Maybe Sammy – a high-end cocktail bar which blends old Hollywood glamour with Palm Springs flair in The Rocks – has been named as one of the best bars in the world for 2025. The World’s 50 Best Bars list for 2025 just dropped, with the swish spot landing in 42nd place – a drop from last year’s 26th position. It’s the seventh year in a row Maybe Sammy has made the coveted list, and was the only Sydney bar to make the cut this year, with Melbourne’s Caretaker’s Cottage landing in 19th place.
RELATED READ: Sydney’s award-winning Maybe Sammy has created a limited-edition cocktail, now available at MGallery hotels across Australia.
Founded in 2019 by Vince Lombardo and Stefano Catino, Maybe Sammy is known for its inventive and delicious cocktails, flamboyant pink-suited bubble-blowing bartenders and top-notch service. And while I can think of many Sydney bars that also deserve to be on the list (Old Mate’s Place, PS40, Bar Planet, to name just a few) – Maybe Sammy’s consistency of service and excellent offering deserves a toast.
Co-founder Stefano Catino says of the award: “Are we one of the best bars in the world? Some nights, yes. Other nights, we know we can be better. What matters is that we’ve grown stronger each year – as a team, as a business, and as a bar.
For seven years we’ve proudly put Sydney on the global cocktail map, and that consistency means everything to us. Australia is one of the best food and drink destinations in the world, and we’re honoured to be part of it. Thank you to everyone who voted – it truly means the world.”
This is the 17th edition of the World's 50 Best Bars, with the winners announced on October 8 at a live ceremony in Hong Kong. The annual event is regarded as one of the most influential bar awards in the world, celebrating the best and most talented bartenders and drink enthusiasts on an international scale. The winners are voted on by an esteemed global academy made up of drink experts, bartenders and other top dogs.
Taking the top spot was Bar Leone in Hong Kong – marking the first time a bar in Asia has ever taken out the number one position. The top five were rounded out by Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City; Sips and Paradiso, both in Barcelona; and Tayēr + Elementary in London. Bars from 29 cities across the globe were featured, including new entries from Oslo, Lima, Athens and Bratislava.
Keen to check out Maybe Sammy? The team has recently launched a new cocktail menu called Showtime, inspired by twelve defining moments in film and television. Think Crocodile Dundee to The Grand Budapest Hotel.
To check out the full ranking of the World's 50 Best Bars for 2025, head to the website.
Find out more about Maybe Sammy here.
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