with a contemporary relevance that is now — at least in the industry it calls home — recognised at the highest level.

It was a strong night for London all round – Ryan Chetiyawardana’s Dandelyan, which also currently holds the title of World’s Best Bar coming in at #2, and the Connaught Bar at, well, The Connaught coming in at #4. All in all, London saw four bars in the top ten with a total of eight in the #50Best, beating off its metropolitan counterparts with ease. Iain Griffiths, former White Lyan impresario and — along with Kelsey Ramage — current co-orchestrator of no-waste cocktail concept Trash Tiki, came away with the Bartenders’ Bartender award, which pretty much translates as “this guy makes a world-class drink and is a bit of a legend to boot.”

Other notables include Soho icon Bar Termini and Hoxton gem Happiness Forgets coming in at #9 and #12 respectively; the simple conclusion is that if you want to drink in any city in the world, you might as well come to the big smoke.