The Pinnacle Guide Awards Pins to 29 Cocktail Bars
The international initiative recognizes exceptional cocktail bars with one or two-pin designations.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Cocktails
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The Pinnacle Guide has awarded one or two pins to 29 cocktail bars globally. This latest expansion brings the total number of recognized establishments to 218.
Why it matters
The guide serves to categorize and recognize high-quality cocktail bars, providing consumers with a standardized metric for evaluating drinking establishments.
The United States and Italy each received seven new awards as part of the expansion. Approximately 30% of all pinned bars are currently located within hotels.
The players
The Pinnacle Guide
This organization manages a global rating system that evaluates and awards pins to high-performing cocktail bars.
Drink Kong
A cocktail bar located in Rome that was awarded two pins by the organization.
Loma
A bar in Providence that received a two-pin designation.
McRae Bar
An establishment in Sydney recognized with two pins.
The details
The recent announcement includes recognitions for bars across multiple continents, such as Drink Kong in Rome, Loma in Providence, and McRae Bar in Sydney. Five of the new awardees are located in the United Kingdom, including Desire Cocktail Bar in Stoke-on-Trent and The Caley Bar in Edinburgh.
Timeline
The Pinnacle Guide initiative launched in May 2024.
The guide unveiled 29 new awardees in October 2026.
Culture Shift
The Pinnacle Guide's expansion mirrors the Michelin Guide's restaurant star rating system in its effort to standardize quality assessments for hospitality venues. This shift marks a broader move toward formalizing appraisal standards within the global beverage industry.
Readers can use these designations as a guide to identify top-tier cocktail bars during international travel or within their own cities. The system helps consumers anticipate the level of service and drink quality they may encounter at newly pinned establishments.
The takeaway
When choosing a venue, consider checking local listings for establishments that have earned these designations to ensure a high-quality experience. Keeping an eye on annual award updates helps cocktail enthusiasts discover reputable new spots in their region.
Further reading
Explore more industry news on the Cocktails section page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Harpers.
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