Spring is here and New Yorkers are outside. The first order of business: catching up with friends over drinks. If that’s what your calendar looks like, you’re in luck–North America’s 50 Best Bars 2026 has unveiled its extended ranking, which shows #51 through #100. And from a tropical tourist escape in Tijuana to a former bank vault turned DC watering hole there’s a lot to unpack.
As always, there’s no list without NYC–our bar scene is practically unmatched, after all–and five neighborhood bars made the list. If you’ve been on the lookout for where to grab your next spritz, these spots should certainly be on your radar.
Katana Kitten – No. 52
Katana Kitten is what happens when “you infuse a classic American dive bar with flamboyant Japanese flair,” according to 50 Best.
The Japanese-American cocktail bar is split into an “Upstairs” and “Downstairs” based on vibes, with the upstairs serving more as a lounge for sipping, and the basement giving a more rowdy vibe.
We love the Sakura Highball, made with Roku gin, salted cherry blossom, bisongrass, maraschino, soda, and peychaud’s bitters, as well as the Sour Cherry Crush, a combo of Four Walls whiskey, select aperitivo, sour cherries, sakura leaves, cherry aperitivo, and filthy black cherry.
Katana Kitten ranked No. 42 on last year’s list, and the hospitality group behind it also just opened Cocktail Omakase on the Lower East Side, which is exactly what it sounds like.
📍 531 Hudson St
Dante – No. 58
Though Dante has moved down in the ranks since its No. 1 debut on the Worlds 50 Best Bars back in 2019, it’s still a go-to for a cocktail in NYC.
Dante has been a beacon for the community of Greenwich Village since it opened its doors in 1915–and though it attracts quite the crowd, from famous actors and writers to musicians, it remains relaxed and unpretentious. 50 Best writes:
From repopularising the negroni in the US to introducing a new generation of drinkers to the garibaldi, Dante is a cornerstone of global cocktail culture. Its quaint Greenwich Village location remains the undisputed king of aperitivo hour in the Big Apple, where martinis and spritzes are constructed with remarkable care and craft.
📍 79-81 MacDougal St
Seed Library – No. 66
A newcomer to the 50 Best ranking, Seed Library finds itself at No. 66 on the 50 Best list this year–quite an accomplishment considering since it just opened in November 2025.
Here, you’ll find a thoughtful balance of lo-fi charm and high-fidelity service, along with drinks with depth and the kind of flow that can’t be faked–like the Rhubarb Alexander, made with Patrón Silver, rhubarb cream, smoked vanilla, and lemon, or the Blue Hill 75, with Hendrick’s Gin, fermented purple carrot, and champagne.
50 Best writes:
The New York sibling to London’s stylish hi-fi bar launched to a serious fanfare in late 2025. As is true for anything from Ryan ‘Mr Lyan’ Chetiyawardana, experimental flavour combinations derived from unexpected ingredients drive the drinks programme.
📍 51 E 30th St
The Portrait Bar – No. 71
The Portrait Bar has deservedly moved up 22 spots from last year, and its cocktail program is just part of the reason.
The moody, intimate space is a dark wood-paneled retreat with an extensive art collection occupying the walls, a carved stone fireplace, and cozy velvet throughout.
Cocktails include a mix of modern and classic variations, such as the Mapo District, a combination of Tokki Soju, sesame-oil washed Laphroaig, cucumber, lemon, and pineapple-vanilla cordial, along with elevated bar fare.
📍 1 W 28th St
Shinji’s – No. 77
Located in the Flatiron district, Shinji’s is an intimate cocktail bar from the team behind the Michelin-starred omakase restaurant Noda.
The unique drink program stands out for its highly technical, innovative creations served with a touch of nostalgia–like the S&P 500 which reimagines the flavors of a New York deli in cocktail form, or the creamsicle-esque Tropicana, served inside an entire frozen orange. 50 Best writes:
Named after Tokyo’s legendary fixer, this 18-seat Flatiron jewel box feels like a high-tech treasure chest. State-of-the-art technique underpins each Shinji’s creation, from liquid nitrogen-chilled gin fizzes to the iconic Tropicana served in a frozen orange, all paired with sumptuous handrolls made tableside.
📍 37 W 20th St
North America’s 50 Best Bars 2026 – 1-50 List Unveiling
The 51-100 list includes bars spanning 28 different cities with 14 new entries.
More than 300 independent cocktail experts, renowned bartenders, educators, and drinks writers from across the region comprise the voting academy.
This year, the United States leads the list with 25 bars, and we’re in good company along with establishments from Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Houston, Seattle, Denver, Atlanta, Honolulu, and more
The 1-50 list of North America’s 50 Best Bars 2026 will be unveiled on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at a live awards ceremony in Vancouver. The countdown will be broadcast live on the 50 Best YouTube channel, seen below:
