Takuma Watanabe, Co-Founder and Beverage Director of Martiny’s in New York, has been named the winner of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2026. The award is voted for by bartenders featured on The 50 Best Bars list, with each nominee selected by their peers for their contribution to the international bar industry.

The recognition is part of The 50 Best Bars 2026 awards, which will take place in Milan on October 7. It is the second of two special awards announced ahead of the ceremony and recognises a bartender whose work has influenced the industry during the voting period.

A Tokyo native, Watanabe began bartending at the age of 20 in Japan. He later met mixologist Shuzo Nagumo, who became his first mentor, before gaining international attention after competing at Diageo World Class in 2012.

In 2013, Watanabe moved to New York at the encouragement of Shingo Gokan, founder of SG Group, joining the team at Angel’s Share. He remained at the bar until 2021, developing his approach to Japanese-inspired hospitality and cocktail making under Gokan’s guidance.

Watanabe opened Martiny’s the following year, bringing his interpretation of Japanese cocktail hospitality to Manhattan. His approach draws on omotenashi, a Japanese concept of hospitality centred on anticipating guests’ needs and providing attentive service. At Martiny’s, this extends across its cocktails, service, design, and food offering.

The bar has since earned recognition in international rankings. Martiny’s was ranked No. 75 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 and No. 23 on North America’s 50 Best Bars 2026.

Emma Sleight, Director of Content and Creative for The 50 Best Bars, said Watanabe’s recognition reflects both his technical ability and influence among fellow bartenders.

“Takuma Watanabe has had a remarkable impact on the global bar community, combining extraordinary technical skill with a deep commitment to hospitality and craft,” Sleight said. “The fact that this award is voted for by bartenders makes this recognition especially meaningful.”

Watanabe said the award was a reflection of the people who have supported him throughout his career.

“I am incredibly honoured to receive the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2026,” Watanabe said. “I am so grateful that my peers recognise my passion and dedication to this industry over the last 20 years. I will continue to strive to live up to the honour of this award and I hope to be a bartender who can lead by example for the next generation.”

He added, “I may be the person who is receiving this award, but it is also for my team, my customers, my peers, my mentors and everyone who has supported me.”

The Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award was introduced to The 50 Best Bars in 2017, with Iain Griffiths of London’s Dandelyan as its first recipient. Previous winners include Joe Schofield, Monica Berg, Renato “Tato” Giovannoni, Lynnette Marrero, Jean Trinh, GN Chan, Iain McPherson, and Uno Jang, who received the award in 2025.