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50 Best Bars - Revealed!

Making an entrance at the Rosewood San Miguel.
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May 5, 2024

by Marni Hills

¡Viva Mexico y Felicidades! Mexican Bars Dominate North America's 50 Best List


Making an entrance at the Rosewood San Miguel.
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This year's North America's 50 Best Bars list is bursting with Mexican brilliance! A staggering 15 Mexican hotspots secured coveted rankings on the prestigious list - that's right, nearly a third of the continent's best cocktail destinations can be found in Mexico. For the first time, Mexico takes the number one spot on North America's 50 Best Bars List 2024, as well as "Best Bar in Mexico"….. the top honors were presented to Handshake Speakeasy from Mexico City, at the unveiling ceremony this past Tuesday night at The Rosewood in San Miguel.


Handshake Speakeasy is the big winner (photo: theworlds50Best.com)
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San Miguel's rooftop bar scene explodes onto the world stage as Bekeb rockets onto the list for the first time, landing a coveted #27 ranking.


Hat Atelier Suki Palomina (L) and Bekeb owner and Principal Fabiola Padilla. (Photo: Isis Rodriguez)
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Bekeb's friendly and fabulous staff (photo: Bekebsma.com)
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The celebratory crowd was in high spirits. Refreshingly vibrant, diverse and impeccably dressed, they walked the red carpet, posed for the paparazzi, enjoyed canapes and an endless assortment of fancy liquors and artisanal cocktails provided by the event sponsors.


Mexico's Siete Misterios Mezcal sponsored the "Best Cocktail Menu" Award
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The evening's festive presentation was kicked off by emcee Emma Sleight, Head of Content: Bars & Hotels for 50Best. Keeping the announcements moving on stage was charming Mexican actor and TV personality Diego Alfaro, working in front of a gorgeously edited, high-energy, multimedia stage show.


Announcer - Mexican TV personality Diego Alfaro
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The fast-moving presentation highlighted special award recipients including the "Altos Bartender's Bartender" winner Kate Boushel of Montreal's Atwater Cocktail Club (#50), the "Siete Misterio Best Cocktail Menu" winner Meadowlark (#32) from Chicago, and the "Micheters Art of Hospitality Award" went to New Orleans' Jewel of the South (#6).


Local San Miguel artist Isis Rodriguez - looking gorge in green chinoiserie - chats with the team from Meadowlark in Chicago - whose 1893 Chicago World's Fair-inspired drinks won Best Cocktail Menu Award
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The Michter's Art of Hospitality Award 2024 winners Jewel of the South (#6) from New Orleans
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A toast with Jewel of the South (#6) winners
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Guadalajara's El Gallo Altanero rose from #21 to #14 this year
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At the evenings conclusion, the team from Handshake Speakeasy graciously spent some time answering questions from the media. They openly and vulnerably shared their challenges and triumphs, secrets of great service, and managing the ups and downs that any service business faces in today's economy.

 
"Hard work pays off, we grow together and we fall together… but tonight we celebrate together…" - Erik Van Beek, Handshake Bar
 


50Best's Head of Content Emma Sleight moderates a press conference with the winning team from Mexico City's Handshake Speakeasy
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Handshake Bar's Ale Orozco gets tearful when talking about how much she loves her work and team
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I was a customer at Handshake before working there, and I loved the place…. Baltra Bar (#26) is another place that inspires me, I like the small places because you can give the hospitality easily to customers who visit…." - Ale Orozco, Handshake Bar
 

Congratulations to everyone who earned top honors this year on North America's 50 Best Bars List, but we offer a collective "¡Salud!" to all the talented and welcoming individuals whose service and hospitality make these Mexican standouts shine:

#1 Handshake Speakeasy - Mexico City
#5 Rayo - Mexico City
#9 Licoreria Limantour - Mexico City
#10 Tlecan - Mexico City
#11 Zapote Bar - Playa del Carmen
#14 El Gallo Altanero - Guadalajara
#17 Cafe de Nadie - Mexico City
#26 Baltra Bar - Mexico City
#27 Bekeb - San Miguel de Allende
#28 Kaito del Valle - Mexico City
#34 Selva - Oaxaca
#37 Arca - Tulum
#40 Aruba Day Drink - Tijuana
#42 Hanky Panky - Mexico City
#45 Brujas - Mexico City

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Marni Hills is a well-traveled writer, photographer, and lover of all things weird and unusual. She is an ancient astronaut theorist, dog foster, DJ, and is obsessed with travel, fashion, true crime, never-before-seen footage, and mountaineering disasters. She made San Miguel her home in early 2022.

Follow Marni on Instagram

Previous articles:
Grounding: Earth Day / Every Day
Fashion: Upcycled, Embroidered, Mexicano - Golden Lola
Trashing the Charco, July 2023
A Home for Horchata, April 2023
A Thread to Old San Miguel, March 2023

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