North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025: the inaugural 51-100 list revealed

Emma Sleight - 15/04/2025

North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025: the inaugural 51-100 list revealed

For the very first time, the extended ranking of North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025, sponsored by Perrier, is here. From Albuquerque to Victoria, discover the hottest speakeasies, neighbourhood hangouts and hotel bars ranked between 51st and 100th.


No.100 Bar Next Door
Los Angeles
@barnextdoor_
Bar Next Door-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
The Sunset Strip's favourite craft cocktail bar, Bar Next Door was rather fittingly a Hollywood talent agency in its former life. Head beyond the velvet curtain for classic margaritas, martinis and gimlets served with a side of glitz and glamour as well as signature cocktails named after Hollywood landmarks such as the tequila and rosé prosecco-based Beverley Hills Hotel that comes with a magical dusting of rose quartz sprinkles.


No.99 Shelter
Calgary
@shelter.yyc
Shelter-interior_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Seek refuge from the outside world inside Shelter. Rooted in pre-Prohibition-style cocktails reinvigorated with modernist twists, this Calgary drinking den is as intimate as it is intriguing with a menu of seasonally-inspired cocktails and sharing platters packed with local produce. Top picks from the menu include bao in tempting flavours like The Crunch with jerk-braised pork, paprika aioli and crispy onion, and Sweet Heat that combines breaded chicken with Nashville spice, scotch bonnet honey and black vinegar pickles.


No.98 Bar Contra
New York
@barcontranyc
Bar Contra-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Formerly a restaurant, co-owners Jeremiah Stone and Fabián von Hauske teamed up with drinks expert Dave Arnold to reopen Contra’s doors as a bar-slash-bistro. Alongside an inventive cocktail offering that runs the gamut between boozy rum and banana blends served on the rocks to alcohol-free spitzes made with champagne acid and cream syrup, you’ll find, unsurprisingly, a sensational snack menu.


No.97 Highball
Phoenix
@highballphx
Highball-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
One of the pioneering cocktail programmes in Arizona’s capital, Highball is a dimly lit, speakeasy-style lounge located in an historic building in downtown Phoenix. Veteran Phoenix bartenders Libby Lingua and Mitch Lyons have created a lengthy drinks menu with everything from light to full-bodied cocktails and clarified sips on offer, as well as a fun selection of house shots to keep spirits high all night long.


No.96 Slice of Life
Toronto
@sliceoflifebar
Slice of Life-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Created by Eric Pan (formerly of London’s Kol Mezcaleria) and Nick Hao (of Sober in Shanghai and Toronto’s Mother), this quirky cocktail spot focuses on fresh produce-forward drinks that take a single ingredient and build outwards. A good example of what to expect is the bar’s Strawberry Martini, which starts with the berry at the base and mixes it with mezcal and house-made bitter-chocolate liqueur, before topping it with shaved parmesan cheese and pink peppercorns.


No.95 Paradise Lost
New York
@paradiselostnyc
Paradise Lost-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
At first glance, Paradise Lost looks like your typical tropical bar but, on closer inspection, this East Village spot has a slightly more sinister air. Self-described as a "tropical hellscape," and named after the John Milton poem of the same title, watch out for nods to the underworld with plentiful macabre taxidermy and cocktails served in demon-inspired mugs, punctuated with a soundtrack of raucous surf punk.


No.94 Casa Prunes
Mexico City
@casaprunes
Casa Prunes-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Casa Prunes is a restaurant and cocktail bar set an Art Nouveau-style mansion that puts seasonality and zero waste principles at the heart of everything it does. Cocktails manifest as playful takes on classics, such as the Non-A Negroni made with vodka distilled with morita chile, Mexican whiskey, amaro and Campari. There’s also a selection of wines fermented in-house, and a noteworthy collection of Mexican spirits.


No.93 The Portrait Bar
New York
@theportraitbarnyc
The Portrait Bar-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
The Portrait Bar is an Italian villa-inspired, wood-panelled retreat that serves sophisticated drinks surrounded by an impressive collection of paintings, photographs and drawings. Bar director Darryl Chan’s drinks menu is a globe-trotting excursion from Oaxaca to Cartagena via Seoul and London with ingredients from each geographical location infused into their representative cocktails.


No.92 Meo
Vancouver
@meochinatown
Meo Web-24_NA50BB25-off-duty
An eclectic homage to 1970s Hong Kong, Meo comes with a hedonistic ‘love motel’ vibe, and a plethora of pink-tinged hues, push velvet furniture and floral wallpaper to match the theme. On the latest menu Fruits are not Vegetables, drinks come in flavour-bending formats that see fruits treated in savoury ways and vegetable transformed through a sweet lens.


No.91 The Coldroom
Montreal
@thecoldroommtl
The Coldroom-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Access this stylish Montreal speakeasy by ringing a bell next to its imposing, unmarked black door. Inside, the Kevin Demers-designed interior transforms a former industrial cold room into an intimate cocktail lounge that is known locally as the place to spot celebrities ensconced in the bar’s shadowed corners. People-watching is, of course, de rigueur, but the menu of twisted classic cocktails also takes top billing.


No.90 Shinji’s
New York
@shinjisbar
01 Shinjis Interior_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
At the small 18-seat bar at Shinji’s, beverage director Jonathan Adler takes a maximalist approach to cocktails, using high-tech behind-the-scenes techniques and tools to pre-batch drinks for service. Don’t leave without trying the small collection of bar bites, which feature seasonal fish flown in four times a week directly from Japan, plus tableside hand roll service, uni, and caviar options.


No.89 Nine Bar
Chicago
@ninebarchicago
Nine Bar-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Nine Bar is Lily Wang and Joe Briglio’s playful “Asian-ish” cocktail club at the heart of Chicago’s Chinatown. Enter to discover a neon-tinged, futuristic space reminiscent of neo-noir film Blade Runner. Add in a raucous DJ set and a clever collection of bar snacks – think Ma Po Hot Fries, McKatsu Sandwiches and wok-fried chicken wings – and you’ve got the perfect accompaniment to the Asian-flavour-infused house cocktails.


No.88 Happy Accidents
Albuquerque
@happyaccidentsbar
Happy Accidents-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
With a name inspired by the Bob Ross quote: “We don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents,” it's no surprise that a dynamic sense of playful irreverence runs through every facet of Happy Accidents. TV-star and cocktail flair master Kate Gerwin and partner Blaze Montana are behind the bar shaking up a mega menu of more than 40 options, which are batched behind-the-scenes and served on tap.


No.87 Door No.4
Grand Cayman
@doorno_4
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This island idyll near Georgetown serves up Caribbean hospitality via a tight menu of tropical-inspired cocktails using local Caymanian ingredients such as a Kudo Cooler with gin, cucumber saké, mango leaf cordial, lime soda and mango essence and the Pornstar Sgroppino (vanilla vodka, passionfruit liqueur, passionfruit gelato, crémant).


No.86 Herbs & Rye
Las Vegas
@herbsandrye
Herbs and Rye-interior_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Away from the clamour of Las Vegas’ Strip, Herbs & Rye has been quietly redefining the Las Vegas cocktail scene since opening in 2009. Under the expert eye of Nectaly Mendoza, the bar delivers honed classic cocktails, each steeped in their own introspective history, plus an exceptional steak menu to take you from aperitivo hour to dinner time.


No.85 Bar Snack
New York
@barsnack.nyc
Bar Snack-cocktail CREDIT Eric Medsker_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP

(Image: Eric Medsker)

A new groove on the classic neighbourhood bar, this cool NYC hangout is all about dressed up cocktails for dressed down people. With Iain Griffiths and Brooklyn-based bar owner Oliver Cleary at the helm, the bar promises good vibes, good wine and good snacks. The bar’s name was inspired by the 'snaquiri' – the smaller serve of a classic daiquiri – and yes, daiquiris by the mini, glass or pitcher portion are available.


No.84 Bar Bello
Montreal
@barbellmtl
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It’s always aperitivo hour at Bar Bello as this Montreal favourite has elevated the afternoon sipping ceremony to an art form. Bello is Canada's self-professed first specialist in the art of afternoon, low-ABV sipping, so it’s no surprise that Italian amari and vermouth form the core of the bar’s menu, alongside a cheeky selection of sharing boards and bites inspired by traditional Italian cicchetti.


No.83 Simpl Things
Toronto
@simplthings.to
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Evelyn Chick’s first opening, Simpl Things quickly earned rave reviews and recognition, including being named the Campari One To Watch at North America’s 50 Best Bars 2024. The all-day neighbourhood bar has a dual-concept food offering: a laid-back Italian cafe experience by day and full-flavour Asian bites by night, with one of the city’s best happy hours in between to allow for a seamless transition between services.


No.82 Ticuchi
Mexico City
@ticuchi.mx
Ticuchi-interior_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
A dark, atmospheric restaurant with a seriously good drinks list, Ticuchi is a temple to agave spirits and Oaxacan cuisine. Owned by renowned Mexican chef Enrique Olvera, plates are prepared by chefs in the open kitchen of this cave-like space and made to match the extensive list of cocktails. If you prefer something stiffer, the bar also stocks an impressive selection of mezcals and less common sotols.


No.81 Equal Measure
Boston
@equalmeasurebar
Equal Measure-interior_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Created by Boston bar icon Jackson Cannon, Equal Measure has been breathing new life into Boston’s bar scene. Just down the hall from legendary neighbourhood brasserie Eastern Standard, head bartender Eliza Hoar focuses on sustainable, seasonal drinks. Standouts include the Winter Nectar (acidified house-made apple juice, tequila, winter spices) and the deliciously savoury Gracias Gazpacho made with gin, clarified tomato, onion, bell pepper and coriander oil.


No.80 Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29
New Orleans
@latitude29nola
Beachbum Berrys Lattitude 29-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
The place to go to satisfy tiki cravings in NOLA’s French district, the bar was created as an homage to the life and work of cocktail historian Jeff 'Beachbum' Berry. As well as the colourful garlands, unusual drinking vessels and creative ice you’d expect to encounter at a traditional tiki joint, the cocktails and accompanying menu take the time to recognise drinking history and traditions as well as tiki legends such as Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic.


No.79 Canon
Seattle
@canonseattle
Canon-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Canon is as worth a visit to marvel at the sheer volume of spirits lining the towering backbar and surrounding custom-build shelves as it is for one of its impeccably made cocktails. This whiskey and bitters emporium houses one of the world’s largest spirit selections at more 4,000 labels and counting and puts them to good use in carefully balanced drinks that mostly use no more than three-ingredients.


No.78 Swizzle Rum Bar & Drinkery
Miami
@swizzle_rumbar_drinkery
Swizzle Rum Bar and Drinkery-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Known for late-night (the bar closes at 3am every night) beachside vibes and having more than 150 different rums to try, Swizzle Rum Bar & Drinkery is the place to go for a totally tropical cocktail in Miami. Can’t decide which rum to sample first? Opt for the $45 Florida Rum Experience to get four shots of premium rum hand selected by the knowledgeable bar team.


No.77 Bar Kaiju
Miami
@bar_kaiju
Bar Kaiju-interior_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Bar Kaiju is not your typical speakeasy. While it does come with all the trappings of a traditional hidden bar – the hard-to-spot location within a lofty industrial second-floor nook and secret clubhouse vibe are all accounted for – it also has a unique concept and furiously independent ethos. The bar is dedicated to the monsters of famous Asian cinema, which is manifest in its eerie electric red lights, collages of movie monster posters and the seriously playful cocktail menu that’s modelled after a deck of trading cards and features drinks inspired by famous beasts.


No.76 The Doctor’s Office
Seattle
@tdoseattle
The Doctors Office-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Spirits connoisseurs will delight in a visit to this tiny, 12-seater Seattle drinkery, where owner (and certified medical professional) Matthew Powell has curated a global collection of interesting spirits to be served by the ounce or flight. There’s also a cocktail menu of classics and contemporary takes and a specialist Deep Cuts section for the true aficionados featuring rare, vintage and obscure sips from Japan, Peru, the Caribbean and further afield.


No.75 Bar Bisou Bisou
Montreal
@barbisoubisou
Bar Bisou Bisou-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
A celebration of apéritif culture, Bar Bisou Bisou is the brainchild of Montreal bar veteran Kevin Demers (who’s also behind El Pequeño, Coldroom and Bar Bello in the city), globetrotting bartender Robert Weeks, and hospitality consultant Gregory Buda. Diminutive, French-inflected and charming, locals come for the impressive selection of sherries, vermouths and low-ABV options designed to be sipped alongside the bar’s menu of cheese, charcuterie and very good bread.


No.74 Zapote Bar
Playa del Carmen
@Zapotebar
Zapote Bar-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
In Mayan culture, the fruit of the Zapote tree, mamey, is a symbol of hospitality, which succinctly describes the sweet welcome you can expect at Zapote Bar. Set within the lush surrounds of Riviera Maya in the equally lush Rosewood Mayakoba resort, the bar team put tropical ingredients sourced from the neighbouring jungle to good use in a menu of classics built around Mexican distillates. Cocktails like Venado (deer) mix oregano-infused rum, Lillet Blanc, sage, cacao, hoja santa, and an aromatic Yucatán lime in homage to the Mayan heritage this paradisical place is steeped in.

No.73 Bar Leather Apron
Honolulu
@barleatherapron
Bar Leather Apron-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
A fusion of warm Hawaiian hospitality with meticulously crafted, technique-driven drinks is at the fore of this Honolulu haven for cocktail lovers. Unsurprisingly given the bar’s sun-soaked surrounds, the cocktail menu takes inspiration from local and seasonal ingredients to create everything from highballs to farm-to-glass concoctions and signature drinks, the most famous of which is co-founder Justin Park’s award-winning E Ho’O Pau Mai Tai – made with raisin-infused rum, coconut water syrup, spiced orgeat, vanilla ohia blossom honey, lime, absinthe and wood smoke.


No.72 Roquette
Seattle
@roquettesea
Roquette-interior_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
A taste of the City of Light in Seattle, this French-influenced, blue-fronted Belltown bar was conceived by mixologist Erik Hakkinen and inspired by halcyon days spent in Paris in his twenties. Expect plenty of French-ified classics spiked with armagnac, cognac, calvados and chartreuse as well as a healthy selection of bubbles and cidre. If you’re not drinking, there’s a no-alcohol list on hand with tempting options including a Phoney Mezcal Negroni and a take on an espresso martini made with alcohol-free amaro, cold brew coffee and cashew.


No.71 Trick Dog
San Francisco
@trickdogbar
Trick Dog-interior_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Perpetually buzzing since its opening in 2013, this Mission District warehouse behemoth embodies all that is great about San Francisco’s creative cocktail scene. Downstairs, bar staff sling creative sips set to a biannually changing theme, the latest being an ode to the circus with the likes of the Bee Bearder (whisky, mango eau de vie, bell pepper, coriander, honey, fish sauce) and the Ring Master (whiskey, shochu, coffee, plum, vanilla, citrus). Upstairs, the mezzanine-level restaurant Quik Dog serves loaded fries, burgers and buttermilk-brined crispy chicken nuggets.


No.70 Nickel City
Austin
@nickelcitybar
Nickel City-interior_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
An historic bar site that’s been serving cold beer and mixed drinks since 1934, the current bar Nickel City is dedicated to keeping the location’s legacy alive under the stewardship of owner Travis Tober. With its neighbourhood vibe and laid-back atmosphere, the bar is as gimmick-free as they come, dishing up exactly what they promise:  ice-cold brewskies, boilermakers, whiskey, long drinks and frozen Irish coffees. If you get peckish, head to the adjacent food truck for Detroit-style Coney dogs, chicken wings and tater tots.


No.69 Humboldt Bar
Victoria
@humboldtbarvictoria
Humboldt Bar-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Named after Alexander von Humboldt, a philosopher, naturalist, botanist and explorer, Humboldt Bar aims to continue the polymath’s work on bridging the gap between science and the natural world through cocktails inspired by his discoveries. Drinks feature an abundance of herbs, flowers, fruits and spices and move from lighter highballs in the Bright and Fresh section through to Bold and Spiced via Savory and Vegetal options.


No.68 Cry Baby Gallery
Toronto
@crybaby.gallery
Cry Baby Gallery-interior_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Inside this urban warehouse gallery festooned with the work of Toronto-based artists you’ll find a secret speakeasy serving eclectic drinks packed with homemade syrups and tinctures such as beeswax mezcal, herb-infused cynar and kefir. While the space is somewhat gritty – all exposed pipes and bare brick walls with a smattering of peeling paint – the artsy bartenders are super-friendly, although getting there early to grab a seat is recommended as the spot is strictly walk in only.


No.67 Laowai
Vancouver
@whereislaowai
Laowai-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Where exactly is Laowai is the most common question when it comes to this hidden Vancouver bar. To get to the bar itself, visitors must first pass through the freezer door of a fully functioning (and fully delicious) dumpling shop. Inside, the contrast to the exterior is marked – think the glamour of 1920s Shanghai brought to life through copper and gold accents, rich, emerald-hued walls and buttery leather and velvet furnishings. In keeping with the bar’s Chinese inspiration story, the drinks list contains numerous baiju options plus cocktails inspired by the stories of notable figures from Chinese (and Chinese-adjacent) history.


No.66 Attaboy
New York
@attaboy134
Attaboy-drink_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
While this barely-signposted bar might be tricky to find on first visit, efforts will be rewarded once inside with a proper conversation with the Attaboy bartenders around your preferences and a personalised drink served to you based on you current mood and cocktail predilections. A regular on the 50 Best Bars lists, it was opened in 2012 by Sam Ross and Michael McIlroy to replace the influential Milk & Honey, which moved to new, larger premises. If you’re not sure what to order, go with a Penicillin or Paper Plane, both of which were invented by Ross.


No.65 Brujas
Mexico City
@brujasmex
Brujas-interior_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
This female-led Roma Norte drinking den takes its name from the building it’s in, the Casa de las Brujas (House of the Witches), which was once home to Pachita, one of Mexico’s most famous shamans. This devotion to shamanism, herbalism and witchcraft is woven throughout every element of the bar, from the moody, dimly-lit subterranean setting to the latest menu Witch Quest – an homage to classic horror comics that tells the stories of ten women who’ve embarked on life-changing quests in liquid form.


No.64 The Long Island Bar
New York
@longislandbar
The Long Island Bar-interior-NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Originally opened in 1951, this Brooklyn landmark used to serve burgers and beers to dockworkers, before closing in 2007. Six years later, Toby Cecchini – icon of the bar world and creator of the Cosmopolitan – and partner Joel Tompkins stepped in. Today, executive chef Kevin Garrett serves devilled eggs, shrimp cocktails and loaded burgers with house-made cheese, sour pickles and ‘fancy sauce’ to diners perched in the original booth seating, while the bar shakes expertly crafted cocktail classics including gimlets and daiquiris to order.


No.63 Queen Mary
Chicago
@queenmarytavern
Queen Mary-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
A neighbourhood tavern in Chicago’s Wicker Park, the high seas-themed Queen Mary is the place to be if you’ve got a craving for maritime spirits. Alongside a diverse collection of rums, gins and fortified wines like sherry, including manzanilla on tap, there’s a micro collection of cider, beer and wine. Don’t miss The Daily Grog – a rotating rum punch made with citrus and spice – and a bite from the suitably fishy menu, which includes caviar and chips and clam chowder.


No.62 Lemon
Chicago
@lemon_chicago
Lemon-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Part bar, part performance venue, part creative sanctuary, Lemon bills itself as a ‘third space’ designed to promote relaxation, relationship building and bonding over theatrical or musical performances and a damn good drink. Founded by four individuals with a shared passion for live music and craft cocktails, the menu is made up of reinvigorated classics with natty names such as the Express-Yo-Self take on an espresso martini and wallet-friendly sips like Midwest Handshakes – a Budweiser and a shot for $5.25. 


No.61 Champagne Bar at The Surf Club
Miami
@champagnebaratthesurfclub
Chapagne Bar at The Surf Club-interior_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP

The Surf Club is a Miami institution that has been attracting a star-studded celebrity guest list – including the likes of Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor – since it first opened in 1930. The swanky hotel’s ultra glam Champagne Bar remains one of the jewels of the city’s bar scene. Secreted on the ground floor, the bar has a warm, tropical vibe replete with slender palm trees and floral fabrics that belies its refined Cathedral-like surrounds. A stunning selection of champagne takes top billing on the menu, naturally, but there’s also a tempting array of signature cocktails to try.


No.60 Dante West Village
New York
@dantewestvillage
Dante-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Sister to the original Caffe Dante – now a registered NYC landmark – and Beverley Hills Dante, Dante West Village comes with a leafier, more relaxed aperitivo aura. A popular brunch spot (no wonder considering the menu includes delicious concoctions like house-made banana bread with whipped ricotta and local honeycomb and a breakfast burrata with roasted market squash, hazelnuts, apple butter and burnt honey) and also serves up a killer $10 martini happy hour daily from 3-5pm.


No.59 Bandista
Houston
@bandistahouston
Bandista-hero_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Secreted within the Four Seasons Hotel Houston, Bandista is part swanky 1920s cocktail lounge, part modern-day speakeasy. There’s Latin flavour running throughout the bar’s sophisticated cocktail offering, which mixes classic and contemporary styles and rare spirits in drinks like Dulce Far Niente – their take on a tiramisu reimagined as a cocktail complete with mascarpone mousse – and Writer’s Block 27 (two types of heritage gin, absinthe, lime, pineapple, cucumber).


No.58 Proof
Calgary
@proofyyc
Proof-interior_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
A self-professed old-school cocktail bar, the drinks take centre stage at this stripped-back Calgary spot. Cocktails are grouped and whimsically named according to their base spirit – think Mother's Ruin for gin – and the knowledgeable team are on hand to suggest a signature to try, such as the Bitter Baby (cocoa butter fat-washed gin, bitters, vanilla, bitter melon, rosemary, sea buckthorn) or one of the bar's ‘small sips’: miniature pours of time-worn classics, from the negroni to sazerac.


No.57 The Dead Rabbit
New York
@thedeadrabbitny
The Dead Rabbit-interior_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
A living legend in NYC, The Dead Rabbit was brought back to life after a fire in the summer of 2018. Downstairs, the Taproom in still in its original state and acts as a no-frills pub serving up whiskies, craft beer, the (self-proclaimed) best Guinness in the city and the bar’s world-famous Irish coffee. Upstairs, Parlour is a dedicated mixology space devoted to celebrating Irish heritage through the artwork that adorns its walls, the stools that have been hand-turned in County Antrim and the prevalence of Irish spirits across its menu.


No.56 Viceversa
Miami
@viceversamiami
Viceversa-interior CREDIT R
Bartender Valentino Longo and the team behind the now shuttered Jaguar Sun joined forces to create Viceversa, an Italian aperitivo bar with a Miami accent. The bar’s menu is built around Italian classics such as americanos and negronis fashioned with locally grown ingredients. For a true taste of Italy via Miami, opt for one of the signature cocktails like the Italian-VICE – an ode to the lemon granitas of the Amalfi coast made with bergamot, lemon sorbet and vodka. The food menu also makes good use of homegrown produce, with an abundance of seafood available at the raw bar including Treasure Coast oysters, Middleneck Clams and Royal Red Shrimp carpaccio.


No.55 Civil Works
Toronto
@civwrksto
Civil Works-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Found in Waterworks Food Hall – the beautifully rendered retrofit of a 1930s machine shop – Civil Works is the latest offering from the award-winning Toronto bar Civil Liberties. Taking inspiration from the surrounding architecture, the bar creates a contrast to the industrial setting with an Art Deco-inspired design accented with vintage furniture. Pull up a pew at the 25-foot communal bar and watch as the talented team shake up cocktails that reference the building’s history such as The Woolnough (scotch, aromatised wines, haskap berry, vetiver, sandalwood), which is named after the Waterworks building’s original architect John James Woolnough.


No.54 Sabina Sabe
Oaxaca
@sabinasabeoaxaca
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Named for the mystical Mazatec medicine woman María Sabina, Sabina Sabe is a love letter to mezcal with one of the largest collections of the spirit displayed throughout the bar’s warren of interconnected rooms. Ask the super knowledgeable staff about all things mezcal to find your perfect sip and discover more about how it’s been sourced and produced. In addition to stellar mezcal, there’s a cocktail list with negronis and palomas a-plenty and a food programme that focuses on local ingredients and recipes. Don’t leave without trying the kitchen’s signature, a taco special that’s rotated daily.


No.53 Prophecy
Vancouver
@prophecybar
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A lavish cocktail enclave secreted within the depths of the Hotel Georgia in Vancouver, Prophecy brings lore, myth and literature to life in liquid form, drawing inspiration from writers, poets, musicians and artists for every sip. Taste the spirit of Robert Burns in The Kelpie (aquavit, nori-infused Fino sherry, bitter bianco, almond, celery, lime, spirulina) or be seduced by Kitsune 21 (vodka, raspberry, white chocolate, ginger, lemon, sparkling wine, milk clarification), which is modelled after the cunning fox spirit of Japanese legend.


No.52 Missy’s
Calgary
@missysthisthat
Missys-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
Missy’s describes itself as a "bar with nice people, good wine and no frills", which is exactly what it delivers. Beloved by Calgary locals for its cleverly curated beer and by-the-glass wine offering, the cocktail list is equally impressive with playfully named options such as the Orange Yuzu Glad We Used The Fancy Almonds In This?? (whisky, Marcona almond, yuzu, orange) and the Djarum Black (Pretty Hardcore Bartender Only Type Drink) that mixes green chartreuse with angostura and fernet. Happy hour runs from 4-6pm and promises $5 off all glasses of wine and classic martinis for $9.50.


No.51 Library Bar
Toronto
@librarybartoronto
Library Bar-cocktail_NA50BB25-51-100-LIP
The Fairmont Royal York Hotel’s Library Bar is a masterclass in elegance, from the recently refreshed interiors that echo its Art Deco heyday to the shiny new menu courtesy of award-winning director of beverage, James Grant. Organised in themes of Martinis, Masterpieces, Outlaws, Explorers, Auteurs and Classics, Grant's inspiration for the cocktail catalogue was derived from a canon of literary and film classics. If you try one thing, make it the Birdbath Martini – the veritable crown jewel of the programme, it features gin or vodka formulated by an Ontario distillery specifically for the bar and is served tableside with a dash of theatre.

North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025, sponsored by Perrier, will be revealed at a live awards ceremony in Vancouver, Canada, on Tuesday 29 April.