Three Bars in Spain Make The World’s 50 Best Bars List

Spanish bars Paradise, Salmón Gurú and Two Schmucks placed 19th, 22nd and 26th, respectively, on the prestigious The World’s 50 Best Bars List

The eagerly-anticipated list of The World’s 50 Best Bars was recently live streamed from London, highlighting the top locales around the world. The ranking is created by the British publishing house William Reed Business Media and clearly shows how important mixology has become in recent years. This year’s edition includes three bars in Spain: Paradiso, in 19th place; Salmón Gurú, in 22nd place; and Two Schmucks, in 26th place.

Paradiso, in Barcelona’s El Born neighborhood, is tucked away behind the freezer door at the back of a pastrami shop. Guests can enjoy a wide range of imaginative cocktails, such as the Guillotine, made with Maker’s Mark bourbon, Pedro Ximénez sherry, El Gobernador pisco, lemon, vanilla, watermelon, hibiscus tea, and clarified milk; and the Italian Caribbean, made with Zacapa 23 rum, banana, parmesan, coconut shrub, rocket and raspberries. It even has a lab dedicated to research which aims to revolutionize the world of cocktails.

Salmón Gurú is in Madrid’s Huertas neighborhood and seeks to recreate the New York clubs from the 1960s. It features a very special area known as the Barman’s Table, where signature cocktails are served, and a “high table” where the owner, Diego, serves guests personally, makes recommendations and even invents new cocktails on the spot.

Two Schmucks, also in Barcelona, in the Raval neighborhood, describes itself as a “five-star dive bar” where “flavor is king.” The drinks on the constantly-changing menu are prepared with produce from the local shops, and cocktail highlights include Curry Colada, made with a blend of rums, pineapple, coconut and Madras curry; and Bingo Bango Mr Mango, made with tequila, Mango Bango puree, cilantro, lime and Tajin rum.