Canadian Bars on North America’s 50 Best Bars 2024 List

Seven Canadian Bars feature in the 2024 edition of North America’s 50 Best Bars which was unveiled yesterday.

The awards, sponsored by Perrier, spotlight top bars from the USA, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, with the United States leading with 26 bars, followed by 15 from Mexico, seven from Canada, and two from the Caribbean.

Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy garnered top honours, claiming the title of The Best Bar in North America and The Best Bar in Mexico. Following closely, New York City’s Superbueno took second place, earning accolades as the Disaronno Highest New Entry and The Best Bar in Northeast USA. Overstory, also in New York, secured the third spot on the list.

In Canada, Toronto’s Civil Liberties was recognized as The Best Bar in Canada for the third consecutive year, an accolade sponsored by Naked Malt. It ranked 21st overall. Other Canadian bars featured include Vancouver’s Botanist Bar at 24th, Toronto’s Bar Pompette at 29th, Montreal’s Cloakroom at 39th, Vancouver’s The Keefer Bar at 49th after re-entering the list this year, and Montreal’s Atwater Cocktail Club rounding out the list at number 50.

Puerto Rico’s La Factoría was named The Best Bar in the Caribbean, maintaining its position for the third year, a title sponsored by Amaro Lucano and placed 18th overall.

The North America’s 50 Best Bars initiative, launched following the global and Asian editions, was first hosted in New York in June 2022.

As per the website, the voting system is based on the anonymous votes of North American industry experts, including bartenders, bar owners, and drinks media, who form the Academy of more than 260 members. Each member votes for seven bars, with a maximum of five in their home country or state, and the votes are kept confidential until the list is announced. The Academy is divided into eight regions, each with its own panel of members and chairperson. Bars cannot apply to be on the list.