The 30 Best Bars Finale 2024 was a spectacular celebration of India’s thriving bar industry, recognising excellence and innovation across key categories. Marking the 5th edition of this prestigious platform founded by Vikram Achanta and Radhakrishnan Nair, the event has grown to symbolise more than just a ranking - it’s a vibrant celebration of creativity, talent, and the close-knit community that defines the bar world.
This milestone year highlighted not only the bars but also the people, stories, and innovations pushing boundaries and inspiring the industry.
A Star-Studded Event in Goa
Held at the Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage, the awards brought together over 600 attendees, including industry leaders, bartenders, sponsors, and luminaries. With so many top professionals gathered, one could only wonder who was holding the fort behind the bars that night.
The evening began with networking and pre-show drinks, offering guests the chance to mingle with last year’s winners and key figures such as Rohit Khattar, who was honoured with the Industry Icon Award 2024. Guests also sampled innovative cocktails by some of India’s leading spirits brands.
The Big Winners of the Night
The main event was the much-anticipated countdown of India’s Top 30 Bars, alongside individual honours and category awards. The biggest accolade of the evening went to Lair (#1), a speakeasy-style cocktail bar in New Delhi’s Vasant Vihar, crowned India’s Best Bar for 2024.
Two new entrants from Bangalore - Bar Spirit Forward (#2) and Soka (#3) - secured coveted positions in the Top 3, underscoring the city’s rising prominence in the cocktail scene.
This year also celebrated a milestone collaboration with the Moonshine Honey Project to support its ‘Adopt a Hive’ initiative, championing sustainability by adopting hives for each of India’s Top 10 bars.
India’s Top 30 Bars 2024
1. Lair, New Delhi
2. Bar Spirit Forward, Bangalore*
3. Soka, Bangalore*
4. Sidecar, New Delhi
5. Hideaway, Goa
6. ZLB23, The Leela Palace, Bangalore
7. Cobbler & Crew, Pune
8. Americano, Mumbai
9. PCO, New Delhi
10. HOME, New Delhi
11. Slow Tide, Goa
12. Copitas, Four Seasons Hotel, Bangalore
13. Comorin, Gurgaon
14. The Library Bar, The Leela Palace, New Delhi
15. The Bombay Canteen, Mumbai
16. Muro, Bangalore
17. AER Lounge, Four Seasons Hotel, Mumbai*
18. Hoots’, New Delhi
19. Ekaa, Mumbai
20. Slink & Bardot, Mumbai
21. Grumps, Goa*
22. AM PM, Kolkata*
23. Room One, Goa*
24. Bandra Born, Mumbai*
25. Native Cocktail Room, Jaipur
26. RÜ, Hyderabad*
27. Masque, Mumbai
28. PCO, Mumbai
29. Cocktails & Dreams, Gurgaon
30. Petisco, Goa*
(*New entrants in this year’s rankings.)
Jury Vote
- Jim Beam Best Independent Bar: Bar Spirit Forward (#2), Bangalore
- The Singleton Best Hotel Bar: ZLB23 (#6), The Leela Palace, Bangalore
- Aperol Spritz Best Restaurant Bar: Comorin (#13), Gurgaon
- Best Microbrewery or Taproom: Fort City Brewing, New Delhi
- Tanqueray Best Cocktail Menu: Lair (#1), New Delhi
- Best Non-Alcoholic Cocktail Menu: Bandra Born (#24), Mumbai
Technical Jury Vote
- Jim Beam Best Bartender: Aditya Tribhuvan, Hideaway (#5), Goa
- Bacardi Reserva Best Bar Team: Hideaway (#5), Goa
- Patrón Best Bar Design: The Second House, Goa
- Toki Traditions Reinvented: PCO (#9), New Delhi; Rick’s, Taj Mahal, New Delhi
- Heineken Industry Icon: Rohit Khattar, Founder & Chairman of Old World Hospitality
- Godawan Best Work in Sustainability: The Ivory Club, Hyatt Regency, Trivandrum
People’s Choice Awards
- Grey Goose People’s Choice Best Bar: Bob’s Bar, Bangalore
- People’s Choice Best Microbrewery or Taproom: BYG Brewski Brewing Company Hennur, Bangalore
Other Categories
- Monkey Shoulder Highest Climber: The Library Bar (#14), The Leela Palace, New Delhi
- Monkey Shoulder Highest New Entry: Bar Spirit Forward (#2), Bangalore
Congratulations to all the winners for their incredible achievements and for continuing to elevate India’s bar culture. Cheers to a future filled with innovation, creativity, and impeccable cocktails!
