Will at least three NYC venues appear on the 2026 Spirited Awards Top 10 Best US Restaurant Bar list?

Question

NYC has dominated this category in recent years. The question is whether the spread is finally tipping toward parity with other regions.

Accepted Answer

The official 2026 Top 10 list for Best U.S. Restaurant Bar, as published by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation and corroborated by Bar-Solution and The Spirits Business, contains only one New York City venue (Bar Madonna — Brooklyn, NY), which is fewer than the three NYC venues required by the market’s criteria.