Australian bars in World’s Top 50
Australian bars are right in there on the list of the peer-judged World’s 50 Best Bars list handed out in London this week.
Australia has three bars in the World’s Top 50 and is ranked as the third best country for cocktails.
That said, Australian bars are slipping down the order, slipping out of the top 10.
Sydney’s Baxter Inn was ranked 6th last year, coming just behind three drinking holes in London and two in New York. It was quite an achievement for an Australian bar, scoring the highest ever ranking (along with Sydney’s Bayswater Brasserie in 2009).
But this year, it was ranked 12th.
Melbourne’s Black Pearl, ranked in 10th spot in 2015, has now slipped down 22nd spot.
Coming in 3rd in the top 50 was Sydney’s Bulletin Place. It’s been ranked number 46.
Then there were those outside the top 50: Melbourne's Eau de Vie (No. 90) and Sydney's Lobo Plantation (95)
It has nothing to do with lockout laws or changing demographics. It’s just about the competition and maybe just a lack of fresh ideas.
Hamish Smith, editor of the World's 50 Best Bars magazine, Drinks International, says the Australians are still matching it with the best in the world. The problem, he says, is they haven’t moved with the times.
Still, he thinks the Australian scene is promising.
"There are two academy favourites in the list, the Baxter Inn and the Black Pearl, that are almost classic bars now, people love them,’’ Smith told goodfood.com.au.
“We haven't seen a new wave of Australian bars coming through. But you know there's always next year.
"The Australian scene is vibrant… it's doing well and I'm sure there are more bars to come."
So what’s ranked as the best bar in the world? It’s New York’s Dear Rabbit. It’s been a long time coming. It was ranked second twice and fifth once.
by Leon Gettler, October 7th 2016
