Sydney duo take home World's Best Bar award

Australians Linden Pride and Naren Young have picked up the prestigious top spot on The World's 50 Best Bars list for 2019, announced in London.

The duo behind Dante in New York are credited with bringing new life to the iconic New York establishment since taking over in 2015, the year of the Italian cafe's centenary.

Pride, 38, and Young, 42, knew each other from their days together at Sydney Boys High School and couldn't believe they'd picked up the gong.

"We've been friends for a long time, probably over 20 years and we both came up through the hospitality industry in Australia since the late '90s and we both moved to New York with big dreams and to do something big and tonight is the culmination of that," Young tells 9Honey at Roundhouse in Camden.

"This is a big achievement for our extended family, it's not just about us," Young says, adding: "[It's] all the people that have been a part of the journey, even if they don't work at Dante.

"We hope and expect a lot of our family are cheering us on back home."

"For both of us growing up in Australia, we grew up with an Italian deli on every other corner and we're surrounded by these great Italian cafes," Pride says.

"So I think it was just part of our DNA when we came to New York and I just think we were really excited to celebrate those foundations that we just had embedded in us growing up, which is great quality produce, seasonal and really focusing on hospitality, which is inspired by so many of those simple Italian venues from home."

While they both admit they'd love to open a venue back home, they're quick to add they are no plans as yet, with the pair busy opening another bar in New York's West Village.

The duo aren't the only Aussies walking away with an award - Maybe Sammy was crowned The Best Bar in Australasia and came in at Number 43 on the list.

"We are speechless, honestly, I didn't expect that," Martin Hudak tells 9Honey.

"It is a great honour but it pays off, hard work and doing what we love," Stefano Catino adds.

Four other Australian bars made the Top 100, with Sydney's Bulletin Place coming in at No. 66, followed by fellow Sydney haunt The Baxter Inn at No. 79.

Melbourne's Black Pearl was the only entrant from Victoria and came in at No. 80 on the list.

While Sydney bar PS40 rounded out the Australia offerings at No. 95 on the Top 100 list.

The World's 50 Best Bars list celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with the compiled countdown published annually since 2009.

The awards are voted for by an academy of 525 bartenders, cocktail experts, journalists and bar owners from across the globe.

The World's 50 Best Bars:

1. Dante, New York

2. Connaught Bar, London

3. Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires

4. The NoMad, New York

5. American Bar, London

6. The Clumsies, Athens

7. Attaboy, New York

8. Atlas, Singapore

9. The Old Man, Hong Kong

10. Licorería Limantour, Mexico City

11. Manhattan, Singapore

12. Native, Singapore

13. Carnaval, Lima

14. Katana Kitten, New York

15. Guilhotina, São Paulo- Brazil

16. Three Sheets, London

17. Himkok, Oslo

18. High Five, Tokyo

19. Salmón Gurú, Madrid

20. Paradiso, Barcelona

21. Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei

22. The Dead Rabbit, New York

23. Coupette, London

24. The SG Club, Tokyo

25. Dr. Stravinsky, Barcelona

26. Employees Only, New York

27. El Copitas, St Petersburg

28. Scout, London

29. Jigger & Pony, Singapore

30. Operation Dagger, Singapore

31. Baba Au Rum, Athens

32. La Factoría, Old San Juan - Puerto Rico

33. Presidente, Buenos Aires

34. Schumann's, Munich

35. Speak Low, Shanghai

36. Little Red Door, Paris

37. Linje Tio, Stockholm

38. The Old Man, Singapore

39. Lyaness, London

40. Happiness Forgets, London

41. Swift, London

42. Trick Dog, San Francisco

43. Maybe Sammy, Sydney

44. 1930, Milan

45. Sober Company, Shanghai

46. Electric Bing Sutt, Beirut

47. Kwānt, London

48. Artesian, London

49. Coa, Hong Kong

50. Jerry Thomas Speakeasy, Rome