The Top 10 International Bars, According to the Experts Intimate spaces have replaced the sprawling multi-tiered bars of the past in the hearts of drink lovers. From Hong Kong to Mexico City and beyond, here's where to go. By Kara Newman Kara Newman Kara Newman is a cocktails and spirits writer based in New York. In addition to her writing for Food & Wine, she is the spirits reviewer for Wine Enthusiast and has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Punch, Imbibe, and The Washington Post. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on April 2, 2025 Credit: Courtesy of Bar Nouveau If there’s one word that sums up this year’s best-in-class bars, it’s intimate. Compared to past years when popular international trends favored sprawling, multi-story playhouses and high-volume operations, our top bars of 2025 are heavy on petite spaces. These are the places where guests can receive meticulous drinks with a side of special attention from laser-focused bartenders. Many are housed within unique locations, too, from an elaborate Art Nouveau concept in Paris to a former milk store in Rome and an A-frame brick cottage in Melbourne. Common among these bars is a special emphasis on sourcing ingredients, from Lady Bee’s focus on sustainability, working with local growers and producers, to a program at Bar Nouveau built around vintage spirits. Many make their own distillates, bring in private barrels and bottlings, or use elaborate techniques to ensure what’s in the glass is unique. The result is an array of inspiring destinations for sampling drinks that can’t be found anywhere else. 01 of 10 Winner: Bar Nouveau (Paris) Courtesy of Bar Nouveau This petite Art Nouveau-inspired space in the Marais created by Rémy Savage and team focuses on vintage vermouths, liqueurs, and more. Bar Nouveau is a two-story affair: The ground floor is light and bright, with a compact, U-shaped bar, mirrored ceiling, and custom light fixtures that resemble upside-down lilies. The downstairs level is dark and intimate, and modern technology is allowed, meaning fancy equipment (centrifuges, etc.) and techniques that result in unique drinks. Often, the same drink may be interpreted differently, depending on where you order it. Guests at the street-level bar might receive an elegant Martini made with artisanal spirits, for example, while guests downstairs might see a more elaborate, sassy variation of the same cocktail, made with a fat-washed distillate and housemade cordial. This Paris Bar Has a Split Personality – and You’ll Want to Experience Both 02 of 10 Artifact (Hong Kong) Courtesy of Artifact bar Hidden behind a high-end food court, this vibrant, futuristic bar is a game-changer. Ezra Star, Beckaly Franks, and Michael Larkin have created a sculptural space illuminated by glowing, setting sun-like orbs. The bar has been alternately described as dystopian sci-fi; inspired by underground cisterns; and futuristic spaceship. You can decide for yourself. Dimly lit Artifact offers a bar menu focused on brown spirits (see the whiskey-based Bread and Butter Milk Punch) and luxe options like the Caviar Martini. 03 of 10 Baltra Bar (Mexico City) Courtesy of Baltra Bar / Luis Gallardo Merino / LGM Studio From the owners of acclaimed Licoria Limantour, this laid-back bar in the Condesa neighborhood offers a different vibe. Named for one of the Galapagos islands in Ecuador, this intimate lounge offers warm light and nautical accoutrements. Quaint, kitschy, and inviting like an old friend’s living room, the laid-back atmosphere of Baltra Bar complements and contrasts the precision and attention to detail with which its cocktails are made. Look to drinks like a Kiwi + Lemon Balm cooler made with Jack Daniels, fino sherry, lemon, and kiwi. And don’t miss Martes Martinis (Martini Tuesdays). 04 of 10 Caretaker's Cottage (Melbourne) Courtesy of Caretaker's Cottage Yes, this petite A-frame next to a church was once a caretaker’s cottage. Today, this cozy brick cottage, which opened in 2022, is considered one of the top spots in Melbourne. Co-owners Ryan Noreiks, Matt Stirling, and Rob Libecans have built a vibrant, pub-like bar that serves Guinness on tap, super-cold freezer Martinis, or a rotating option of milk punches. The soundtrack is fueled by vinyl records, played behind the bar, which adds to the house party, walk-in-only atmosphere. The playful drink menu changes each month — a recent option included a tropical-leaning tequila highball garnished with a pandan leaf “rainbow” — but Guinness and the lauded house Martini are always on offer. 05 of 10 Latteria Trastevere (Rome) Courtesy of Latteria Trastevere Heading to the Vatican? Seek refuge from the tourist crush at this Trastevere wine bar. It has all you need: funky natural wines, cheeses that the owner imports from his Sardinian hometown, as well as daily pasta specials. The storefront once sold milk, hence the name. The interior is warm and rustic, with strings of twinkle lights at night and an inviting outdoor space with small wooden tables during the day. The bar opens early, which means that you can drop in for espresso and pastries if aperitivo hour is still far away. 06 of 10 Bar Rondo (Tokyo) Courtesy of Stacey Leesa Just six seats at this minimalist Shinjuku bar means maximum attention from owner/bartender Tatsuya Yoshida, formerly of Star Bar. A “rondo” is a musical form, repeated several times, each with a different melody. The name is also a wink at the practice of building a round of drinks, perhaps with subtle variances for each successive order. Meticulous drinks feature Japanese spirits (try a gently floral gin and tonic made with Suntory’s Roku Sakura Bloom) and are only enhanced by the calm surroundings. The 15-foot bar is a single piece of well-polished wood, and the main visual counterpoint is blue-hued artwork by Reita Moriya. Even the lighting at Bar Rondo is meant to enhance the appearance of your drink. 07 of 10 Bar Termini (London) Courtesy of Bar Termini This Italian-style coffee-and-cocktail spot is inspired by the 1950s and named after Rome’s train station. Look for crisp white-jacketed pros who offer espressos and aperitivos. The tiny Soho space means the streamlined list of Italian-leaning cocktails like a House Negroni, Spritz Termini, and Marsala Martini, with bottled versions available to take with you. Find a space at Bar Termini's marble-topped bar or one of the teeny wooden tables, order a plate of charcuterie or Italian cheeses, and feel like you’ve made an escape to Italy. Molto bene. 08 of 10 Lady Bee (Lima) Courtesy of Ken Motohasi How many bars work with agroforestry engineers or marine biologists? At this Miraflores gastro bar, which opened in 2021, sustainability is emphasized. And yes, scientists are part of the chain. Husband-and-wife duo bartender Alonso Palomino and chef Gabriela León source ingredients like fresh produce, chocolate, and coffee from local growers and small producers. They believe that sharing the stories of the farmers, artisans, marine biologists, and more is just as important as the ingredients. Taking its name from two classic cocktails — the White Lady and the Bee’s Knees — Lady Bee guests will find familiar drinks given an environmental factor. A dry Martini, for example, morphs into one of the bar’s best-known drinks: the Three Sips Martini. It’s made with a Coastal Hills sugarcane-based distillate, sherry, and dry vermouth. It arrives accompanied by a trio of garnishes: olive, savory algae, and trout caviar, each from a different area of Peru. 09 of 10 Danico (Paris) Courtesy of Benoit Linero / Danico Part of Nico de Soto’s ever-expanding bar empire, Danico is located behind pizza shop Daroco, in Jean Paul Gaultier’s former flagship store. Opened in 2023, it’s a sleek space, as black walls are juxtaposed by pale velvet seats and a herringbone-patterned marble bar. The 12-drink menu nods to de Soto’s international travels (he’s visited 100-plus countries and more than 1,100 cities) and runs toward baroque libations that evoke a sense of place. For example, the recent India-themed menu slipped in ingredients like kulfi ice cream, ghee, and marigold distillate. Keep an eye out for pandan on every menu. It’s de Soto’s signature flavor, and he recently launched his own pandan liqueur. Find it in the Honk Honk Honk, a buzzy Espresso Martini riff that references the jangly chaos of India’s roads, showcasing rum, Indian cold brew, jaggery, chai masala, and pandan liqueur. 10 of 10 Jigger & Pony (Singapore) Courtesy of Jigger and Pony Now housed within the Amara Hotel, the groundbreaking Jigger & Pony bar doesn’t have an ordinary menu: It has a “menuzine,” a beautiful hard-cover booklet with eye-catching photos and stories behind colorful drinks. For instance, Ugly Tomatoes, a savory gin and kummel drink, is made with misshapen heirloom tomatoes to reduce waste and served in a thought-provokingly misshapen “crumple” glass. Bar manager Uno Jang’s riff on the Espresso Martini has found fans, using the bar’s own espresso blend (flash-brewed from a Nespresso-like capsule), coffee flower honey, coconut kokuto syrup, and vodka. It’s all topped with a cacao nib tuile that’s a joy to crack with a spoon. To uncover the best food and drink experiences for travelers, Food & Wine polled over 400 chefs, travel experts, food and travel writers, and wine pros from across the globe for their top culinary travel experiences. We then turned the results over to our Global Advisory Board, who ranked the top nominees in each category. For the full list of all 165 winners, visit foodandwine.com/globaltastemakers. Explore more: Travel Global Tastemakers Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit