3 new NYC hotspots named among the Worlds 50 Best bars as one returns for another year on top

A new ranking reveals the world’s 50 best bars for 2026 — and four Big Apple watering holes made the cut.Unveiled in Milan earlier this week, the 18th edition of the annual list saw roughly 800 expert judges cast votes from around the globe.Topping the list once again is Bar Leone, an acclaimed Italian-themed cocktail hotspot in Hong Kong’s bustling Central District that also nabbed top honors in 2025.Bar Leone was named the best bar in Asia in 2024, while ranking second globally.

By 2025, it was crowned the World’s Best Bar — a title it now proudly retains.Co-founded by Italian bartender Lorenzo Antinori, the bar draws inspiration from the lively vibe of Rome’s Trastevere neighborhood.Antinori attributes the venue’s wild success to its laser focus on timeless classic drinks rather than flashy, trendy theatrics.Four NYC bars earned spots among the global top 50, with three making debuts on the list.

Superbueno, Double Chicken Please and Overstory — three NYC bars — failed to make the cut this year, despite appearing on the 2025 list.11.SchmuckSchmuck, an East Village cocktail spot from two Barcelona-based bar owners, opened in 2025 and quickly earned rave reviews.

Co-owners Moe Aljaff and Juliette Larrouy designed the bar to feel like an intimate house party where guests can move from room to room.The bar is split across two distinct spaces: the Living Room and the Kitchen Table.

Each area has a distinct vibe and menu, but guests are encouraged to roam freely and feel right at home.Aljaff told The Post in 2025 that he was opening Schmuck with just $10 and change in his checking account.The two used AI for everything from explaining how their water filtration system worked to providing average prices and licensing laws to help prevent them from getting swindled or fined.The Living Room menu features abstract takes on classic flavors, including crowd-favorites like “Bread and Tomato” and “Caramelized Apple” cocktails.

The Strawberry &am...