In partnership with Ketel One
Few drinks are classier – or more classic – than a vodka martini cocktail.
The vodka martini exists because of a swap. The gin original was a staple in American bars during the late 19th-century, but by the 1950s, drinkers began asking for the vodka variant as brands started pedalling the spirit during the period's cocktail boom. Milder and less overtly botanical, it soon became a fixture.
Much of how it drinks depends on the vodka. Ketel One Vodka has been distilled by the Nolet family in the Netherlands since 1983, and is known for its crisp, smooth flavour and citrussy, honeyed notes. Today, it serves as a clean and dependable base for many of the world's best bars thanks to its long finish, making it perfect for creative serves – among them, of course, the martini. Here, 50 Best spotlights a selection.
Super Cool Martini
Paradiso, Barcelona
Ranked No.4 among The World's 50 Best Bars 2025, Paradiso built its Super Cool Martini around the technique of supercooling, where water is kept below freezing while remaining in a liquid state. Founder Giacomo Giannotti explains: "The magic happens when we pour it over a frozen olive: the moment the liquid touches the olive, it instantly starts freezing around it, creating a unique visual effect and a real 'wow' moment for drinkers. We then pour vodka, pre-chilled to -22°C, over the cocktail. Finally, we finish with a dry vermouth infused with mustard seeds and a Gordal olive, served in a perfectly chilled martini glass. The result is a cocktail that combines science, precision and theatre without compromising on taste."
Filthy Martini
Bar Leone, Hong Kong
This may well be one of the world's best-known martinis, and for good reason. Salty, smoky and layered, it uses brine from olives smoked over cherrywood, says co-founder Lorenzo Antinori of Bar Leone – the ode to Italian bar culture which topped the list of The World's 50 Best Bars 2025. "What makes [this martini] so special is the smokiness of the olives contrasted with the vodka's crispness. It's savoury, bold and clean."
Nieuwe-Tini
Super Lyan, Amsterdam
Set in the Kimpton De Witt Hotel, Super Lyan – No.42 on Europe's 50 Best Bars 2026 – is bar supremo Ryan 'Mr Lyan' Chetiyawardana's take on a futuristic diner, complete with speakeasy vibes and world-class cocktails. "The drink tells the story of Nieuw West, one of the city's most vibrant and exciting boroughs," says head bartender Pierre Louafi. "As with everything on the menu, it does this by using both techniques and ingredients that reflect the look and history of the neighbourhood. The texture of Ketel One is used to carry forward this slightly more decadent, wet martini. The grain base serves as the perfect carrier for our barley'd saké and fraiche whey, both of which carry similar qualities to the vodka itself." Refined and off dry, the final ingredient is, of course, vermouth.
Selva Martini
Alquímico, Cartagena
Tucked away in a 19th-century mansion on Colombia's Caribbean coast, Alquímico – ranked No.11 on The World's 50 Best Bars 2025 – is all about the party. Its martini, though, is where the place itself comes through. "Our Selva Martini echoes the Colombian rainforest," says Mélany Marcati, the bar's beverage director. "Vodka is combined with our house-made jungle vermouth, crafted from native Colombian herbs, and is finished with a touch of mambe oil in a tribute to the ancestral rituals of Indigenous communities." Choose where to enjoy it across three distinct floors, including the ground-level courtyard with impromptu Latin dancing.
Vodka Freezer Martini
Tan Tan, São Paulo 
"Ketel One is at the heart of our Vodka Freezer Martini," explains Caio Carvalhaes, head bartender at Tan Tan, ranked No.24 among The World's 50 Best Bars 2025. "It gives the drink structure and clarity, while its subtle citrus notes work beautifully with our house blend of dry vermouths and the orange bitters. At -14°C, the vodka develops an almost liqueur-like texture, creating a martini that's exceptionally cold, smooth and creamy, without losing its precision or freshness." He adds: "What makes this cocktail special is the balance between temperature, dilution and texture. Rather than stirring it to order, we control every element in advance, ensuring that each drink reaches the guest with the same concentration, temperature and mouthfeel."
Dirty & Cosmo
Gus' Sip & Dip, Chicago
(Image: Lindsay Eberly and Lettuce Entertain You)
A tavern-like space where you could imagine Al Capone or Frank Sinatra huddled at the central sit-at bar, Gus' Sip & Dip – ranked No.27 among North America's 50 Best Bars 2026 – has earned its place as one of Chicago's finest bars. Its Dirty Martini is crafted from a blend of Ketel One vodka, dry vermouth and a house-made, super-strength olive brine that uses Spanish Gordal olives. Beverage director Kevin Beary says: "The cocktail is diluted by 10 per cent and held in the freezer until service. When ordered, it receives a long, elegant pour into a frozen glass before being topped with a delicate layer of ice shaved using a Japanese kakigōri, reminiscent of the fine ice chips left behind by a Dirty Martini shaken hard in a cocktail tin. It's finished with a single Spanish Gordal olive, hand-stuffed with local blue cheese."
Freezer Martini
Employees Only, New York 
"At Employees Only, we serve our freezer martini using Ketel One vodka for its fresh, citrus notes, making it crisper and brighter for the palate," says Frank Kurt, head bartender at this bar's original NYC outpost, which earned the No.45 spot on the North America's 50 Best Bars 2026 list. In addition, the drink also uses dry vermouth, still water and a dash of orange bitters. Batches are kept in the freezer, so it's served almost freezing to make it extra refreshing. Naturally, you can have yours with olives or a lemon twist. "I personally prefer the latter," says Frank.
Tomatini
LPM, Dubai .jpg)
"The Tomatini captures everything LPM stands for in a single glass: freshness, simplicity and elegance," explains Tibor Krascsenics, group beverage director at LPM, the grande dame of Dubai's culinary scene, which serves Mediterranean flavours in the emirate's Riviera surroundings. "It offers a fresh interpretation of the classic martini with ripe tomato elevated by a delicate touch of balsamic and a balanced seasoning of salt and pepper. Together, they create a refined, savoury character that's both elegant and effortless."
Discover more fantastic bars with standout cocktails on 50 Best Discovery, and start planning your next adventure.
