The inaugural Europe’s 50 Best Bars list was unveiled at a glittering ceremony in Amsterdam on 30 June 2026, spotlighting the continent’s leading bar concepts across 22 cities. The launch of this new, specialist ranking by 50 Best brought to the fore the constant evolution, creativity and high standards of the European bar scene. Within this new and highly competitive landscape, Greece achieved a monumental triumph. For the first time in the history of the , a city outside the traditional capitals of mixology claimed the top two places in Europe, placing Athens firmly in the same elite conversation as London, New York and Paris.
Line Athens’ triumph at the top of the European ranking crowns a journey built on innovation and a deep commitment to raw materials. Now in its fifth year in Kato Petralona, the concept by Vasilis Kyritsis, Nikos Bakoulis and Dimitris Dafopoulos was named The Best Bar in Europe and The Best Bar in Greece. Housed in a former art gallery with an industrial character, Line functions less as a conventional bar and more as a laboratory of experimentation, centred on fermentation, circular economy and sustainability.
During our immersive visit, we were impressed by the complexity and clarity of the team’s house-made fruit wines, the so-called Why-ins, which they develop in collaboration with winemaker Thanos Georgilas. The cocktails on the list, served alongside the excellent sourdough breads and dishes from the menu, manage to balance bold creativity with close collaboration between the lab and the kitchen. Faye Huggett, Director of Community for Europe’s 50 Best Bars, underlined the significance of the award in her statement, noting that the team’s remarkable hospitality and creativity have now firmly placed Athens on the global map.
The Bar in Front of the Bar, by Alexandros Tselepís and Konstantinos Theodorakopoulos, was ranked No. 2 on the list. The concept, which made its debut in 2021 at the lower end of Ermou Street, was also recently recognised in Hong Kong, placing No. 47 on the global list. The aesthetic upgrade of the interior brings a strong sense of Asian-inflected exoticism, creating the right backdrop for a cocktail list that features some of the most recognisable modern classics of the Athens bar scene, including Her Scent, Kafeneio and the conceptual Tacos Margarita.
The broader Athenian presence continued with Barro Negro at No. 13. The Mexican spot by Giorgos Kavaklis and Stelios Papadopoulos is being recognised for its methodical effort to showcase Mexico’s premium spirits. Immediately afterwards, at No. 14, comes Thanos Prounarous’ influential Baba Au Rum, which marks 17 years of successful operation, having helped define the country’s cocktail scene. At No. 30, The Clumsies confirms its enduring value as a global bar legend, while Greece’s presence in the top 50 is completed at No. 33 by Gorilla in Thessaloniki, in a well-deserved recognition of Achilleas Plakidas’ many years of work.
The evening also carried strong Greek interest on an international level. At No. 16, Tirana’s Nouvelle Vague was named The Best Bar in Albania, a concept by Sofoklis Kallis with close ties to Greece. At No. 24, Bird in Copenhagen received the title of The Best Bar in Denmark, with Elpida Antonopoulou, familiar from her time at Barro Negro, going up on stage to collect the award. In addition, Late Bloomers in Zurich, created by Stelios Kalemis and Vangelis Dimitris, was named the best bar in Switzerland at No. 44.
It is also worth noting London’s strong presence, with seven bars on the list, among them Connaught Bar at No. 10, Satan’s Whiskers at No. 11, Tayēr + Elementary at No. 12 and Waltz at No. 23, which received the Three Cents Best New Opening Award. Among the special awards, Panda & Sons in Edinburgh, at No. 20, received the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award for its sub-zero techniques; De Vie in Paris, at No. 34, won the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award; while Salvatore Calabrese was honoured as the Roku Industry Icon for his contribution to the industry over five decades.
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