Rockstars of Mixology: Inside the Inaugural Europe’s 50 Best Bars

Following the North America’s 50 Best Bars, Amsterdam’s iconic De Kromhouthal recently played host to an unforgettable evening of shaken spirits, stirred emotions, and world-class hospitality. On June 30th, the European mixology community descended upon the Dutch capital for a historic milestone in the drinks industry: the very first edition of Europe’s 50 Best Bars. Hypemaps was out here with Cointreau at the inaugural award ceremony in Amsterdam, where they made rockstars out of the continental bartending’s finest talents.

During the ceremony, people were dressed to the nines. Brand booths of every type of liquor lined up on each side of the hall, so guests were spoiled for choice. Among the vibrant booths, Cointreau stood out as one of the evening’s most popular destinations. Guests flocked to sample the Spicy Watermelon Margarita featuring the newly launched Cointreau Spicy, a bold twist on the brand’s iconic French orange liqueur, infused with natural chilli for a touch of heat. Designed to tap into growing consumer demand for spicy flavour profiles, the new expression offers bartenders a versatile way to bring depth and complexity to modern cocktail serves.

This innovative spirit from Cointreau perfectly mirrored the dynamic nature of the European bar scene being celebrated that night. For Kevin Sueiro, Global Brand Ambassador at Cointreau, the new awards are about giving Europe’s bartending community the spotlight it’s earned. “I’m so glad we finally have a European ceremony because this bar scene deserves its own moment. Cocktail culture is thriving across the continent, and it’s exciting to see the people and places pushing it forward finally get the recognition they deserve.”

Following a lively drinks reception, contenders sporting 50 Best’s signature red scarves eagerly awaited the live countdown to find out their placement in the 1–50 list of Europe’s 50 Best Bars. The energy in the room was electric, every winner was met with roaring applause, making the evening feel less like a competition and more like an industry family reunion. When the final list was revealed, Athens emerged as the night’s dominant force, with Line claiming the coveted No. 1 spot as The Best Bar in Europe, followed by The Bar in Front of the Bar at No. 2, and Barcelona’s Sips rounding out the top three.

For years, the 50 Best organization has published global, North American, and Asian rankings, but 2026 marks the much-anticipated launch of a list entirely dedicated to the European continent. Faye Huggett, Director of Community for 50 Best, explained the structural shift: “Europe has long been home to some of the most influential cocktail cultures in the world, with bars that consistently push boundaries in technique, creativity and hospitality. By launching Europe’s 50 Best Bars, 50 Best aims to shine a brighter light on the exceptional talent, innovation and diversity found across the continent. The list provides a dedicated platform to celebrate Europe’s leading bar experiences and offers greater visibility to both emerging and established venues”.

Rather than relying on the global edition of The World’s 50 Best Bars framework, the decision to separate Europe was a deliberate one designed to highlight smaller markets. Huggett noted, “As Europe’s bar communities continue to evolve at pace, we saw an exciting opportunity to spotlight the region through its own dedicated list and awards programme. Building on the success of our existing bar rankings, the timing feels right to recognise Europe’s extraordinary contribution to global cocktail culture and to engage more deeply with bar teams and guests across the region. The creation of Europe’s 50 Best Bars means that smaller, emerging and often underrepresented cocktail cultures, including those in Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltics, are better represented and have a greater opportunity to be recognised since they are competing on a regional rather than global stage”.

As the evening wound down, it was clear that the inaugural Europe’s 50 Best Bars was not just an awards show, but a defining cultural moment. Amsterdam, serving as the perfect host city, provided an incredible backdrop for celebrating the heritage, innovation, and future of European mixology. With the success of this first-ever continental ranking, the standard has been raised, ensuring that Europe’s rockstar bartenders will continue to inspire epicures and cocktail lovers around the world for years to come.

 

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