From 47th to 19th in the world, the Athens-based bar continues its impressive rise, having already secured 2nd place in Europe in July 2026.
Another major international accolade has been awarded to The Bar in Front of the Bar, which has now climbed to 19th place on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2026 list, rising an impressive 28 positions compared to 2025.
This significant achievement is accompanied by the Nikka Highest Climber Award 2026, an award recognising the biggest rise in the global ranking. The distinction comes just a few months after the bar secured 2nd place in Europe in July 2026, further confirming its growing influence on the international cocktail scene.
With its distinctive street bar philosophy, creative cocktails and genuine hospitality, The Bar in Front of the Bar has established itself as one of the most acclaimed cocktail bars in the world.
The owners of The Bar in Front of the Bar, Konstantinos Theodorakopoulos and Alexandros Tselepis, said: “We are very happy to have managed to climb even higher on the list again this year. For us, however, the most important thing is that we continue to be among the 50 best bars in the world. There is always a sense of anticipation every year, because nothing can be taken for granted. We constantly strive to evolve, sometimes taking bigger steps and sometimes smaller ones. The Nikka Highest Climber Award is a particularly important recognition for us, as it reflects our ongoing effort, consistency and desire to become better every year. At the same time, this year’s achievements by Greek bars confirm the prominent position that the Athens bar scene now holds on the global cocktail map, something that fills us with joy and pride.”
The Greek bar scene among the world’s best
This year’s World’s 50 Best Bars 2026 awards once again highlighted the strength of the Greek cocktail scene.
Line Athens ranked 5th in the world, while also receiving the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award 2026. Barro Negro climbed to 40th place, up from 62nd in 2025.
In the extended list, covering positions 51–100, Baba au Rum ranked 55th, while Naked Bar Athens made its debut in the ranking, securing 76th place.
These significant accolades further confirm Athens’ strong presence on the global cocktail map and highlight the creativity and dynamism of Greece’s bar community.
