North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025: Vancouver’s Big NightShakes (and Stirs) the Scene

Article by Circée

There’s something about coming back from Mexico with a tan, a taste for tequila, and then boom—finding yourself shoulder to shoulder with Mexico’s best bartenders at North America’s 50 Best Bars awards in Vancouver.

The coincidence? Too perfect. The vibe?Impeccable. The cocktails? Well, let’s just say we needed a few days to recover.

This year’s ceremony—held for the first time ever in Canada—landed right here at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver. And let’s be honest: we showed up. Vancouver welcomed the best of the best in the cocktail world, and they brought their A-game.

Rumours of group selfies in the ladies’ room, a flurry of statement suits, designer dresses, and expressive personal flair, and proper afterparties? All true. This wasn’t just an awards show—it was a full-blown, fuelled celebration.

Mexico Brings the Fiesta (and the Trophies)

From our strategic standing spot (next to the rowdiest and most fun crowd—the Mexican
delegation), the energy was infectious. With 14 bars from Mexico making the list, including the chart-topping Handshake Speakeasy from Mexico City at #1, it felt like the whole room turned into a tequila-fueled fiesta every time a Mexican bar was called.

Vancouver Bars Are Shaking Things Up

This year’s list didn’t just sprinkle in a few local mentions — Vancouver came to play, with five bars landing on the North America’s Top 100 list. Each one captures something special about our city’s cocktail culture: from lush hotel lounges to neon- lit night owls, this is who we are. Let’s raise a glass to our hometown heroes:

Botanist Bar (#26), tucked inside the Fairmont Pacific Rim, brings nature to the glass. Led by a talented bar team that leans into the flavours of the Pacific Northwest — think forest botanicals, coastal infusions, and seasonal flourishes — it’s sleek and serene, perfect for an intimate night out or a thoughtful solo drink. Their cocktail tasting experiences are among the most refined in the city.

The Keefer Bar (#28), has been a Chinatown staple for over a decade, known for its moody, apothecary-style space and clever use of housemade tinctures, teas, and Eastern medicinal ingredients. This isn’t just a bar — it’s where cocktails get playful, moody, and a little mysterious.

Prophecy (#53), the new kid on the block, brings underground speakeasy vibes to the heart of downtown. Its menu feels like theatre — both in presentation and flavour — with drinks that lean into bold, conceptual territory while still feeling polished and luxe.

Laowai (#67), hidden behind a Chinatown dumpling shop, brings cinematic flair and precision to the craft. The team here balances storytelling and technical skill, turning each visit into an experience — and each drink into a small piece of performance art.

Meo (#92), rounds out the list with something completely different: a neon-drenched space that feels more like Tokyo after midnight than sleepy Vancouver. It’s casual, fun, and driven by an “anything goes” attitude that has quickly won over the industry and late-night locals alike.

Together, these bars show the full spectrum of what Vancouver’s cocktail scene is about right now — refined and experimental, cheeky and elegant, hidden and loud.

Having five on this list doesn’t just say Vancouver is doing well. It says we belong on the continent’s — and the world’s — cocktail stage.

Canada Makes Its Mark (Pompette, We See You!)

Pompette in Toronto not only took #7, but was crowned Best Bar in Canada (sponsored by Torres Brandy) and won the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award. Pompette means “tipsy” in French, and honestly, just watching their team’s vibe and checking out their cocktail program had us feeling giddy. Their Parisian bistro aesthetic mixed with a confident, creative menu made them feel like the cool older cousin we now want to visit in Toronto.

Cheers, Camaraderie & a Bit of Friendly Rivalry

If you closed your eyes during the ceremony, you’d swear you were at a hockey game. Canada vs USA chants, bursts of proud cheering (especially from the Toronto and Vancouver crowds), and more than a few good-natured jabs. But in the end, every US win was met with respect and applause. Because cocktail culture? It’s collaborative, not competitive. (Well… maybe just a little.)

The Host, the Glamour, the People. The show was masterfully hosted by the energetic and charismatic Jesse Lipscombe , an Edmonton-based actor, producer, and community leader whose enthusiasm and sharp style added flair to the night. Around the venue, booths flowed with cocktails by the likes of Perrier, Nikka Whisky, Campari, Roku Gin, Disaronno, Torres Brandy, Ketel One, St-Germain, Altos Tequila, Scrappy’s Bitters, and more.

Oh—and let’s not forget the people. Stylish, magnetic, and buzzing with ideas, the industry crowd was a walking masterclass in fashion-forward hospitality. Familiar faces spotted included Miki Ellis (co-founder of Dachi and part of the team behind Niwa, Plain Jane Ice Cream, Tall Shadow Bakery, and Mucker Next Door), and Lauren Mote, the globe-trotting mixology powerhouse and co-creator of Bittered Sling.

Drink Masters IRL

Julie Reiner—co-owner of New York’s Clover Club and Milady’s—received the Roku Industry Icon Award for her decades of mentorship and influence. While many Netflix viewers met her for the first time on Drink Masters, Reiner has long been a pillar of the craft cocktail movement in New York and beyond. She’s a true trailblazer who’s helped shape the hospitality scene as we know it and remains a guiding star in the cocktail cosmos.

Explore the Full List: North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025

Here’s the complete list of the 50 best bars, each linked for easy access. Vancouver bars are bolded, so you can plan your next night out accordingly.

1. Bekeb – San Miguel de Allende
2. Handshake Speakeasy – Mexico City
3. Superbueno – New York
4. Tlecān – Mexico City
5. Jewel of the South – New Orleans
6. Sip & Guzzle – New York
7. Overstory – New York
8. Bar Pompette – Toronto
9. El Gallo Altanero – Guadalajara
10. Licorería Limantour – Mexico City
11. Kumiko – Chicago
12. Clemente Bar – New York
13. Mírate – Los Angeles
14. Café La Trova – Miami
15. Bar Mauro – Mexico City
16. Martiny’s – New York
17. Pacific Cocktail Haven – San Francisco
18. True Laurel – San Francisco
19. Employees Only – New York
20. Double Chicken Please – New York
21. Baltra Bar – Mexico City
22. Civil Liberties – Toronto
23. Aruba Day Drink – Tijuana
24. Service Bar – Washington DC
25. Thunderbolt – Los Angeles
26. Best Intentions – Chicago
27. Botanist Bar – Vancouver
28. Arca – Tulum
29. The Keefer Bar – Vancouver
30. Selva – Oaxaca
31. Library by the Sea – Grand Cayman
32. Cloakroom – Montreal
33. La Factoría – San Juan
34. Maison Premiere – New York
35. Bijou Drinkery Room – Mexico City
36. Hanky Panky – Mexico City
37. Atwater Cocktail Club – Montreal
38. Bar Mordecai – Toronto
39. Meadowlark – Chicago
40. Bisous – Chicago
41. Kaito del Valle – Mexico City
42. Yacht Club – Denver
43. Katana Kitten – New York
44. Angel’s Share – New York
45. Mother – Toronto
46. Allegory – Washington DC
47. Dante – New York
48. Café de Nadie – Mexico City
49. Silver Lyan – Washington DC
50. Cure – New Orleans

How the 50 Best Bars Are Chosen

The list is curated by an expert panel of over 300 North American voters, made up of bartenders, bar owners, drinks writers, and industry educators. Voters are grouped into 7 regional academies, each led by a respected chairperson.

It’s not just about bragging rights. Being named in North America’s 50 Best Bars — part of the global 50 Best family that also celebrates the world’s top restaurants — means joining a conversation that reaches far beyond your local scene. It puts bars on the radar of travellers, industry leaders, and cocktail lovers everywhere.

For bartenders and owners, it’s validation of their craft and a door to new opportunities. For cities like Vancouver, it’s a quiet but meaningful nod that says: you’re not just doing great locally — you’re standing shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best.

Why This Year Mattered (And What Comes Next)

Whether you’re in it for the cocktails, the interior design, the hidden entrances, or the vibrant characters behind the bars, this year’s North America’s 50 Best Bars ceremony proved one thing: Vancouver is ready to party with the best of them.

So go ahead—start your own Best Bars journey right here at home. There’s a whole world of cocktails, creativity, and connection to be found just down the block. And who knows? You might just end up booking a “research trip” to Mexico before the summer is over.
Cheers, Vancouver— you crushed it.