Best Bar-Restaurants in the World

With the power and sophistication of publishing, people have been searching for the best culinary experiences around the world for years. Whether these places are discovered through newspapers, magazines, or social media, there have always been certain preeminent restaurant guides such as Michelin and Gault & Millau. These guides are carefully curated, evaluating prestige, experience, and, most significantly, palate.

Today, haute cuisine meets casual cocktails through bar-restaurant hybrids that have been attracting growing attention. These unique venues often reflect evolving consumer desires such as intimacy, innovation, and identity. In a world where restaurants are no longer just about food but about experience, these venues have mastered the art of storytelling, through interiors, menus, and even glassware. In doing so, they become not only culinary landmarks but brands in their own right.

Here is a regionally curated bar-restaurant guide: Where Michelin Meets Gault & Millau. Every section is thoughtfully assembled, with must-visit highlights from each region.

America

1. Clemente Bar – New York City

   Located at Eleven Madison Park, Clemente Bar is an intimate cocktail bar and chef’s counter from Chef Daniel Humm and artist Francesco Clemente. The space is designed by excellent architects, decorated with vintage pieces, custom lamps, and one-of-a-kind artworks. The beverage program is led by Sebastian Tollius, where cocktails are crafted through a technical process yet presented with simple elegance. Clemente Bar’s drinks are renowned for their diverse flavor profiles and distinctive garnishes. Complementing the cocktails is an innovative, plant-based five-course menu served over 90 minutes.

   
   

   

   Clemente Bar. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

   
   

2. The Aviary – Chicago (Alinea Group cocktail lab with chef-driven bar bites)

3. The Loyalist – Chicago (Upstairs: Smyth, downstairs: world-class bar concept)

4. Overstory – New York City (Above Michelin-starred Crown Shy, bar menu by Chef James Kent)

5. Clover Hill – Brooklyn (Michelin-starred with a strong wine and cocktail program)

6. Oxalis – Brooklyn (Michelin Bib Gourmand, chef’s tasting counter with bar pairing menu)

7. Kumiko – Chicago (Japanese-inspired cocktails paired with omakase dining)

8. République – Los Angeles (Michelin Guide, bakery-bar-bistro fusion)

9. Canlis – Seattle (Michelin-listed modern American cuisine with a classic bar lounge)

10. Le Pigeon – Portland (Gault & Millau-listed, intimate French bar-dining experience)

    
    

Europe

1. Bar Raket – Antwerp, Belgium

    A convivial and lively bar-gastro fusion, Bar Raket welcomes guests with a chic industrial setting and a variety of tasteful dishes. Its globally inspired flavor, such as Catalan bread and rich umami, remind guests how simple things can offer the most enjoyable experiences. With a selection of smaller dishes and three mains, the menu proves that good food can be a delightfully laid-back affair.

   
   

   

   Bar Raket. Photo Retrieved by the official Gault&Millau website.

   
   

2. Arpège – Paris, France (Michelin 3-star, sustainable gastronomy)

3. Smudged – Antwerp, Belgium (Vinyl-listening bar with seasonal food)

4. Kol Mezcaleria – London (Michelin-starred Kol’s cocktail bar with Mexican small plates)

5. Sager + Wilde – London (Natural wine bar with daily seasonal menu)

6. Little Red Door – Paris (Conceptual cocktails with chef collaborations)

7. Paradiso – Barcelona (World’s 50 Best Bars, Catalan-inspired elevated bites)

8. Belcanto – Lisbon (Michelin 2-star, refined bar pairings by Chef José Avillez)

9. La Dame de Pic – Paris (Michelin 2-star, aromatic cocktails and food pairings)

10. Aponiente – El Puerto de Santa María, Spain (Michelin 3-star, sustainable sea-forward bar kitchen)

Asia

1. Nihonryori Ryugin – Tokyo, Japan

   This intimate Japanese restaurant believes the essence of its cuisine lies in celebrating seasonal blessings. Guests are presented with exceptional dishes meticulously curated with seasonal ingredients. The restaurant also boasts a remarkable selection of beverages, including 50 fine sakes, 230 wines, and a wide variety of champagnes, mostly from France.

   
   

   

   A dish from RyuGin. Photo Retrieved by the official Michelin Guide website.

   
   

2. Bar Benfiddich – Tokyo (Chef-led cocktail bar using farm-foraged ingredients)

3. COA – Hong Kong (No. 1 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars)

4. Sazenka – Tokyo (Michelin 2-star, Chinese-Japanese fusion with tea and cocktail pairings)

5. Native – Singapore (Fermented local spirits and foraged bar snacks)

6. Jigger & Pony – Singapore (Cocktail bar with an elevated dining tasting menu)

7. Odette – Singapore (Michelin 3-star, elegant wine and cocktail pairings)

8. Eat Me – Bangkok (Michelin-listed modern bistro with curated drinks)

9. Samrub Samrub Thai – Bangkok (Michelin-starred chef with expertly paired mixology)

10. Florilège – Tokyo (Michelin 2-star, counter dining with wine and sake pairings)

    
    

Africa and Middle East

1. The Townhouse – Istanbul, Türkiye

   Awarded Best Mixology Venue by Gault & Millau Türkiye, The Townhouse brings a touch of London sophistication to Istanbul. With a distinctive atmosphere and inventive cuisine, it stays current with the latest trends in food, drink, and entertainment. Known for its signature cocktails and sharing plates, it offers a wide variety of dishes, from fresh salads and pizzettas to flavorful pastas, crafted to satisfy every palate.

   
   

   

   The Townhouse Istanbul. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

2. La Grande Table Marocaine – Marrakech (Michelin Guide Morocco debut, fine dining with bar program)

3. Ernest’s Bar @ Çok Çok Pera – Istanbul (Gault & Millau, Thai cuisine with top-tier mixology)

4. Vogue Restaurant & Bar – Istanbul (Luxury rooftop dining with curated bar experience)

5. La Cantine du Faubourg – Dubai (Bar-forward Parisian fine dining)

6. Zuma – Dubai (Michelin Guide, bar-dining with Japanese robata)

7. Marble – Johannesburg (Michelin-quality open-fire cuisine with a curated bar)

8. The Pot Luck Club – Cape Town (Tapas-style dining with legendary cocktails)

9. FYN – Cape Town (Michelin Guide, Japanese-African fusion with full bar program)

   
   

Oceania

1. Attica – Melbourne, Australia

    Attica presents an inventive tasting menu rooted in native ingredients, accompanied by a bar program that highlights local spirits, fermentation, and storytelling. Chef Ben Shewry’s multi course experience blends local legends and personal narratives to reimagine ingredients such as bunya nuts, finger limes, and rare herbs, many sourced from the nearby Rippon Lea Estate. The drinks list is equally bold, with offerings like cold smoked apple juice and standout South Australian skin contact wines.

   
   

   

   A dish from Attica.

2. Cantina OK! – Sydney (Tiny bar with huge flavor, mezcal, and Mexican street food)

3. Gimlet at Cavendish House – Melbourne (Euro-style bar-dining, Gault & Millau listed)

4. Bar Rochford – Canberra (Wine bar known for exceptional small plates)

5. Fleet – Brunswick Heads (8-seat chef’s bar with natural wine)

6. Ester – Sydney (Michelin-quality food focused on fermentation and paired drinks)

7. Paper Daisy – Cabarita Beach (Fine coastal cuisine with elegant drink offerings)

8. Agnes – Brisbane (Open-fire restaurant with curated wine and cocktails)

9. Yakamoz – Sydney (Modern Anatolian cuisine with Turkish cocktail pairings)

   
   

In today's evolving culinary landscape, bar restaurants are redefining what it means to dine out. They blend the creativity of mixology with the refinement of world-class cuisine, creating spaces where storytelling, design, and flavor come together in perfect harmony. From Tokyo to Istanbul, Cape Town to Melbourne, these destinations are not just places to eat and drink, they are immersive experiences that speak to a global appetite for connection, innovation, and authenticity. As the lines between kitchen and bar continue to blur, one thing becomes clear: the future of fine dining is not only on the plate, but also in the glass, the room, and the story it tells.