The latest global ranking of the world’s best bars, unveiled this week in Milan, features four New York City establishments among the top 50 for 2026. The list, now in its 18th year, is compiled based on votes from approximately 800 expert judges worldwide.

Leading the ranking once again is Bar Leone, a prominent Italian-inspired cocktail bar located in Hong Kong’s Central District. Bar Leone secured the top spot in 2025 as well and previously earned recognition as Asia’s best bar in 2024 while finishing second globally. Co-founded by Italian bartender Lorenzo Antinori, the venue draws creative influence from Rome’s lively Trastevere neighborhood. Antinori credits the bar’s sustained success to a commitment to classic cocktails rather than current trends or theatrical presentations.

The four New York City bars highlighted on this year’s list include Schmuck, Sip and Guzzle, Martini’s, and Bar Snack. Schmuck, situated in the East Village, is ranked at number 11. Sip and Guzzle, located in the West Village, holds the number 14 position and features a thematic nod to an 1860 story about a samurai’s visit to New York. Martini’s, a Japanese cocktail lounge found between Union Square East and Irving Place, is placed at number 46. Finally, Bar Snack, also an East Village establishment, rounds out the list at number 49.

Three New York bars that appeared in the 2025 top 50—Superbueno, Double Chicken Please, and Overstory—did not make the cut this year. The annual list remains a key barometer of global cocktail culture, reflecting shifting trends and emerging favorites in the international hospitality scene.