Edinburgh bar Panda & Sons named best in UK and one of best in world as speakeasy lands on Top 500 Bars list
Panda & Sons has been delighting customers since opening its door on Queen Street 13 years ago
An Edinburgh bar has been named the best in the UK and seventh best in the world in a new global ranking.
Panda & Sons has been named the UK’s bar for 2026 in the Top 500 Bars list for 2026, beating out a number of London establishments to take the top spot.
The speakeasy was also named seventh best in the world, one year after it claimed the global top spot on the list. It also marks the fourth year in a row that Panda & Sons has found itself in the global top 10.
The team at Panda & Sons reacted to the news on social media, saying: “We’re so happy to be in the top 10 for a fourth year, following an unforgettable year at No.1.
“That recognition has meant so much to our Edinburgh bar, helping put our amazing city on the map for cocktail lovers around the world.
“Welcoming people who have travelled to come and see us is something we never take for granted and one of the loveliest parts of what we do.
“A huge thank you to our mega panda team and to everyone who visits, supports us and recommends us to a friend. You’re all part of this.”
Panda & Sons was created by award-winning bartender Iain McPherson and opened its doors on Queen Street in 2013.
Hidden away as a supposed barbershop, the bar acts as a speakeasy with expert mixologists experimenting with new flavours and creating unique tipples. The ‘Brain Melting Society’ leads research and development of new drinks at Panda & Sons’ sub-zero lab to create the perfect drink.
The bar’s Queen Street neighbour Bramble also came in a 162 on the global list, while landing in the top 20 for UK venues.
Hey Palu and Dragonfly were also named in the Top 500 Bar list, landing at 263 and 484 respectively.
The Top 500 Bars list is collated from aggregated data from thousands of web sources, including experts, journalists and influencers as well as reviews on social media platforms and search engines.