When exploring a new destination, there are places capable of telling its identity better than many others. Besides monuments, museums, or famous squares, sometimes all it takes is stepping into a bar, sitting at the counter, and observing who frequents it to learn something more about the place you’re visiting. Consider, too, the closely related phenomenon of grocery store tourism—the habit of visiting local supermarkets to discover authentic habits, products, and flavors of the locale.
The new 2026 ranking of the 100 best bars in Europe, compiled by the European Bar Guide, reveals these very places that, more than any others, tell the culture and trends of a destination: a list that evaluates not only the quality of cocktails offered to patrons, but also the atmosphere, the character of the venue, the local culture, social life, and its ability to embody the soul of a city. Four Italian venues also make the list in the new ranking.
The Best Bars in Europe to Discover on Your Journey
If you’re curious to note down the best addresses for a special voyage through Europe’s most authentic corners—ranging from historic establishments, neighborhood pubs, hidden bars (some truly peculiar) and places that have become real institutions—here are the 20 best venues from the selection: they’re not just spots to drink, but places to experience a destination from a different perspective.
At the very top of the podium is Szimpla Kert in Budapest, the celebrated ruin bar that since 2002 has become one of the symbols of the Hungarian capital’s nightlife.
It is a labyrinth of rooms, courtyards, vintage furnishings, tropical plants, and quirky objects that deliver an experience well beyond the ordinary. The Sunday farmers’ market and numerous cultural events also anchor it deeply to the city’s life.
In second place, Bruges’ Retsins Lucifernum, a bar-museum decidedly out of the ordinary. Gothic art, antiques, memorabilia and a macabre atmosphere turn an evening into a surreal experience, made even more exclusive by access limited to about 20 people at a time.
In third place we find La Fleur en Papier Doré in Brussels, a historic tavern that feels like a genuine time capsule. Between artworks, wood and vintage furniture, the venue also maintains a strong link to the city’s cultural history: it was in fact a gathering spot for René Magritte and the surrealist intellects.
Also in Brussels, the venue that clinches fourth place: Goupil Le Fol, which immediately envelops guests in an intimate and theatrical atmosphere, its interiors rich with objects and decorative details.
Completing the top five is Zlatna Ribica in Sarajevo, an eccentric venue where every corner is rich with objects and details to notice. A place to experience slowly, drawing in a more authentic dimension of the Bosnian capital.
Music is front and center at Papa Joe’s Jazzlokal in Cologne, ranked sixth, a historic venue devoted to jazz. They follow ’t Brugs Beertje (Bruges), tied to the Belgian beer tradition, Bar Marsella (Barcelona), which reveals the city’s most Bohemian side, U Hrocha (Prague), where one can discover the traditional culture of Czech brewpubs, and Le Pot Au Lait in Liège, a venue that impresses especially with its unconventional interiors that render it a kind of fantastical world.
Italian Venues in the Ranking
Italy is also represented in the ranking with four addresses, scattered across Florence, Trieste, and Milan. They are quite diverse, yet each one manages to convey a core facet of the identity of the cities they call home.
At the 68th position in the overall ranking we find Rasputin in Florence, a venue with a reserved atmosphere, ideally suited to uncover a more secret side of the Tuscan capital.
In Trieste, instead, the Mastro Birraio (73rd) brings beer culture to the ranking and a more informal feel to the city. Milan is represented by two venues: at 82nd Backdoor 43, renowned for its tiny size and the distinctive, curated experience it offers visitors, and at 99th place Birrificio Lambrate, closely tied to the Milanese district that lends it its name.
