For the fifth consecutive year, La Factoría has reaffirmed its position amongst the World’s 50 Best Bars, an acclaimed annual list that celebrates the best of the international drinks industry. La Factoría is the only bar in Puerto Rico and the fifth in Latin America to achieve this recognition, advancing four positions to 32nd place.
“Being part of this list is a great honor, and is something that could not be accomplished without all of the hard work and dedication of the entire La Factoría family. They are the ones who give their best every day so that the cocktail industry in Puerto Rico continues to be recognized internationally,” said Roberto Berdecia, who founded La Factoría six years ago alongside Leslie Cofresí and Pablo Rodríguez.
Now in its 11th edition, The World's 50 Best Bars provides an annual ranking of bars as voted for by more than 500 drinks experts from across the globe. The list represents the ultimate international guide to the world’s top bars and drinking destinations.
Founded in 2013, La Factoría has put Puerto Rico on the map as one of the best cocktail bars in the world, attracting local and international consumers alike to the establishment located on Calle San Sebastián, in Old San Juan. "This revalidation further encourages us to continue our mission to place Puerto Rico amongst the world’s most celebrated bars in the industry," added Berdecia.
A year to celebrate
To be recognized again on this esteemed list of international establishments is one of the many reasons calling for celebration for the San Juan bar. Since the beginning of this year, La Factoría has also shared in a multitude of unique cultural exchanges with bartenders and businesses from around the world in a series of what they call, Facto Travels.
In March of 2018, La Factoría became the first Puerto Rican bar to be nominated as Best Bar Program by the prestigious “James Beard Foundation,” and in that same month, took part in several international events as part of “Tales on Tour.” The Tour was presented by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, a New Orleans-based organization dedicated to educating, promoting and supporting the hospitality industry around the world. In a special Puerto Rican edition, the event highlighted the island’s hospitality industry and celebrated Puerto Rican resilience during a week of pride and passion.
In April of this year, La Factoría celebrated their sixth anniversary with the visit of guest bartenders from Florería Atlántico (Argentina), Lost & Found (Cyprus), Candelaria (Paris), Central Station (Beirut) and Two Schmucks (Barcelona), as well as a group from five local bars. On that same note, the Facto founders and head bartender, Carlos Irizarry, have traveled to destinations such as New York, Moscow, Chicago, Mexico, Italy, Canada, Colombia, and New Orleans, where they had the unique opportunity to work behind the bars of other celebrated establishments and share their creations.
In June, the bar was also recognized in the regional Top 10 in the category of Best High Volume Cocktail Bar in The Americas, as well as in the Top 10 of the Best Bar Team in the Americas list of the “Spirited Awards 2019,” awarded by Tales of the Cocktail.
To top it off, one of La Factoría’s very own, José “Vini” Hernández, took first place in the World Class Puerto Rico cocktail competition, earning him the spot to represent the island in the international competition in Europe.