NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 10, 2025)— Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is proud to announce the Regional Top 10 Honorees for the 19th annual Spirited Awards®. Since its inception in 2007, the Spirited Awards has become one of the world’s most prestigious honors in the drinks industry, celebrating outstanding individuals, establishments, products, media, and leaders who continue to inspire the global cocktail community.
In partnership with Forbes, the Spirited Awards Official Media Partner, TOTCF will celebrate the Spirited Awards on July 24th during the Tales of the Cocktail (TOTC) conference, taking place in New Orleans from July 20-25, 2025.
“The Spirited Awards honors these many individuals by highlighting some of them, chosen by the opinion of their peers on a global platform which pushes us all forward as a collective. The expertise, creativity, and commitment of each honouree highlight the energy and inspiration behind our thriving global bar community, I’m thrilled with the African & Middle Eastern contributions towards this. We’re pleased to celebrate the accomplishments of the Regional Top 10 Honorees and the impact they’ve made on cocktail culture,” said Caitlin Hill, Spirited Awards Middle East & Africa Co-Chair.
Divided into geographical regions—Asia Pacific (APAC), Canada, Europe, Latin America & Caribbean (LATAM&C), Middle East & Africa (MEA), U.S. Central, U.S. East, and U.S. West—the Regional Top 10 Honorees represent the best in the industry, leaving a lasting impact on their local cocktail communities and beyond. To toast the 2025 Honorees, the Foundation is proud to recognize this inspiring group and announce the Spirited Awards Middle East & Africa Regional Top 10 Honorees.
2025 Spirited Awards® Regional Top 10 Honorees (in alphabetical order):
International Establishments:
- Best International Bar Team – Middle East & Africa
-
- COYA Dubai — Dubai, UAE
- fable — Cape Town, South Africa
- Front/Back Accra — Accra, Ghana
- Funky Monkey Cocktail Bar & Restaurant — Diani, Kenya
- HERO at the Trademark Hotel — Nairobi, Kenya
- LPM Restaurant & Bar Dubai — Dubai, UAE
- Salmon Guru Dubai — Dubai, UAE
- Sin + Tax — Johannesburg, South Africa
- The Drinkery — Cape Town, South Africa
- Zuma Dubai — Dubai, UAE
- Best International Cocktail Bar – Middle East & Africa
-
- fable — Cape Town, South Africa
- Front/Back Accra — Accra, Ghana
- Mii-Yao — Beirut, Lebanon
- Re/volver — Nairobi, Kenya
- Salmon Guru Dubai — Dubai, UAE
- Sin + Tax — Johannesburg, South Africa
- Sinnerman — Nairobi, Kenya
- Talking to Strangers — Cape Town, South Africa
- The Drinkery — Cape Town, South Africa
- Sol Lounge Bar — Accra, Ghana
- Best International Hotel Bar – Middle East & Africa
-
- Bascule Bar at the Cape Grace — Cape Town, South Africa
- Blind Tiger at the Jumeirah Al Naseem — Dubai, UAE
- Bvlgari Bar at the Bvlgari Resort — Dubai, UAE
- Flashback Speakeasy Bar & Lounge at the Paramount Hotel Dubai — Dubai, UAE
- HERO at the Trademark Hotel — Nairobi, Kenya
- Library Bar at The Abu Dhabi EDITION — Abu Dhabi, UAE
- The Lighthouse Bar at The Oyster Box Hotel — Durban, South Africa
- The Manhattan Lounge at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort — Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Upepo at Kwetu Nairobi by Hilton — Nairobi, Kenya
- Views Rooftop Bar & Lounge at The Neela — Stone Town, Tanzania
- Best International Restaurant Bar – Middle East & Africa
-
- Asoka — Cape Town, South Africa
- beit é selam — Nairobi, Kenya
- Cultiva — Nairobi, Kenya
- Funky Monkey Cocktail Bar & Restaurant — Diani, Kenya
- Kloof Street House — Cape Town, South Africa
- LPM Restaurant & Bar Dubai — Dubai, UAE
- Mimi Kakushi — Dubai, UAE
- Nobu Dubai — Dubai, UAE
- Upper Union — Cape Town, South Africa
- Z Kitchen — Lagos, Nigeria
- Best New International Cocktail Bar – Middle East & Africa
-
- Adaline — Dubai, UAE
- ANTHM — Cape Town, South Africa
- BISSA — Abidjan, Cote D’Lvoire
- Enigma Sky Lounge — Accra, Ghana
- Mr. Panther — Lagos, Nigeria
- Obscura Cocktail Bar & Eatery — Johannesburg, South Africa
- Salvaje — Dubai, UAE
- Social Paradise — Beirut, Lebanon
- Tavern Drinkery House — Batroun, Lebanon
- Vici — Lagos, Nigeria
2025 Spirited Awards Committee
The Spirited Awards® Committee comprises revered bartenders, bar owners, educators, and writers who are entrusted with evaluating nominees based on structured criteria. The experienced and diverse committee of judges brings years of expertise and knowledge of industry developments locally, nationally, and internationally. The Spirited Awards® nominations are not based on popular vote, and all nominations are evaluated by their respective judging committees, ensuring each vote carries equal weight in the evaluation process.
Honorees were selected by a panel of over 250 industry experts, led by the following Chair and Co-Chairs representing distinct regions:
International Chair & U.S. Chair:
- Ryan Chetiyawardana
- Tiffanie Barriere
Asia Pacific Co-Chairs:
- Andrew Ho
- Symphony Loo
- Alice Newport
- Stefanie Wijono
Canada Co-Chairs:
- Jonathan Smolensky
- Juliana Wolkowski
Europe Co-Chairs:
- Stephanie Jordan
- Camille Vidal
Latin America & Caribbean Co-Chairs:
- Georgina Barbachano Garcia
- Roberto Berdecia
Middle East & Africa Co-Chairs:
- Richie Barrow
- Caitlin Hill
- Lara Rawa
U.S. Central Co-Chairs:
- Amanda Carto
- Joshua Gandee
U.S. East Co-Chairs:
- Jaymee Mandeville
- Natasha Sofia
U.S. West Co-Chairs:
- Erin Shaeferle
- Mary Allison Wright
Writing & Media Co-Chairs:
- Erick Castro
- Emma Janzen
Books Chair:
- Anna Sulan Masing
Timeless Co-Chairs:
- François Monti
- Rebecca Sturt
To learn more about the Spirited Awards Committee and awards criteria, please visit the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards® page.
Spirited Awards® 2025 Timeline
Top 10 Nominees will be announced on May 21, 2025, Top 4 Finalists along with the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award, Tales Visionary Award, International Timeless Award, and U.S. Timeless Award will be named on June 9, 2025, and Spirited Awards Winners will be celebrated on July 24, 2025 at the 19th Annual Spirited Awards Ceremony at the Fillmore New Orleans.
Spirited Awards® 2025 Partners
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation would like to thank all of its Spirited Awards® sponsors: Cheech & Chong, G.H. Mumm Champagne, Innovation Beverage Group, Johnnie Walker, Pernod Ricard, and William Grant & Sons.
Spirited Awards® Directory
Tales of the Cocktail is pleased to share the Spirited Awards Directory, which gives discerning imbibers a comprehensive compendium of all Spirited Awards winners and nominees from the past 19 years. This resource is updated annually, making it a go-to guide for planning the perfect drinking and dining itinerary. Access the Spirited Awards Directory to explore award-winning bars.
23 Years of Inspiration & Tales of the Cocktail
This year, marking the 23-year anniversary, the conference returns with more seminars, events, and, of course, imbibing, all in the name of the conference’s 2025 theme, “Evolve.” Chosen to represent the collective of individuals who come together to create, share, and find inspiration each year at Tales, the 2025 conference will highlight the global cocktail community that continues to inspire each other year after year.
To facilitate celebrations, Tales of the Cocktail’s 2025 official host hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, provides a room block and special rate for attendees. The online reservation platform can be accessed via the Marriott website, here. Guests are invited to secure their reservations early as reservations are first come, first served, and the last day to book is June 23, 2025.
Please follow along for additional information on the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation website, Instagram, X, and Facebook.
###
About Tales of the Cocktail Foundation:
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the global hospitality industry through education, advocacy, and community support. As the world’s leading spirits education platform, the Foundation provides year-round programs and initiatives that foster professional growth and drive meaningful change. Each July, the industry gathers in New Orleans, the beating heart of cocktail culture and hospitality, for a one-of-a-kind conference that blends education, networking, and celebration like no other. Guided by its core pillars—Educate, Advance, and Support—the Foundation’s impact extends far beyond the U.S. reaching professionals and communities around the world.
Media Inquiries:
BMF Media
