Two Australian bars make it into the World's 50 Best Bars 2022 longlist

Sydney's hyper-sustainable Re Bar and Melbourne's hyper-small Caretaker's Cottage have been named among the top 100 bars of the world by a global academy of bartenders, critics and other industry insiders. They were the only two Australian bars on the longlist of The World's 50 Best Bars, announced last night ahead of the 1-50 list being released next week.

Rob Libecans, one of the owners of city bar Caretaker's Cottage, said he and his two partners were genuinely shocked to hear they'd been ranked at No. 60. The tiny bar fits less than 40 people and is located in a 1914 brick building on church land, once home to the groundskeeper.

"We're not like many venues that are included. We don't have the budgets like some do and we aren't conveniently located globally," he said.

Founder of Eveleigh bar Re Bar, Matt Whiley, is humbled by the result.

"Anytime we get recognised by our peers is always a proud moment. To be listed again with other great bars around the world is very humbling."

The 650 academy members who shape the list are expected to travel the world to cast at least some votes for bars outside their home region. This has always put Australia at a disadvantage but particularly in recent times, even with rules that accounted for pandemic border closures.

Despite that, four Aussie bars cracked the top 50 last year. Sydney had a particularly strong showing, with three venues.

Re was one of them, coming in at No. 46 in 2021 for its ambitious mission to tread light environmentally. Everything in the bar is made from recycled materials and the drinks use fresh ingredients that would otherwise go to landfill, such as blemished fruit.

Along with the inclusion of Caretakers Cottage, it suggests that tastes might be moving on from flashy mixology towards more thoughtful bartending.

Elsewhere on the list, Singapore is shaping us as a global bar capital with the most venues (15 out of 50), while Eastern Europe had its first bars on the list, from Poland and Slovakia.

During next week's announcement in Barcelona of the top 50, local barflies will be watching Melbourne's Byrdi and Above Board, and Sydney's Maybe Sammy and Cantina OK, all of whom performed well last year. Newcomers such as Bar Planet in Sydney's inner-west also have a strong chance.

Stay tuned on October 4.

Caretaker's Cottage, 139-141 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne caretakerscottage.bar

Re Bar, 8/2 Locomotive St, Eveleigh, NSW wearere.com.au

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