Behind the Scenes at Europe’s 50 Best Bars 2026 in Amsterdam

Damian recaps his trip to Amsterdam for the inaugural Europe’s 50 Best Bars 2026.

What started as an awards ceremony quickly became a full festival of cocktails, with bar takeovers, brand activations, industry events, parties and a green-carpet ceremony bringing together some of the best bars in Europe.

From Rosewood Amsterdam’s stunning Advocatuur bar and the Meet the Bartenders media event, to the main Europe’s 50 Best Bars ceremony at De Kromhouthal and the rooftop closing party at LuminAir, Damian gives a behind-the-scenes look at what happens when 50 Best rolls into town.

He also reflects on the key themes shaping the European cocktail scene in 2026, including Athens’ dominance, the continued strength of London cocktail bars and Barcelona cocktail bars, the rise of Central and Eastern Europe, and the importance of genuine hospitality alongside technical innovation.

Key Takeaways

Europe’s 50 Best Bars 2026 felt much bigger than a single awards night. Amsterdam became the centre of the European cocktail world, with pop-ups, parties, brand activations and some of the best bartenders in Europe gathering across the city.

Athens had a huge showing, with Line taking the No.1 spot and The Bar in Front of The Bar coming in at No.2, underlining just how strong the Greek cocktail scene has become.

London remains a major force in the best bars in Europe conversation, with bars including The Connaught Bar, Satan’s Whiskers, Tayēr + Elementary, Panda & Sons, Waltz, Kwãnt Mayfair, Three Sheets Soho and Scarfes Bar all appearing on the list.

Panda & Sons deserve a special mention, coming in at No.20 and also picking up the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award.

Barcelona continues to be one of Europe’s most important cocktail cities, with Sips, Paradiso, Aldea, Boadas, Foco and others showing the depth of the city’s bar scene.

Central and Eastern Europe are becoming increasingly important on the cocktail map, with strong placements from bars in Bratislava, Tirana, Prague and Krakow.

Sustainability, fermentation, low-waste practices, hyper-local ingredients and strong storytelling are clearly shaping modern cocktail culture.