Hidden among the narrow streets of the Born, a former fishing district that over the years has become one of the most beautiful and popular in Barcelona, is the Paradiso cocktail bar.

It's easy to walk past without noticing, as the entrance is camouflaged behind the façade of a fake pastrami store, but in the eyes of the experts, this cocktail bar with a "clandestine" air is the best cocktail bar in the world. 

The World's 50 Best Bars, made up of more than 600 international experts, announced that Coctelería Paradiso came out on top position after overtaking London's Connaught Bar, which won last year's top prize.

Run by Giacomo Giannotti, Paradiso features a sinuous wooden bar with curved shapes, where Giannotti's team prepares authentic creations inspired each year by a different theme. At the moment, the theme is the evolution of humanity.

Among the 15 new cocktails is Fleming, inspired by the discovery of penicillin, which explores fermentation using mushroom spores. On Fire, on the other hand, is a smoked milk punch cocktail with bourbon, tahini and sweet potato, among other ingredients served in a transparent, round dish, with garnishes representing the ancestors around a fire. The concoction is served with a laser that lights a flame that smokes the sherry wine, another of its star components.

"When we opened the place, seven years ago, we dreamed of one day being on this list. There is no greater secret than daily work and having believed in ourselves. Everything is based on creating the best experience for the customer with passion. It's a great motivation, we still can't believe it. It's a great responsibility for us," said the team leader upon receiving the trophy.

Paradiso is not the only cocktail bar in Barcelona to be ranked among the best venues in the world. The top 15 also includes Sips, a conceptual cocktail bar (no bar) on Muntaner Street in the Eixample district, in third place, and Two Schmucks, in seventh place. 

The 2022 list features bars from 26 cities with 14 new entries spread across Athens, Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Dubai, Florence, Hong Kong, Lisbon, London, Naples and New York. 

“The fact that this is the first time we have crowned a bar outside New York or London as The World’s Best Bar is a testament to the huge achievements of Giacomo, Margarita and their team. Since being named One To Watch in 2017 a year after opening, Paradiso has been a firm fixture of the 50 Best list, enhancing its ranking year after year. It is an honour to name it as The World’s Best Bar and the win is credit to Paradiso’s outlandishly inventive cocktail programme, sustainable ethos, work in the global bar community and brilliant sense of fun," Mark Sansom, director of content for The World's 50 Best Bars, said in a statement.

Licorería Limantour also continues to spearhead the meteoric rise of Mexico City’s emerging cocktail scene at number four, claiming the title of The Best Bar in North America for the second year in a row. The Best Bar in South America at number 10 is Cartagena’s Alquímico. Buenos Aires has three entries, with Florería Atlántico at 18, Tres Monos at 27 and CoChinChina at 42. Lima’s Carnaval re-entered the list at 44.

List of winners, 1 to 15

1. Paradiso (Barcelona)
2. Tayr + Elementary (London)
3. Sips (Barcelona)
4. Licorería Limantour (Mexico)
5. Little Red Door (Paris)
6. Double Chicken Please (New York)
7. Two Schmucks (Barcelona)
8. Connaught Bar (London)
9. Katana Kitten (New York)
10. Alquímico (Cartagena)
11. Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico)
12. Jigger & Pony (Singapore)
13. Hanky Panky (Mexico)
14. BKK Social Club (Bangkok)
15. Salmon Guru (Madrid)