Barcelona cocktail bar Sips named best in the world

The trendy innovative cocktail bar Sips has been named the best bar in the world.

Sips has climbed two places from third to first in the ranking of World's 50 Best Bars. 

In doing so, it has replaced Paradiso, also from the Catalan capital, at the top of the list, which has fallen down to 4th. 

Sips is a "drinkery house" rather than a more upmarket-sounding "cocktail bar." Located at Carrer Muntaner, 108, in the Eixample neighborhood, this bar does away with pretensions and brings together quality creative tastes and sleek sophisticated design.

The place is run by two of the most well-known bartenders in their sector; Marc Álvarez and Simone Caporale. 

"Our main idea was to be the most democratic bar in the world because we don't have a proper bar counter, we have an island where two bartenders work together, one in front of the other, it's not very common to see in a bar," co-owner Álvarez told Catalan News in 2022.

In fact, this island is one of the most important design aspects, as customers can see the bartender from all tables while enjoying signature cocktails or classics with a 'Sips twist'.

The small bar features round marble tables with a classy golden-colored finish, and low, comfortable chairs for its guests, surrounded by a carefully chosen cosmopolitan color scheme of predominantly dark greens and greys.

Ordering a drink at Sips is almost like visiting a contemporary art gallery. The glassware is fascinatingly conceptual, with all pieces designed by artisan glassblower Ferran Collado. The unique menu is complemented with striking glasses, such as KRYPTA, a cocktail served in something resembling a giant Easter egg presented in a stand, with three holes near the top of it for herbs to be inserted which enhances the aromas of the drink. 

"When we drink, at the same time we always smell," Marc Àlvarez explains to Catalan News. "So the idea is that your nose is giving information about aromas at the same time that your tongue is also giving aromas to your brain. So you have a double stimulation, you have a double connection." 

Another glass that stands out is Primordial – a drink served in a pair of hands, reminding us that probably the first way humans ever drank any liquid was from rivers or lakes with their hands. 

As for the drinks themselves, Sips takes a deep dive to the molecular level to craft the perfect blend of tastes. "We can find something for you that fits with your palette," Álvarez said, before adding: "We are getting close to the chefs or gastronomy," with the level of minute detail going into each drink. 

Order a Compressed and you'll be drinking a peach in two ways at the same time. Before this drink reaches your lips, a peach is put in a centrifuge with some pectic acid added. This flavored water is used to dilute the cocktail, but the fruit itself, packed with concentrated flavor, is then compressed into something like a cracker that accompanies the beverage. 

Sips, which last year won the award for the highest climbers in the World's 50 Best ranking, is one of the leaders in the next cocktail revolution. The world is moving toward a more culinary approach with new techniques and technologies being used, and this bar is at the forefront of this new wave of cocktail culture with bags of experience.

Check out our video report and podcast from 2022 when three Barcelona bars made it to the top 10 of the list.