Overview
It's been one heck of a tough year for the country's bar industry, as venues spent months navigating lockdowns, restrictions and, more recently, capacity limits. But despite all the craziness, Australia has still managed to make a splash at this year's edition of the World's 50 Best Bars Awards. Four local drinking establishments each nabbed themselves a spot among the 51–100 top bars in the world, as announced last week.
Those voted in the top 50 will be revealed at a separate virtual awards ceremony held on Thursday, November 5.
All four Aussie bars to make the 51–100 list are located in Melbourne, which has just lived through some of the world's toughest COVID-19 restrictions as part of its second-wave lockdown. Fitzroy bar The Everleigh snagged the 73 spot, while newer CBD haunt Byrdi came in at 80. Petite Collingwood bar Above Board followed not too far behind at number 84 and the long-running Black Pearl — which has scooped a spot in the Top 50 list numerous times throughout the award's 12-year history — was voted in at 98.
Byrdi by Kate Shanasy
Elsewhere on the list, London's Scout (by the now Sydney-based bartender Matt Whiley) came in at 51, while the USA had seven bars in the lineup, including The Dead Rabbit in NY and San Francisco's Trick Dog.
The annual awards are voted on by over 540 bar industry experts from around the world, including bartenders, consultants, drinks writers and cocktail specialists. Australia will now wait to see if any more local venues make it into the World's 50 Best Bars list later this week. Last year's one–50 lineup featured just one Aussie bar, with Sydney's Maybe Sammy taking out position 43.
Check out the full World's 50 Best Bars Awards 51–100 list at the website. The one–50 list will be revealed at 3pm UK time on Thursday, November 5, via Facebook and YouTube.
Top image: The Everleigh by Gareth Sobey