India’s bar landscape reached a defining moment as Bar Spirit Forward, Bangalore, was named India’s Best Bar for 2025, taking the top spot at the sixth edition of 30BestBarsIndia. The announcement was made at a glittering ceremony held at the Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage, attended by leading figures from the bar, hospitality, and beverage industries across the country.
Claiming the coveted #1 position nationally, Bar Spirit Forward also won Best Independent Bar and Best Bar in Bangalore, reinforcing its status as the benchmark for modern Indian cocktail culture. Alongside Soka (#2), Bangalore swept the top two national ranks, firmly cementing the city’s position as India’s leading bar ecosystem.
Founded in 2019 by industry veterans Vikram Achanta and Radhakrishnan Nair, 30BestBarsIndia has emerged as the country’s most credible and influential bar ranking platform. More than just a list, it tracks how India’s drinking culture is evolving – spotlighting bars that shape trends, elevate craft, and push the industry forward. Now in its sixth edition, the platform blends jury-led evaluation with on-ground insight, ensuring that rankings reflect not just popularity, but consistency, innovation, and long-term impact. For many bars, a place on the list has become a marker of national relevance – and for those at the top, a benchmark for excellence.
Bar Spirit Forward’s win marks more than an individual triumph – it signals Bangalore’s evolution from a breakout market to the gold standard of Indian bars. With six bars in the Top 30 and four in the Top 10, Bangalore emerged as the fastest-growing and most influential bar city in the country.
Known for its uncompromising focus on spirits, technique, and education-led drinking, Bar Spirit Forward has consistently pushed boundaries since its inception. Its philosophy of putting the spirit first – whether through classic-forward cocktails, minimalistic presentation, or deep engagement with bartending craft – has resonated strongly with both juries and consumers.
The 2025 rankings reflect a broader rebalancing of India’s bar hierarchy. For the first time in six editions, neither Mumbai nor Delhi featured in the Top 4, as Goa’s Bar Outrigger (#3) and Boilermaker (#4) surged into leading positions. This shift highlights a maturing national bar culture where excellence is no longer concentrated in a few metros.
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According to the organisers, the 2025 edition received a record-breaking 1,276 nominations, underscoring both the growth in quality and the rising confidence of bar operators across India.
In addition to topping the list, Bar Spirit Forward dominated the jury awards, taking home:
These wins place the bar among the most awarded establishments of the year and underscore its consistency across both technical judging and broader industry recognition.
The success of Bar Spirit Forward comes at a time when India’s bar movement is expanding rapidly beyond its early strongholds. Cities like Kolkata, Jaipur, Kochi, Pune, and Hyderabad featured prominently this year, while wine programmes, sustainability, non-alcoholic menus, and restaurant-led bars gained unprecedented visibility.
Yet, at the very top, Bar Spirit Forward stood apart – representing a bar that balances global standards with local confidence, and craft with clarity of vision.
As India’s Best Bar for 2025, Bar Spirit Forward doesn’t just lead the rankings – it sets the tone for where Indian bars are headed next.
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