London’s Dandelyan Is ‘The World’s Best Bar’

Dandelyan is the World’s Best Bar for 2018. The London cocktail bar by Mr Lyan and Iain Griffiths is also about to close, for good.

Mr Lyan — Ryan Chetiyawardana — said he was “flabbergasted ... In a way it’s the most fitting thing. We’ve worked so hard and with so much passion and now we’re at the pinnacle of the industry.” Chetiyawardana announced the Southbank bar’s closure on 1 October, saying that its numerous accolades “actually miss what I think we’re great at.”

The bar’s approach to sustainability and concept-driven cocktails with actual substance is exemplified in its current, and final menu, ‘The Modern Life of Plants.’ Cocktails guided by the effect of trends on agricultural supply, marine pollution, and Big Toothpaste all feature, continuing Chetiyawardana and Griffiths’ redefinition of bartending’s sense of theatre.

The awards, run alongside the controversial World’s 50 Best Restaurants initiative, are the Oscars of the bartending world. London traditionally performs strongly, and this year was no exception, with Dandelyan beating last year’s #1, American Bar at The Savoy Hotel, into second place, and 10 London bars placing inside the top 50. The Connaught Bar in Mayfair is at #5, with Smithfield’s Oriole at #17, and Coupette in Bethnal Green debuting at #18. Matt Whiley’s Scout in Hackney debuts at #28, Dalston’s Three Sheets at #29, and Soho’s Bar Swift at #46. Longtime favourite Happiness Forgets in Hoxton is at #35.

More news on the future of Dandelyan soon.