In late April, North America’s 50 Best Bars of 2025 were announced and celebrated, highlighting 50 exceptional venues across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean for their outstanding cocktails and service.
The list was compiled from votes cast by 270 anonymous bar industry experts, including bartenders, bar owners, drinks journalists and knowledgeable cocktail travelers from across the region.
Mirate, Los Angeles (No. 12) © 50 Best
This year’s top bar in North America is located in Colonia Juárez, Mexico City. Handshake Speakeasy occupies a former shoe factory transformed into an intimate 32-seat space with black-and-gold décor and Prohibition-era style. Guests sit for 90-minute sessions and enjoy creative cocktails such as Once Upon a Time in Oaxaca, made with Siete Misterios Doba-Yej mezcal, eight-hour-infused mint and a hint of absinthe, and Mexi-Thai, which pairs tequila with makrut lime, coconut basil oil and tomato.
Superbueno © 50 Best
Superbueno in New York City earned second place for a cocktail program that blends Mexican flavors with New York’s vibrant bar scene. Under swinging globe lights, guests can order inventive drinks such as Vodka y Soda, built with clarified guava, chili emulsion and triple sec, and Mole Negroni, where mezcal is fat-washed with rich Mexican mole and balanced by an amari blend and xocolatl bitters. Even the beer offerings come with house-made condiments like tajin or wormsalt.
Tlecān © 50 Best
Rounding out the top three is another Mexico City standout, Tlecān, whose name means “place of fire” in Náhuatl. The bar celebrates Prehispanic culture through both its cocktails and its decor—most notably a clay sculpture called The Disc of Death suspended above the bar. Tlecān offers a thoughtful mezcal program that introduces guests to the spirit’s depth through carefully crafted drinks.
Other notable bars featured in the 2025 list include:
- Jewel of the South, New Orleans, Louisiana (No. 4)
- Sip & Guzzle, New York City, New York (No. 5)
- Overstory, New York City, New York (No. 6)
- Bar Pompette, Toronto, Canada (No. 7)
- El Gallo Altanero, Guadalajara, Mexico (No. 8)
- Licorería Limantour, Mexico City, Mexico (No. 9)
- Kumiko, Chicago, Illinois (No. 10)
Jewel of the South © 50 Best
The complete ranked list of North America’s 50 Best Bars of 2025 is available from the organization’s published results.