Hidden Scottish speakeasy with Vincent Van Gogh theme named among best bars in the world
A hidden gem in Glasgow's Merchant City has just been recognised on the global stage. The Absent Ear, a speakeasy tucked away on Brunswick Street, has secured a spot on the prestigious Top 500 Bars list for 2025.
Known for its inventive cocktails and offbeat atmosphere, the bar draws inspiration from the life and legacy of Vincent Van Gogh, blending artistic flair with an unmistakable edge.
Describing itself as a 'multi award winning, delightfully disorientating speakeasy concept bar,' the venue celebrates Van Gogh's legacy 'with a healthy splash of creativity and just a drop of his madness.'
The Absent Ear, which slotted in at 466th between Best Intentions in Chicago and Rome's Nite King, is found beneath another city centre pub.
After making a reservation via their website, you arrive at the main bar and head downstairs, pressing a doorbell hidden with the ear of a painting of Vincent Van Gogh. Its quirky charm has endeared it to locals and visitors alike.
The Top 500 Bars list is being released in stages, with rankings 500 to 401 unveiled on July 5 and 6. The full list and awards ceremony for the Top 100 will be held in Florence on 10 November.
The ranking spans 125 cities across 53 countries and claims to use a unique approach based on 'data, AI and other digital revolutions.'
According to the site, data was pulled from over two thousand online sources in more than twenty languages. Rather than relying solely on critics or awards panels, it incorporates rankings, reviews, social media, and search engine results.
'As the saying goes: 'we are smarter than me',' says the organisation. 'It's about finding a complementary ranking with existing selections to highlight the daily work of individuals who drive this industry. Because in the end, every opinion counts.'
Top 500 Bars added on Instagram: 'This year, the industry has started to boom again with a lot of new bars around the world. We hope with this list, we'll help bartenders and customers discover bars wherever they visit.'
This isn't the first time The Absent Ear has made its mark. In recent years, it has earned a steady stream of accolades.
It won Cocktail Bar of the Year at the 2023 SLTN Awards, and has made back-to-back appearances on the UK Top 50 Bars list, landing at number 25 in 2023 and 26 the year before.
Bartender Liam Grogan was also named Mixologist of the Year in 2022, and the bar was a finalist for GQ's Best Bar UK in 2023.
Grogan, now general manager and head of drinks development at the bar, said the venue's latest offering pushes boundaries even further. 'This menu is the culmination of everything we've been working toward as a team.
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"Absent Ear has always been about bold, creative flavours, and this time we've pushed ourselves to make drinks that aren't just great cocktails, they're experiences.
"Whether it's a minimalist creation like Fragola-Rama or a maximalist spectacle like Roobarb & Custard, this menu represents the absolute best of what we do.'
Opened in 2010, The Absent Ear has grown into one of Glasgow's most beloved cocktail spots, a place where locals and visitors alike are encouraged to lose themselves in its surreal, immersive world.
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