Sixteen Of The Best Bars In The World Are Coming to Sydney

Bars, Drink / 28 March 2023

Get ready for 8 days of FREE bar events, including masterclasses and an exclusive one-off event.

It’s the most anticipated news every cocktail lover has been waiting for; the inaugural Maybe Cocktail Festival is coming back in April and the star-studded event schedule has just been announced! Running for a week from 12th-19th April, the festival will be home to 16 international bars from over 11 countries, all running a series of free events across Sydney. A whopping 12 were ranked in the prestigious The World’s 50 Best Bar list last year, whilst another 3 nabbed a spot in the 51-100 listing (which means they know their stuff when it comes to mixing the best cocktails).

There’s plenty of opportunity to grab a front-row seat to the spectacle, with each visiting bar taking up residency at popular Sydney bar destinations: Maybe Sammy, Dean & Nancy on 22, Sammy Junior, Lady Hampshire, The Norfolk Hotel and the sleek Oxford House. Watch as your favourite local spots transform into an international bar experience, and take part in the masterclasses where each bar provides insights into how they became masters of their craft.

Some of our favourite events on the calendar include:

BKK Social Club + Jigger & Pony (April 12th)

Two of Southeast Asia’s most awarded bars are joining forces to start off the festival with a bang at Dean & Nancy on 22. Located at the Four Seasons Hotel in Bangkok, BKK Social Club has all the glitz and glamour you expect from the Buenos Aires golden ages. Jigger & Pony on the other hand, embraces traditional classics, blending them with the modern energy of Singapore.

Sips (April 14th)

Hosted by Maybe Sammy, Sips will bring all the star power (and more) to their guest shift. Originally from Barcelona, Sips is one of Europe’s top cocktail destinations with a ranking of #3 in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022. It’ll be one of the most anticipated events in the entire festival, so make sure you line up early to get a seat at the bar and to get a sneak peek into their ‘drinkery house’ of cocktail innovations.

Maybe Masterclass (April 16th)

For one whole afternoon, 5 international bars will each host a masterclass into how they became masters of their craft. Each class taught will be accompanied by a cocktail sample from the bar, alongside light refreshments. Bars attending include Sweet Liberty, Sips, L’Antiquario, Alqu i mico and Schofield’s Bar.

In addition to the global names, Maybe Cocktail is also hosting one epic night at Lady Hampshire. Named ‘The Best Of Australia’, this event celebrates 6 of Australia’s best bars (Re, Cantina OK, PS40, Above Board, Byrdi, Caretaker’s Cottage), with each taking the lead to present one unique and never seen before coffee cocktail.

A snapshot of the full event schedule can be found on Maybe Cocktail’s website. You can also view more details like specific times, locations and RSVP to events here.