Episode Details

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady delves into the vibrant world of France's bar industry as he explores the inaugural 2026 national ranking of the country's best bars, brought to you by the French Bar Awards. This groundbreaking initiative highlights the diversity and talent within the French bar scene, offering a fresh perspective on an industry traditionally dominated by a few well-known venues. The French Bar Awards announced the release of its inaugural 2026 national ranking, introducing France’s first publicly auditable industry-voted bar list based on ballots submitted by 549 professionals from the French bar, cocktail, and spirits sector across 59 departments. The 2026 ranking names Danico in Paris as the number one bar in France while highlighting 100 venues across 23 cities and 13 regions, reflecting the growing geographic diversity of the French bar industry.

Among the key findings from the inaugural edition, 61 of the 100 selected bars are located outside Paris, with venues from 23 cities across mainland France and Réunion Island. Cities like Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, and Toulouse have strong representation outside the capital. The voting panel included bartenders, bar managers, bar owners, distributors, and spirits industry professionals from across France. Transparency and nationwide representation were central objectives in the creation of the project, with the complete list of the 549 jury members publicly available on the official French Bar Awards website. The organization plans to expand the initiative throughout 2026 with additional industry-focused rankings and editorial projects. For more information, visit the French Bar Awards website at https://frenchbarawards.com.