Add another reason to raise a glass in Los Angeles: Bar Next Door has officially earned a spot on the prestigious 50 Best Bars in North America extended list, ranking the 51 to 100 top watering holes in the region. Coming in at number 100, this tiny Sunset Strip destination joins the ranks of top-tier drinking destinations across the continent—and we think the recognition is well overdue.
Bar Next Door has been quietly (and not so quietly) changing the way Angelenos do cocktails for quite some time now. With its vibey interior, glowing candlelight and unpretentious attitude, it’s the kind of place you stumble into for a drink and accidentally stay for hours.
Here, the impeccably crafted signature cocktails are named after L.A. icons. As noted by our food and drink editor Patricia Kelly Yeo, examples include a clarified paloma rosé spritz inspired by the Beverly Hills Hotel and a pisco and passion fruit ode to the Viper Room.
The list, released by the widely known 50 Best organization, covers bars across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, based on votes from 300 industry insiders, from bartenders and bar owners to drinks journalists and cocktail nerds. In other words, it’s not just a popularity contest—it’s serious business.
Unlike some other cities that racked up mentions—New York scored nine bars in the top 100, for example—L.A. has only one on the extended list this year. But if you’re going to have a sole representative (at least in the 51 to 100 range), Bar Next Door is a worthy pick. It captures what we love most about the local bar scene: understated cool, warm hospitality and drinks that actually taste as good as they look.
The actual North America’s 50 Best Bars list will be revealed on April 29 during a live ceremony in Vancouver. Fingers crossed that more L.A. spots will make the cut; last year, Historic Filipinotown’s Thunderbolt and Mírate in Los Feliz cracked the top 50 list. But, until then, we’ll be over at Bar Next Door, sipping something strong and celebrating a well-earned win for the City of Angels.
The 51 to 100 top 50 Best Bars in North America:
51. Library Bar, Toronto
52. Missy’s, Calgary
53. Prophecy, Vancouver
54. Sabina Sabe, Oaxaca
55. Civil Works, Toronto
56. Viceversa, Miami
57. The Dead Rabbit, New York
58. Proof, Calgary
59. Bandista, Houston
60. Dante West Village, New York
61. Champagne Bar at The Surf Club, Miami
62. Lemon, Chicago
63. Queen Mary, Chicago
64. The Long Island Bar, New York
65. Brujas, Mexico City
66. Attaboy, New York
67. Laowai, Vancouver
68. Cry Baby Gallery, Toronto
69. Humboldt Bar, Victoria
70. Nickel City, Austin
71. Trick Dog, San Francisco
72. Roquette, Seattle
73. Bar Leather Apron, Honolulu
74. Zapote Bar, Playa del Carmen
75. Bar Bisou Bisou, Montreal
76. The Doctor’s Office, Seattle
77. Bar Kaiju, Miami
78. Swizzle Rum Bar & Drinkery, Miami
79. Canon, Seattle
80. Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29, New Orleans
81. Equal Measure, Boston
82. Ticuchi, Mexico City
83. Simpl Things, Toronto
84. Bar Bello, Montreal
85. Bar Snack, New York
86. Herbs & Rye, Las Vegas
87. Door No.4, Grand Cayman
88. Happy Accidents, Albuquerque
89. Nine Bar, Chicago
90. Shinji’s, New York
91. The Coldroom, Montreal
92. Meo, Vancouver
93. The Portrait Bar, New York
94. Casa Prunes, Mexico City
95. Paradise Lost, New York
96. Slice of Life, Toronto
97. Highball, Phoenix
98. Bar Contra, New York
99. Shelter, Calgary
100. Bar Next Door, Los Angeles
