Maybe Sammy has been named the most influential bar in the world in the latest ranking announced overnight in Paris.
Venue manager Sarah Proietti and bar manager Hunter Gregory were on hand to collect the award as Maybe Sammy jumped from 17th place in the 2022 list to first place this year, from a list of 500 bars in 122 cities and 53 countries.
Maybe Sammy was co-founded by Stefano Catino and Vince Lombardo in 2019, and is now part of Australian hospitality group Public as of 2023.
Of the win, Catino said: “To be named the number one bar in the world by Top 500 Bars feels very surreal.
“It’s such an honor for our bar team to be recognized for the time and effort they put into making the experience at Maybe Sammy exceptional, and to have that recognized on a global scale is so humbling.
“We couldn’t be happier to be at the top of the list this year, it’s a very special moment for the whole team.”
The list is compiled using data aggregated from more than 2,000 sources across the web and in more than 20 languages. The opinions of experts, journalists and influencers are used along with rankings, reviews on platforms, social media and search engines to complete the data set.
Top 500 Bars says its algorithm is “about finding a ranking that complements existing selections to highlight the daily work of the people who drive this industry”.
Of its number one bar, Top 500 Bars said: “Perhaps Sammy is inspired by the roaring fifties, the rebirth of cool, the era when fashion and fun reigned supreme.
“A time when the Rat Pack and Hollywood glamour were revered and admired. Their signature drinks are named after some of the boys’ favorite haunts on the Vegas Strip. Take a look at the Mini Martinis list and you will instantly recognize their ode to the most iconic cocktails of all time.
The Baxter Inn was the only other Australian bar to make the Top 100 Most Influential list, coming in at number 87.
