Café La Trova once again made North America’s 50 Best Bars in 2024, the only Florida spot to do so

We're already big fans of Café La Trova. But, as has become an annual ritual, the 50 Best Bars awards just came along and reminded us: We need to get our culos to Little Havana more often. The Cuban restaurant and cocktail haven on Calle Ocho has just been honored, yet again, on the esteemed list of North America's best bars.

Café La Trova was the only Florida bar to make the cut this year, landing at No.13. (Broken Shaker and Sweet Liberty have ranked in the 50 Best in years past.) New York continues to account for the highest number of North America’s top bars, with 12 entries on the list. This year, Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City made history as the first Mexican to rank No.1. 

North America’s 50 Best Bars launched in 2016 as a successor to the esteemed World’s 50 Best Bars, helmed by William Reed and sponsored by Perrier. The annual lists highlight world-class drinking destinations and the outstanding talent mixing things up behind the bars. Historically, the World’s 50 Best Bars are announced in October. Last year, Café La Trova ranked No.24 on the global list, among just five U.S. watering holes.

Here's the full list, announced today:

North America's 50 Best Bars List 2024

1. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
2. Superbueno, New York
3. Overstory, New York
4. Martiny's, New York,
5. Rayo, Mexico City
6. Jewel of the South, New Orleans
7. Double Chicken Please, New York
8. Thunderbolt, Los Angeles
9. Licorería Limantour, Mexico City
10. Tlecān, Mexico City
11. Zapote Bar, Playa del Carmen
12. Katana Kitten, New York
13. Café La Trova, Miami
14. El Gallo Altanero, Guadalajara
15. Employees Only, New York
16. Aruba Day Drink, Tijuana
17. Café de Nadie, Mexico City
18. La Factoría, San Juan
19. Kumiko, Chicago
20. Dante, New York
21. Civil Liberties, Toronto
22. Service Bar, Washington DC
23. Allegory, Washington DC
24. Botanist Bar, Vancouver
25. Herbs & Rye, Las Vegas
26. Baltra Bar, Mexico City
27. Bekeb, San Miguel de Allende
28. Kaito del Valle, Mexico City
29. Bar Pompette, Toronto
30. True Laurel, San Francisco
31. Attaboy, New York
32. Meadowlark, Chicago
33. The Dead Rabbit, New York
34. Selva, Oaxaca
35. Library by the Sea, Grand Cayman
36. Century Grand, Phoenix
37. Arca, Tulum
38. Pacific Cocktail Heaven, San Francisco
39. Cloakroom, Montreal
40. Bar Mordecai, Toronto
41. Maison Premiere, New York
42. Hanky Panky, Mexico City
43. Angel's Share, New York
44. Milady's, New York
45. Brujas, Mexico City
46. Mírate, Los Angeles
47. Cure, New Orleans
48. Best Intentions, Chicago
49. The Keefer Bar, Vancouver
50. Atwater Cocktail Club, Montreal

So how exactly does the voting for these things work? Here's what goes into the 50 Best Bars rankings, according to the organization:

The ranking for North America’s 50 Best Bars will reflect the best bar experiences based on the votes of the Academy members, who comprise anonymous North American bar industry experts (including bartenders, bar owners, drinks media and well-traveled cocktail connoisseurs) from the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. In 2023, the Academy expanded to 270 members. This change was implemented to obtain a wider snapshot and ensure a greater number of diverse voices voting for the awards. Moreover, as per all 50 Best lists for restaurants, bars and hotels, 25 per cent of Academy members are refreshed annually to keep the perspectives dynamic and relevant. Members of the 50 Best organization do not vote and do not control the composition of the list; that is the collective role of the voting Academy. This means that bars cannot apply to be on the list and no sponsors have any influence on the list.