One Chicago Spot Made The 'World's 50 Best Bars' List For 2017

By Stephen Gossett in Food on Oct 6, 2017 7:20PM

The tippling tastemakers have spoken, and one Chicago spot has landed on the annual World's 50 Best Bars list. And if only one bar is represented in all of the city, you can probably already guess which one that is. Yep, it's The Aviary.

Grant Achatz's perennially acclaimed dispenser of impossibly clever cocktails landed at No. 41 overall. Its the fourth consecutive year the bar has placed in the Top 50.

The list, which was announced last night in London, comes from the same people who bring us the World's 50 Best Restaurants. From that roster, Grant Achatz's Alinea was the lone Chicago restaurant to place earlier this year. (We think we're beginning to notice a trend.) Indeed both lists tend to prize upscale, already-lavishly-praised enterprises, so don't expect to find many charming dives, old-school lounges or tavern institutions among the ranks.

In all, 13 North American bars made the cut. New York had seven entries, second only to London's eight. The very best, you ask? The American Bar at the Savoy Hotel, in London.

Considering the fact that the scope spans the globe, we'll take the compliment rather than clap back too hard on behalf of the overlooked. Although here's hoping that the great Lost Lake, which came in at No. 65, can jump into the Top 50 next time around.

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