The UAE bar features bespoke creations and twists on classics, and is awarded for the team’s high-quality service, inspiring design and personal touch
Dubai’s Galaxy Bar has been named this year’s Campari One To Watch by The World’s 50 Best Bars. This award is given to a rising-star bar on the 51-100 ranking that has the potential to break into the main list in coming years. It is the second in the series of special awards to be announced in the month leading up to the digital countdown of the annual list, which takes place on 5th November 2020.
Launched in February 2019, Galaxy Bar is inspired by owner Natasha Sideris’ love for Greece, global travel and the notion of an intimate space that brings her passions together. The design of Galaxy Bar celebrates the Grecian night sky, while the cocktail menu features a huge range of house-made infusions and tinctures, bringing a big hit of imagination and new flavour profiles to classic drinks.
Mark Sansom, Content Editor for The World’s 50 Best Bars, says: “We want to extend our wholehearted congratulations to everyone at Galaxy Bar for winning this year’s Campari One To Watch Award. It is the first time we have recognised a bar in the Middle East with this accolade and it’s a firm indication of the burgeoning cocktail scene in the region. Operating a hospitality venue in such challenging times is no easy feat, but the bar has managed to stand out with its unique repertoire of cocktails, intimate service, and a marble-clad backbar that must be one of the finest in the world. We are excited to see what this international team will bring in the years to come.”
Each cocktail at Galaxy Bar is named after an element of the universe, such as constellations or key stars in the cosmos. Stellar creations include the Scorpius, which is the bar’s take on the classic Negroni, prepared with Campari, gin, beetroot-washed red vermouth and chocolate bitters. Another noteworthy serve is the Red Giant, inspired by the Red Giant star, which is prepared with Rooibos-infused Campari, red vermouth, cocoa nibs and hibiscus.
Krystian Hordejuk, Executive Bar Manager of Galaxy Bar, says: “Since the opening of Galaxy Bar, we have been determined to create a privé experience with an extremely high quality of service and a
personal touch. We are honoured to be named as a Campari One To Watch as this award is an affirmation of our efforts as a team and a positive signal that we are headed in the right direction.
“In creating our cocktail menu, we have had to consider that we are catering for a well-travelled, multi-national audience. As a result, our approach has always been to select niche products, turning them into remarkable signature creations with a nod to timeless classics. We won’t rest on our laurels and will keep challenging ourselves to break into The World’s 50 Best Bars list,” Hordejuk adds.
Marco Cavagnera, Global Channel and Customer Marketing Sr. Director, Campari Group, says: “We’re honoured to be part of such an important event for the industry and are delighted to present Galaxy Bar with the Campari One To Watch Award. Since 1860, Campari has inspired passionate bartenders from across the world to create pioneering cocktails which, in turn, become iconic. We thrive to recognise and celebrate the passion and creativity of outstanding mixologists and this year, the Galaxy Bar team have truly demonstrated these values.”
Past winners of Campari One To Watch include Drink Kong in Rome, Italy (2019), and Carnaval in Lima, Peru (2018).
During extensive consultations with the bar sector, the 50 Best organisation received widespread support for releasing a ranking that aims to bring the community even closer together and provide positive news for bars as they enter the next stage of recovery from the global pandemic. The announcement of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020, sponsored by Perrier, follows on from the work of the 50 Best for Recovery programme, which has to date raised $1.25m for hospitality venues across the globe.
The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020, sponsored by Perrier, will be unveiled in a digital countdown on 5th November, beginning at 3pm UK time. Bars and cocktail lovers are invited to join the virtual ceremony on The World’s 50 Best Bars Facebook page and 50 Best Bars TV YouTube channel.