VANCOUVER — North America’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, is returning for its fourth edition in April 2025. The three-day event program will be held in Vancouver, marking the first time in North America’s 50 Best Bars history that the awards will be held in Canada. The awards ceremony will take place on Apr. 29, 2025.
North America’s 50 Best Bars focuses on highlighting excellence in the bar industry specifically in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The inaugural awards ceremony was held in New York City in 2022, followed by San Miguel de Allende in 2023 and 2024.
“After an electrifying celebration last year, we are thrilled to bring North America’s 50 Best Bars to Canada for the very first time,” says Emma Sleight, head of Content for North America’s 50 Best Bars. “Hosting the awards in Vancouver, a city renowned for its dynamic cocktail culture, stunning natural beauty, and outstanding hospitality scene, allows us to highlight the city’s exceptional talent and celebrate its innovation on a global stage. We look forward to recognizing the people and places that continue to elevate North America as a true leader in the world of hospitality.”
Highlights of the event program will include the Bartenders’ Feast, which takes place the night before the reveal of North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025. It will be followed by the live countdown and the awards ceremony itself on April 29, ending in the announcement of The Best Bar in North America 2025 and other special award winners. For the first time since its inception, North America’s 50 Best Bars is recognizing the growth of the cocktail scene by extending the list to include the 51-100 ranking.
“Vancouver is proud to host North America’s 50 Best Bars for the first time this year. The multi-day event will shine a spotlight on the incredible talent and creativity of our city’s hospitality and mixology scene,” says Royce Chwin, president & CEO, Destination Vancouver. “North America’s 50 Best Bars recognizes excellence across the continent while providing a platform to showcase Vancouver’s vibrant culinary culture, diverse communities, and innovative spirit. As a global destination, we are excited to collaborate with industry leaders and create memorable experiences for everyone who attends.”
Ahead of the awards ceremony, 50 Best will announce a few special award winners to recognize achievements from bars and individuals:
- Michter’s Art of Hospitality: This award is voted for by all members of the North America’s 50 Best Bars Academy, who are asked to name a bar where they received the single best hospitality experience during the voting period.
- Altos Bartenders’ Bartender: This award is voted for by the bartenders behind those bars on this year’s list, who are asked to name one peer who has done more to further the craft of bartending than any other across the course of the 18-month voting period.
