50 Bars to Blow Your Mind (Lonely Planet) Ben Handicott

From the people who have been delivering trustworthy guidebooks to every destination in the world for 40 years, Lonely Planet's 50 Bars To Blow Your Mind handpicks the world's most extraordinary drinking holes, from caverns and island party havens to a bar nestled in an ancient tree trunk.

This pocket-sized gift book showcases 50 of the world's best bars and is the perfect gift for anyone interested in the best places in the world for a drink. Whether they boast a jaw-dropping location, world-class artisan cocktails or effortless cool, these bars are among the best places on the planet to enjoy a drink or two. 

How have we whittled down this list? Some bars have earned their spot by playing up their obvious assets, whether it's an interesting urban location or a stunning natural setting. Others are champions of the basics, be they cocktails or single liquors, while still others do something dramatically unusual or fun; some are so quirky it's impossible not to marvel over a custom-made cocktail. But perhaps the secret sauce in all this is genuine desire to delight each person who walks through the door. It's a love of hospitality and an enthusiasm for the precious drop. 

Whether you're a fan of barefoot, surfside imbibing or you prefer sophisticated cocktails in stylish surrounds, it's time to plan your list. Cheers, salut, bottoms up. See you at the bar. 

Wow factor // Beautiful bars 



Al Sarab // Dubai 
The Island Bar // Sydney 
Northern Lights // Reykjavik 
Ozone // Hong Kong 
Sky Bar // Bangkok 
Water & Wind Bar // Binh Duong 
White Rabbit // Moscow 

Mixology // Cocktail bars 



Academia da Cachaca // Rio De Janeiro 
Attaboy // New York City 
Gen Yamamoto // Tokyo 
Lidkoeb // Copenhagen 
Monkey Bar // Berlin 
Smuggler's Cove // San Francisco 
Sum Yi Tai // Singapore 
Tales & Spirits // Amsterdam 
Yuan Oyster & Cocktail Bar // Shanghai 

A'brewin' // Craft beer bars 



Delirium Cafe // Brussels 
Magnolia Brewing Company // San Francisco 
Petritegi Tolare Sagardotegia // San Sebastian 
T-Anker // Prague 
Torst // New York City 

Shh! // Hidden bars 



Area 51 Top Secret Party Facility // Boracay 
Aux Deux Amis // Paris 
Cafe Madrigal // Havana 
El Quim de la Boqueria // Barcelona 
Gallow Green // New York City 
The Harrison Speakeasy // Buenos Aires 
The Jerry Thomas Project // Rome 

Rhythm // Music & party bars 



360Istanbul // Istanbul 
Bluefrog // Mumbai 
Linda's Tavern // Seattle 
Opera Club // Warsaw 
Tooting Tram & Social // London 

Whimsy // Quirky bars 



Baobab Tree Bar // Limpopo 
Bounce Ping Pong // London 
Le Comptoir General // Paris 
Icebar // Jukkasjarvi 
Joben Bistro // Cluj-Napoca 
Museum HR Giger Bar // Gruyeres 
The Storm Crow Tavern // Vancouver 

About Lonely Planet: Started in 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel guide publisher with guidebooks to every destination on the planet. Lonely Planet's mission is to enable curious travellers to experience the world and to truly get to the heart of the places they find themselves in. 

TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 winner in Favorite Travel Guide category 

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