Alquímico in Cartagena, Colombia, has been named the winner of the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award as part of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2026, recognizing its personal approach to service and storytelling.
The award, announced on 26 August, is the first of two special awards to be revealed ahead of the full The World’s 50 Best Bars 2026 ranking, which will be announced in Milan on 7 October. The winner was selected by members of The World’s 50 Best Bars Academy, comprising more than 800 anonymous industry experts, who were each invited to nominate the bar that delivered their most outstanding hospitality experience during the voting period.
Founded in 2016 by French-Vietnamese entrepreneur Jean Trinh, Alquímico occupies a restored three-storey mansion on Calle del Colegio in Cartagena’s historic center. The bar has built its reputation around cocktails that highlight Colombia’s biodiversity, alongside an approach that connects drinks with local producers, communities and cultural stories.
The experience unfolds across three floors, each with a different focus. The ground floor works with produce sourced from farming communities affected by conflict, with cocktail sales contributing to regional development projects. The second floor presents Colombian interpretations of classic cocktails, with proceeds supporting a bartender academy and a youth music foundation. Meanwhile, the rooftop draws inspiration from ingredients grown on the team’s own farm and contributes to local reforestation efforts.
Hospitality remains central to the concept, with bartenders introducing guests not only to the ingredients in each drink but also to the people and communities connected to them. This storytelling-led approach has helped Alquímico establish a style of service that extends beyond the drinks themselves, connecting the guest experience with the wider work carried out by the bar.
“Beyond its extraordinary cocktails and vibrant setting, Alquímico has redefined what world-class hospitality looks and feels like,” said Emma Sleight, Director of Content & Creative for The World’s 50 Best Bars. She highlighted the team’s ability to make guests feel “seen, valued and part of a larger story,” while sharing Colombian culture, ingredients and communities through its hospitality.
For co-founders and owners Paola Oviedo and Jean Trinh, the recognition reflects a philosophy that extends from guests to the people and communities around the bar. Their work includes the Hospitality School in Cartagena, created with Colectivo Canta, which uses music and hospitality to help young people develop skills including empathy, teamwork, discipline and respect.
The Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award will be presented during the live ceremony for The World’s 50 Best Bars 2026 in Milan on Wednesday, 7 October. The full ranking will be broadcast globally via the 50 Best YouTube channel at 20:00 Milan time on the same day.
Alquímico
Calle del Colegio #34-24, Centro Histórico, Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia
