A cocktail in London's Dandelyan bar

Bar reviews and recommendations: how we do it

Here’s how we select, review and rank the best bars around the world

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Time Out’s recommendations are made by expert local writers.

For a bar to make it onto one of Time Out’s recommended lists, the drinks have to be amazing (that’s a given!). But what we’re really looking for is a combination of brilliant beverages, atmosphere and experience, all of which make for an unforgettable night out.

Some of these places are age-old institutions with a real drinking heritage, others are spanking-new haunts mixing cutting-edge cocktails. What they all share in common is great staff, a buzzing vibe and great value for money. These are the places you wish were your local, and where you’re made to feel like a local, too.

If a bar is star rated, that means a Time Out expert local critic has independently reviewed it. Our reviewers head to the bar incognito, and pay their own way. We get treated like regular punters – sometimes we even end up waiting an age at the bar. But that’s because we’re dedicated to the cause: bringing you the best of the city.

Here’s the skinny on our star ratings:

One star: avoid!
Two stars: not that great.
Three stars: good.
Four stars: really good.
Five stars: unmissable.

Now discover the world’s greatest bars

The Time Out DRINK List
The Time Out DRINK List

Time Out’s local experts scour their cities every day for the freshest, most inventive, most memorable and downright tastiest places to drink on Planet Earth right now. Raise a glass with us to the best bars in the world.

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