This Melbourne bar is the only bar in Australia to make the World's 50 Best list for 2026

Martini fans of Melbourne, there’s another reason to raise a glass. Caretaker’s Cottage – one of our favourite bars in the city – has once again made the cut on the World’s 50 Best Bars list – and retained its title as the Best Bar in Australasia. It’s the fourth consecutive year that Caretaker’s Cottage has appeared in the world’s top 50, although its latest position at No.45 globally is a drop from No.19 last year. 

Hiding inside a heritage cottage beside Wesley Church, Caretaker’s Cottage has become something of a Melbourne cocktail institution – known for its intimate setting, vinyl-heavy soundtrack and gloriously unfussy approach to hospitality. The bar pairs its small footprint with serious cocktail creds, and its monthly-changing drinks menu (and general vibe) keeps us (and a lot of other cocktail-loving Victorians) coming back.

It was a big night for the team behind Caretaker’s Cottage, not just for the one venue. Three Horses, the group’s sherry-focused bar just along Little Lonsdale Street, has been named the Campari One to Watch. The award is given to the bar the 50 Best team thinks is most likely to break into the main 1–50 ranking in the future. Three Horses currently sits at No.84 on the extended 51–100 list – so we’ll be watching this space in 2027. Despite the Melbourne double act, Caretaker’s Cottage is the only Australian bar in this year’s main top 50. 

At the very top of the list, Hong Kong’s Bar Leone has retained its No.1 position, becoming the World’s Best Bar for the second year running. Having visited myself, I can vouch for this one as a gem. If you’re lucky enough to make it, I implore you: order the olives. The HK heavyweight is followed this year by Milan’s Moebius Milano, Cartagena’s Alquímico, Bangkok’s Bar Us and Athens’ Line. The 2026 ranking (decided by an academy of more than 800 experts from around the world) features bars from 26 cities, with 14 new entries. Paris, Hong Kong and New York are tied for the most representation, with four bars each.

The top 10 bars in the world in 2026

1. Bar Leone – Hong Kong
2. Moebius Milano – Milan
3. Alquímico – Cartagena
4. Bar Us – Bangkok
5. Line – Athens
6. Handshake Speakeasy – Mexico City
7. Zest – Seoul
8. Connaught Bar – London
9. Lady Bee – Lima
10. Bar Mauro – Mexico City

You can check out this year’s list (and plan your next global bar-hop accordingly) over here.

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