European cocktail scenes vary by city. Here's the honest sort.
Tier 1 — destination cocktail cities
- London: Top of the world for cocktails. Connaught Bar, Lyaness, Bar Termini, Tayer + Elementary.
- Paris: Combat, Little Red Door, Le Syndicat, Mary Celeste.
- Berlin: Buck and Breck, Le Croco Bleu, Lebensstern.
- Athens (Psyrri): The Clumsies, Baba Au Rum, A for Athens.
- Madrid: Salmon Guru, La Fábrica de la Coctelería, 1862.
Tier 2 — strong cocktail scenes
- Barcelona: Paradiso, Two Schmucks.
- Amsterdam: Tales & Spirits, Hiding in Plain Sight.
- Vienna: Roberto Bar, Kruger's American Bar.
- Stockholm: Tjoget, Linje Tio.
Tier 3 — niche
- Lisbon: Park Bar, Toca da Raposa.
- Belgrade: Underrated cocktail scene.
- Reykjavík: Slippbarinn, Hrímur.
Strategy
- Reservations: Top spots book 1-2 weeks ahead.
- Themed bars: Speakeasies, themed-rooms popular in London.
- World's 50 Best Bars rankings: Update annually; check current.