The 2026 ranking of North America’s 50 Best Bars is now live, and Mexican bars occupy one-fifth of the list with a total of 11 mentions, including three in the top 10.
The winners were announced at a ceremony in Vancouver, Canada, where bartenders from Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean came together to recognize the best bars in the region.
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The accolades were selected by a diverse panel of industry experts who voted anonymously for the places where they have had their best experiences in the last 18 months.
Overall, the United States boasted the highest number of bars with 28, followed by Mexico with 11, Canada with eight and the Caribbean with three.
Remarkably, Mexico City got the largest number of mentions just after New York, including two bars in the top 5, reinforcing the city’s lively and evolving cocktail scene.
Other Mexican cities in the ranking include Guadalajara with two bars and San Miguel de Allende and Oaxaca, with one each.
The best bars in Mexico
Following New York’s Sip & Guzzle, which came in as the winner, the No. 2 spot went to Mexico City’s Bar Mauro, marking the bar’s impressive debut on the list. Beyond its Italian-inspired offering of aperitifs, vermouths and amaros, the best bar in Mexico has also built up a strong kitchen reputation, with locals highlighting its “humble cheeseburger as a must-try,” the 50 Best said.
Next on the list is Tlecān at No. 5. Also in Mexico City, this pre-Columbian-inspired bar offers signature cocktails featuring Mexican spirits.
El Gallo Altanero in Guadalajara, which in 2024 became the first bar in the city ever to make the list, came in at the No. 10 spot, while the elegant and minimalist Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City was ranked No. 12.
Its innovative processes and custom-made lab earned Mexico City’s Form + Matter a spot at No. 13, followed by Mecenas in Guadalajara at No. 18, a bar that honors the region’s cane alcohol tradition.
At No. 20 is Licorería Limantour in Mexico’s capital, regarded as the birthplace of cocktail culture in Mexico, followed by Bekeb in the UNESCO World Heritage City of San Miguel de Allende. At No. 24, this bar stands out for its drinks that incorporate Mexican fruits, plants, flowers, seeds, roots and traditional elixirs.
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Returning to Mexico City is Kaito del Valle at No. 25, a Japanese izakaya serving Nippon-inspired drinks with a Mexican twist.
Moving south is Selva, in Oaxaca, which at No. 43 impressed the voters with its concoctions that invoke local flora and fauna.
Finally, Baltra in Mexico City took the No. 48 spot, offering an elegant and playful menu with nuanced takes on the classics.
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