Great news for those who cherish the inventive cocktail—or even a traditional straight pour—served in a beautiful setting that makes you appreciate the clink of your ice cubes and the fragrance in the glass. You can build an evening out of visiting a bar you love going to, and North America's 50 Best Bars list is expanding the curated recommendations to include bars ranked 51-100 for the first time. Double your pleasure! The bars on the expanded list cover the territory of the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, so you may have to book your travel if you want to visit one that appeals. In Vancouver, the list will be officially announced at a live awards ceremony on April 29. But in the meantime, we’ve got the sneak peek for you. We’ll include the full list at the end, but will start by focusing on the bars here in the U.S. that made the list.
First in the newly expanded portion is Miami’s ViceVersa at No. 56. This Italian aperitivo bar is in the lobby of the Elser Hotel downtown. Open from 5pm to midnight every day, the bar serves cocktails, pizza, aperitivi, and a raw bar.
The Dead Rabbit in New York is No. 57, while Miami hits again at No. 61 with Champagne Bar at the Surf Club. The Dead Rabbit is an Irish pub (if you saw the movie Gangs of New York, its name makes instant sense to you) serving classic and contemporary cocktails over three floors with a Tap Room, and The Parlor (and two other rooms for private parties, the Occasional Room and Green Room). The Champagne Bar at the Surf Club is housed in the Four Seasons Hotel and is a beautiful palm-fronded space with contemporary pendant lanterns for lighting. You can order cocktails and champagne from Miami’s largest champagne list.
Next is Lemon at No. 62 and Queen Mary at No. 63, both in Chicago.
You’ll notice that the U.S. holds 23 of the 50 listings, nearly half. It’s true that we have excellent bars all over the country—and most especially in New York City, which boasts seven of the 23. Miami has two, plus the honor of the top listing in the expanded 51-100. Chicago and Seattle also have two on the list, and then there’s a scattering of bars throughout the single cities of San Francisco, New Orleans, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Boston, Honolulu and Austin.
Here is the full list of the bars now listed at 51-100
51. Library Bar, Toronto
52. Missy’s, Calgary
53. Prophecy, Vancouver
54. Sabina Sabe, Oaxaca
55. Civil Works, Toronto
56. ViceVersa, Miami
57. The Dead Rabbit, New York
58. Proof, Calgary
59. Bandista, Houston
60. Dante West Village, New York
61. Champagne Bar at The Surf Club, Miami
62. Lemon, Chicago
63. Queen Mary, Chicago
64. The Long Island Bar, New York
65. Brujas, Mexico City
66. Attaboy, New York
67. Laowai, Vancouver
68. Cry Baby Gallery, Toronto
69. Humboldt Bar, Victoria
70. Nickel City, Austin
71. Trick Dog, San Francisco
72. Roquette, Seattle
73. Bar Leather Apron, Honolulu
74. Zapote Bar, Playa del Carmen
75. Bar Bisou Bisou, Montreal
76. The Doctor’s Office, Seattle
77. Bar Kaiju, Miami
78. Swizzle Rum Bar & Drinkery, Miami
79. Canon, Seattle
80. Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29, New Orleans
81. Equal Measure, Boston
82. Ticuchi, Mexico City
83. Simpl Things, Toronto
84. Bar Bello, Montreal
85. Bar Snack, New York
86. Herbs & Rye, Las Vegas
87. Door No.4, Grand Cayman
88. Happy Accidents, Albuquerque
89. Nine Bar, Chicago
90. Shinji’s, New York
91. The Coldroom, Montreal
92. Meo, Vancouver
93. The Portrait Bar, New York
94. Casa Prunes, Mexico City
95. Paradise Lost, New York
96. Slice of Life, Toronto
97. Highball, Phoenix
98. Bar Contra, New York
99. Shelter, Calgary
100. Bar Next Door, Los Angeles