Athens takes the crown, while Italy delivers one of the strongest performances of the night. The inaugural edition of Europe’s 50 Best Bars, unveiled in Amsterdam, reshapes the map of European mixology in a single evening. Leading the ranking is Line, followed by The Bar in Front of the Bar, while Italy secures an impressive nine entries across the list, with Milan leading the country’s presence thanks to Moebius Milano, ranked No. 6.
Line Tops the Inaugural Europe’s 50 Best Bars Ranking
The first-ever Europe’s 50 Best Bars list confirms the Mediterranean’s central role in shaping Europe’s contemporary cocktail culture. Revealed during the 2026 awards ceremony in Amsterdam, the ranking offers a clear snapshot of today’s bar landscape.
Athens dominates the podium, claiming both first and second place with Line and The Bar in Front of the Bar. Italy follows with a remarkable showing, placing nine venues among the continent’s top 50 — more than any other country represented in the ranking.
Milan Leads Italy’s Outstanding Performance
Among Italian cities, Milan delivers the strongest result. Moebius Milano claims the No. 6 position, becoming Italy’s highest-ranked bar. The city also celebrates Camparino in Galleria, the historic home of the Italian aperitivo, at No. 18, while 1930, now operating from its new location under the continued leadership of Benjamin Cavagna, ranks No. 22. Milan returns to the list at No. 49 with Rita Cocktails, the bar owned by Edoardo Nono and Chiara Buzzi, which was featured last year in the 50 Best Discovery selection.
From Florence to Naples Via Rome
Italy’s success extends well beyond Milan, reflecting the strength of cocktail culture across the country. Locale Firenze reaches No. 21, reinforcing Florence’s position among Europe’s leading cocktail destinations. Naples is represented by L’Antiquario, which ranks No. 28, while Florence returns with Gucci Giardino, at No. 29, following its recent inclusion in The World’s 50 Best Bars global ranking. Rome places two internationally established venues on the list: Freni e Frizioni at No. 31, followed closely by Drink Kong, founded by Patrick Pistolesi, at No. 32.
Italians Leave Their Mark Across Europe
Italy’s influence extends far beyond the bars located within its borders. Among the highest-ranked venues is Barcelona’s Sips, founded by Simone Caporale and Marc Alvarez, which secures third place while also being named The Best Bar in Spain.
One of the evening’s most prestigious individual awards went to Giorgio Bargiani, Assistant Director of Mixology at London’s Connaught Bar, who received the Bartenders’ Bartender Award. The Connaught Bar, led by Agostino Perrone, also enters Europe’s top ten, ranking No. 10 and earning the title of The Best Bar in the UK.
Another industry icon was celebrated during the ceremony: Salvatore Calabrese, universally known as The Maestro, received the Industry Icon Award in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the evolution of bartending and cocktail culture worldwide.
Greece Delivers the Biggest Surprise of the Year
While Italy emerges strengthened by the inaugural European ranking, the night’s biggest story belongs to Greece. Athens claims both of the competition’s top two positions. The Bar in Front of the Bar finishes second, while Line, housed inside a former art gallery, is crowned The Best Bar in Europe.
The venue has built its identity around the world of fermentation, an approach that has become one of the defining features of its cocktail programme over recent years. Athens’ double victory confirms the remarkable rise of Greece’s cocktail scene, now fully capable of competing with long-established powerhouses such as London, Barcelona and Milan.
Yet the inaugural Europe’s 50 Best Bars ranking offers plenty more surprises — one destination, one bar at a time.
Europe’s 50 Best Bars 2026: The Complete List
- 1 Line, Athens
- 2 The Bar in Front of the Bar, Athens
- 3 Sips, Barcelona
- 4 Himkok, Oslo
- 5 Bar Nouveau, Paris
- 6 Moebius Milano, Milan
- 7 The Cambridge Public House, Paris
- 8 Mirror Bar, Bratislava
- 9 Paradiso, Barcelona
- 10 Connaught Bar, London
- 11 Satan’s Whiskers, London
- 12 Tayēr + Elementary, London
- 13 Barro Negro, Athens
- 14 Baba au Rum, Athens
- 15 Svanen, Oslo
- 16 Nouvelle Vague, Tirana
- 17 Wax On, Berlin
- 18 Camparino in Galleria, Milan
- 19 Danico, Paris
- 20 Panda & Sons, Edimburgh
- 21 Locale Firenze, Florence
- 22 1930, Milan
- 23 Waltz, London
- 24 Bird, Copenhagen
- 25 Alma Prague, Prague
- 26 Aldea, Barcelona
- 27 Harry’s Bar Paris, Parigi
- 28 L’Antiquario, Naples
- 29 Gucci Giardino, Florence
- 30 The Clumsies, Athens
- 31 Freni e Frizioni, Rome
- 32 Drink Kong, Rome
- 33 Gorilla, Thessaloniki
- 34 De Vie, Paris
- 35 14 De La Rosa, Barcelona
- 36 Boadas, Barcelona
- 37 Tjoget, Stockholm
- 38 Forbína Bar, Prague
- 39 Tag, Krakov
- 40 Kwãnt Mayfair, London
- 41 Three Sheets (Soho), London
- 42 Super Lyan, Amsterdam
- 43 Röda Huset, Stockholm
- 44 Late Bloomers, Zurich
- 45 Angelita, Madrid
- 46 Salmon Guru, Madrid
- 47 Scarfes Bar, London
- 48 Foco, Barcelona
- 49 Rita Cocktails, Milan
- 50 Dunlin, Innsbruck
Photo courtesy 50 Best
