SWISS BAR AWARDS 2026: The Longlist Has Been Announced

The ten Barkeeper theBarkeeper the Year” category and the five up-and-coming talents in the “Best Barkeeper category will demonstrate their knowledge and skills over the next few weeks. The jury will also conduct a detailed evaluation of the submissions from the bars before the shortlist—featuring the top three in each category—is announced on September 4, 2026.

The following Barkeeper bars have made it onto the longlist for the SWISS BAR AWARDS 2025:

Longlist for Barkeeper the Year

Born in 2002 or earlier, working full-time in the Swiss bar industry. The ultimate challenge. The Best Barkeeper of the Year Barkeeper m/f) impresses with hospitality, creativity, and expertise.

Domenico Caruso
Clouds, Zurich

Michele Durante
Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois, Basel

André Haueter
Cocktailbar zum Türk, Solothurn

Andrei Mihai
Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen, Andermatt

Lukas Neves
, Pot Still Bar, Basel

Julien Raussin
MoBar Mandarin Oriental, Geneva

Wladimir Reichert
, Hüt&Morn, Zurich

Maria Romaiou
Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, Obbürgen

Linus Schwärzler
, Südbar, St. Gallen

Ramiro Smith
The Seven Spirits Bar – Bergwelt Grindelwald, Grindelwald

Longlist for Best Barkeeper

Born between 2003 and 2007, working full-time or part-time in the bar industry. The award for the most promising young talent (m/f) on the Swiss bar scene.

Jamiro D’Antuono
August Bar, St. Gallen

Shane Guerra
Felix Bar, Zurich

Pascal Maslic
Twenty's Cocktail Bar, Biel

Marc Pfister
Bar Rouge, Basel

Sandy May Schneider
Le Fumoir Bar & Lounge, St. Gallen

Longlist for Best Newcomer Bar

New openings or reopenings on or after January 1, 2024. Locations that have recently opened or undergone extensive renovations.

Bistro du Bourg
, Fribourg

's Botanic Bar in Frauenfeld

Botanicum Bar
Appenzeller Huus, Gonten

Caffè33
, Lugano

Derrière Bar
, Basel

Hüt&Morn
, Zurich

Incline Concept Store
, Lucerne

L’Heure Bleue Bar
, Biel

Pot Still Bar
, Basel

Longlist: Best Long-Running Bar

A place to be for over 10 years. Locations with strong charisma that have been anchored in the bar scene for over a decade.

American Bar
Hotel Château Gütsch, Lucerne

Bar Capitol
, Lucerne

Bar Rouge
, Basel

Bellevue Bar & Le Fumoir
, Bellevue Palace, Bern

Bücheli Caffé Bar Lounge
, Basel

Captain Cook
, Lausanne

Clouds
, Zurich

Louis Bar & Hemingway Rum Lounge
Art Deco Hotel Montana, Lucerne

Papa Caesar
, Unique Hotel Post, Zermatt

Best Bar Team Longlist

Bar team consisting of at least three people. Team that is popular with guests, staff and bar professionals thanks to exemplary personnel management.

Baur’s Bar
, Baur au Lac, Zurich

Gambler’s Bar
, Swiss Casino Pfäffikon

George Bar & Grill
Zurich

Lakeview Bar & Cigar Lounge
Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, Obbürgen

Le Fumoir Bar & Lounge
, St. Gallen

Marea Cocktailbar
Zurich

Schwyzerhof Bar
Küssnacht am Rigi

Widder Bar
Widder Hotel, Zurich

Best Bar Menu Longlist

An attractive bar menu, available in print or digital format. An entertaining bar menu with a contemporary selection that you won't want to put down, even after you've placed your order.

August Bar
St. Gallen

Bar Battello
, Ascona

Bar Capitol
, Lucerne

Bar Iris
, Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport The Circle, Zurich

Brisket Southern BBQ & Bar
, Zurich

Captain Cook
, Lausanne

Derrière Bar
, Basel

Le Vestibule
, Lausanne

Plant 8
, Basel

Longlist for Best Hotel Bar

A bar that also serves as a hotel's flagship. A hotel bar that impresses its guests with its service, quality, location, and hospitality.

American Bar
Hotel Château Gütsch, Lucerne

Bar Iris
, Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport The Circle, Zurich

Bellevue Bar & Le Fumoir
, Bellevue Palace, Bern

Botanicum Bar
Appenzeller Huus, Gonten

Einstein Bar
Hotel Einstein, St. Gallen

Funky Claude’s Bar
Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, Montreux

Imi Bar
Volkshaus Basel, Basel

The Bar & Living Room
, The Chedi Andermatt, Andermatt