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Harlem just scored serious bragging rights: Sugar Monk, the velvet-draped cocktail den on Frederick Douglass Boulevard, has been officially named one of the best bars in the world by The Pinnacle Guide, the Michelin-style ranking that’s rapidly becoming the gold standard for drinking destinations.
The recognition puts Sugar Monk in rarefied company. The Pinnacle Guide’s latest announcement added 61 new venues to its global list, now totaling 146 pinned bars across 14 countries. Each receives one, two or three “pins,” a nod to Michelin stars but for cocktails. Sugar Monk joins the ranks with a pin this year, part of a U.S. sweep that saw six new two-pin awards and a long roster of first-time entries.
Founded in 2019 by mixologist and visual artist Ektoras Binikos and Montreal-born designer Simon Jutras, Sugar Monk has always blurred the line between art studio and speakeasy. Binikos, who studied filmmaking and fine art before devoting three decades to cocktails, describes each drink as a canvas—layers of botanicals, house-foraged herbs and avant-garde presentation.
Inside, the vibe is deliberately moody: candlelight flickers against jewel-toned banquettes, vintage jazz vinyl sets the soundtrack, and the bar team serves cocktails that could double as sculptures. A mezcal-and-absinthe mix like Potters Field pairs with cardamom and elderflower, while the aromatic Four Horsemen layers Amari with sage, patchouli and eucalyptus. Even the rye-based Thelonious feels more like a piece of art than a pour.
The Pinnacle Guide praised this year’s winners for craft, consistency and design, noting a rise in independent, owner-operated bars thriving outside traditional capitals. That’s Sugar Monk to a T—an intimate Harlem hangout that feels more like an artists’ salon than a typical night out.
“We have been blown away by the applications in this round—not only by the number that we’ve received but also the incredible caliber,” said Pinnacle Guide co-founder Siobhan Payne. “It’s clear The Pinnacle Guide is gaining real momentum and we couldn’t be prouder of this latest announcement of pinned bars.”
For Harlem, the accolade cements Sugar Monk as not just a neighborhood treasure but a destination bar worth the subway—or even the flight. Whether you’re a cocktail nerd chasing the next great drink or just want to sip something beautiful in a room that hums with creative energy, Sugar Monk has officially arrived on the world stage.