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After making waves on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list earlier this year, Tokyo’s drinking scene is in the spotlight once again. Announced on October 7 at an awards ceremony in Milan, Italy, the prestigious World’s 50 Best Bars 2026 ranking features two familiar Tokyo establishments.
This year’s top 50 includes bars from 26 cities around the world, with Bar Leone in Hong Kong taking the top spot for the second year in a row.
Tokyo’s highest-ranking bar is Bar Benfiddich at No 44, down from No 18 in 2025. The Shinjuku hotspot is famed for its ‘no menu’ approach, creating cocktails based on your preferred spirit or seasonal ingredients. It’s especially known for cocktails made with spices and house-made infusions, which are often prepared using a unique pestle and mortar rather than a cocktail shaker.
The second Tokyo entrant on the list is long-time favourite Virtù at Four Seasons Hotel Otemachi, ranking at No 48, down three spots from No 45 last year. The sleek cocktail lounge has an Art Deco interior evocative of The Great Gatsby, along with floor-to-ceiling windows offering incredible skyline views from its 39th-floor perch. The menu features cocktails made with French aperitifs, vintage spirits and seasonal Japanese ingredients. There’s also a tempting menu of bar bites and snacks, ranging from truffle fries to lobster okonomiyaki.
For more information and to see the full list of the World’s 50 Best Bars 2026, visit the website.
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