Eight Canadian bars named among the 50 best in North America

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Canada is home to some of the best bars on the continent, according to the just-revealed North America’s 50 Best Bars list. This year’s ranking includes a total of eight Canadian spots, split evenly between Vancouver and Toronto.

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The ceremony to announce the prestigious catalogue took place last week in Vancouver, home to the list’s No. 1 spot in Canada — The Keefer Bar.

From new places to established drinking holes, here’s a look at the impressive venues that cracked North America’s top 50 for 2026. 

Botanist Bar, Vancouver

Landing on the list at No. 38, Botanist Bar offers a palette of experiences that would be hard to duplicate anywhere else. Located in the Fairmont Pacific Rim, Botanist Bar fashions creative cocktails in a lush setting. The menu includes unique flavours such as foraged sea asparagus and kombu (edible kelp).

Prophecy, Vancouver

New to the list for 2026 is Prophecy, the brainchild of Jeff Savage. This storied space in the basement of the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, comes in at No. 32. A sleek and sexy spot for a cocktail in Vancouver, Prophecy is a hidden gem that rewards the seeker with a plush atmosphere, a modern menu of cocktails and live music.

Civil Works, Toronto 

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The next newcomer to the list, at No. 29, is Civil Works. Housed in a historic art deco warehouse that used to produce Toronto’s water pipes, the bar takes inspiration from the history of its location. A modern cocktail list is augmented by an extensive water program that demineralizes Toronto tap water and then injects it with brines to recreate unique taste profiles from around the world.

Mother, Toronto 

With a simple philosophy to source quality ingredients and enhance them through fermentation, Mother is no stranger to the yearly best bar lists, and comes this year at No. 22. Named for the fermented starter used to make vinegar (yes, really), Mother creates unforgettable drink experiences on Queen Street West. 

Library Bar, Toronto

At No. 19, the Library Bar is well-known for its elegance and impeccable martinis. Recently, James Grant, award-winning director of beverage, created a cocktail menu honouring the stories of those dreamers and workers who built the city. A menu fitting for an establishment that has seen half a century of Toronto stories come through its doors.   

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While the Library Bar is Instagram-famous for its Birdbath martini, the reviewers for this year’s list took  note of their commitment to sustainability. Thanks to its efforts to reduce day-to-day waste, the establishment won the Sustainable Bar Award. With an AI-powered food tracking system, the business was able to reduce waste sent to the landfill by more than 50 per cent and food waste by 20 per cent. 

June on Cambie, Vancouver 

At No. 17, June on Cambie is another newcomer to the Best 50 list for 2026. Opened last year, June on Cambie made an instant splash with two viral concoctions: The Burnt Gibson (an umami-infused Gibson) and Pasta for Rachel. Amber Bruce helms the cocktail strategy at both June on Cambie and the Keefer Bar.

Bar Pompette, Toronto 

The second best bar in Canada according to the list is Toronto’s Bar Pompette, coming in at No. 8. White-washed bricks, vintage wooden chairs calls to mind a Parisian café, but Bar Pompette is a cocktail space located in Little Italy that takes its inspiration from French ingredients. They feature modern drinks and an Old World wine menu. The venue prides itself on locavorism, tight relationships with local farmers to bring Ontario produce straight from farm to glass. A back patio and shareable food items from sister restaurant Pompette, this charming little gem is the perfect place for an afternoon aperitif.

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The Keefer Bar, Vancouver

Vancouver’s Keefer Bar climbed 21 places from last year to No. 7 and the top Canadian bar on the list. Located in historic Chinatown, it’s been an institution in the city for more than a decade. Its menu of cocktails (or ‘prescriptions’ as they call them) take inspiration from apothecaries of old. The moody atmosphere combines with a unique drink selection to create something that soothes the soul of guests.

Keefer Bar selections include seasonal hits such as milk-clarified Pink Pony Club for Lunar New Year, and an Alumni menu, featuring a greatest hits of past seasonal favourites. There you’ll find the Antidote with Canadian whisky, yuzu sake, lemon and Nin Jiom (traditional Chinese herbal remedy).

The top bar in all of North America was Sip and Guzzle in New York. The venue is a dual-themed bar with two distinct moods under one roof: Sip, an elegant Japanese-inspired cocktail lounge, and Guzzle which aligns itself with a more casual vibe with beers, high balls and fun snacks. Sip and Guzzle nabbed the top spot after sitting at No. 5 last year.

For a full list of North America’s 50 Best Bars 2026, click here.

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