Pop the Champagne, the World’s 50 Best Bars list has just been announced and this year, Sydney dominated.

To start, we’d like to propose a toast to Sydney cocktail bar Maybe Sammy, which took out the country’s top spot for the second year in a row, rising the ranks from #43 to #11 – almost cracking the top ten. Maybe Sammy was also named Best Bar in Australasia for the second time running.

Judges comments: While the drinks are excellent and the room visually stunning, it is the team’s unique style of service that is winning the plaudits. Headed up by Stefano Catino, Andrea Gualdi and Martin Hudak, the European bartenders have brought an entirely new, refreshing edge to what is generally considered gold-standard hospitality in cocktail bars.

Bulletin Place in Circular Quay has a long history with the World’s 50 Best Bars list and has once again left its mark, climbing from #66 to #39.

Judges comments: For a little cocktail bar celebrating its eighth birthday this year, Bulletin Place has had a big effect on the way people drink in Sydney. When owners Tim Philips-Johansson, Rob Sloan, and Adi Ruiz launched the bar in 2012, they may not have expected that their five-strong list of cocktails — changing each day depending on the seasonal fruit available at market — would still be growing in popularity season after season. 

This year also saw a surprise newcomer enter the race, with tiny laneway mezcal bar Cantina OK! ranked #28 on the list. Owned by the team behind Tio’s Cervecería, Cantina OK! is considered a bit of a secret spot among bartenders and those in the know for its extremely rare collection of mezcals and its laidback personable service.

Judges comments: Mezcal and tequila are the main event, opened in a disused single car space big enough for just two bartenders to mix drinks. Owners Jeremy Blackmore and Alex Dowd have — with manager Alex Gilmour — long taken their staff to Mexico to learn more about agave; these trips have inspired their list, as they’ve brought back bottles and stories from far-flung palenques for their guests — the kind of stuff you can’t get anywhere else. 

This year’s extended list included an additional four Australian bars, The Everleigh (Melbourne) at #73, Byrdi (Melbourne) at #80, Above Board (Melbourne) at #84 and Black Pearl (Melbourne) at #98.

While you could give them a round of applause, even better, why not pop down for a drink.

View the full list at worlds50bestbars.com.