SIP & GUZZLE RANKS NUMBER 39 ON THE 2025 WORLD’S 50 BEST BARS LIST 

Sip & Guzzle Named One of the World’s 50 Best Bars, Wins Best New Opening at Global Ceremony

In a triumphant moment for New York’s bar scene, Sip & Guzzle—the dual-concept cocktail destination in the West Village—has officially been named the No. 39 Best Bar in the World on the 2025 World’s 50 Best Bars list, taking home the prestigious Three Cents Best New Opening Award in the process. The announcement came during an awards ceremony in Hong Kong on Wednesday night, placing the venue in the global spotlight just under two years after opening its doors.

The recognition marks a major milestone for founders Steve Schneider (Employees Only Singapore) and Shingo Gokan (The SG Club), along with owner-operator Justin Weitz, who brought this cross-cultural concept to life with equal parts creativity, discipline, and swagger. A spiritual sequel to their 2018 collaboration The Odd Couple, Sip & Guzzle embodies the bridge between Tokyo’s meticulous technique and New York’s high-octane hospitality—with both influences felt in every drink, every design detail, and every guest interaction.

“Being named one of the 50 Best Bars in the World is truly an honor and beyond what we ever could have imagined when we first opened,” said Schneider. “From the beginning, we were inspired by the cocktail traditions of New York and Tokyo and set out to create a hospitality experience that fused these two cultures seamlessly. Shingo and I both started our careers in New York and have worked across Asia, so seeing Sip & Guzzle recognized in a story that mirrors our journeys means the world to us.”

Located on Hudson Street, Sip & Guzzle is a two-level concept with a narrative rooted in the real-life story of the 77 Japanese samurai who traveled to New York in the mid-1800s, frequented Jerry Thomas’ bar, and later brought that influence back to Japan. This bar, imagined as the “return journey,” explores what would happen if that samurai bar came back to New York in 2025—combining deep cultural roots with modern cocktail evolution.

Upstairs, Guzzle operates as a lively New York-style bar, reinterpreting American classics with clever Japanese twists—like the now-famous Yuzu Mugurita, which swaps tequila and lime for shochu and yuzu. Downstairs, Sip is a dimly lit, Japanese-style speakeasy with an emphasis on technique-forward cocktails, showcasing signatures like the Tomato Tree, Chinatown No. 5, and Whisky Nigiri—drinks that wouldn’t feel out of place in Tokyo or Brooklyn, yet are wholly unique.

Supporting the beverage vision is Executive Chef Mike Bagale, a three-Michelin-starred culinary force who has redefined the bar food experience with high-end takes on izakaya favorites and classic American comfort dishes. The standout Tavern Burger recently ranked #1 in North America and #13 in the world on the 2025 World’s Best Burgers list—proving that the food is just as much a draw as the cocktails.

“This is our love letter to two cities and two worlds we adore,” said Weitz. “Our vision was to blend the precision of Japan with the vibrancy of New York—to build a space where everything, from the high to the low, the classic to the creative, could exist together in balance. Seeing the community embrace that vision has been incredibly rewarding.”

The win in Hong Kong adds to a growing trophy case. Sip & Guzzle was previously named #5 on North America’s 50 Best Bars, earned Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar at the 2025 Spirited Awards (Tales of the Cocktail), and appeared on virtually every “Best Bars” list this year, including Food & Wine, Esquire, Travel + Leisure, and the James Beard Awards, where it was a semifinalist for Best New Bar.

Recognition from The World’s 50 Best Bars—voted on by a panel of 680 anonymous bar experts—cements Sip & Guzzle as one of the most ambitious and accomplished openings in recent memory. But for the team, it’s not just about rankings or accolades. It’s about building a place where culture, hospitality, and human connection can thrive.

And judging by the crowds at the door—and the smiles on the faces behind the stick—it’s safe to say that Sip & Guzzle has already done exactly that.

We are honored to call the full Sip & Guzzle team our friends.