Some awards are about numbers, rankings, and hype. And then there are those that celebrate the invisible essence: the way a team makes you feel welcomed, listened to, and part of a story. That’s the spirit of the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award, sponsored by Michter’s Distillery, which this year goes to Lady Bee, the Lima bar that has turned hospitality into a cultural manifesto.
It’s a historic moment: this is the first time a Peruvian bar has received the award. But anyone who has felt the energy of Barranco, the vibrant neighborhood where Lady Bee has its roots, knows that something special has been brewing here. Founded in 2021 by bartenders Alejandra León and Alonso Palomino, together with chef Gabriela León, Lady Bee set out to give Peruvian cocktail culture the same international recognition that Lima’s gastronomy already enjoys. Their tools of choice? Drinks that double as narratives, built around native ingredients and a zero-waste philosophy that is less trend than necessity. Their latest menu, Pollination, is a journey through ecosystems and symbolism: just as bees move across the Amazon, the Andes, and the Pacific coast, the drinks tell stories of identity, biodiversity, and deep ties with the producers who make each ingredient possible.
Beyond technique and research, what truly sets Lady Bee apart is the feeling you take home with you: that you’ve stepped into a bar that treats you as part of its community. Not a “guest,” not a “customer.” A person. Lady Bee had already captured the industry’s attention with the Campari One To Watch title in 2023, debuting at No.52 on the list before soaring to No.16 the following year. With this latest recognition, voted by the over 800 members of The World’s 50 Best Bars Academy, the bar confirms its place among the global symbols of modern hospitality. The award will be officially presented during the World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 ceremony, sponsored by Perrier, taking place on October 8 in Hong Kong. Lady Bee is the first of two special awards revealed ahead of the main ranking, with the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award still to come before the countdown to the world’s No.1 bar.
Cheers!