Magnus on Water in Biddeford climbs on international list of best bars
Magnus on Water in Biddeford earns second Pinnacle Guide pin, becoming the only U.S. bar to upgrade
Biddeford, Maine – The cocktail bar and restaurant Magnus on Water has earned its second Pinnacle Guide pin, marking the first time a U.S. establishment has been upgraded from one to two pins in the London‑based review system’s inaugural two‑year cycle.
The Pinnacle Guide, launched in 2024, uses a three‑tier pin system—one for “excellent,” two for “outstanding,” and three for “exceptional”—to recognize the world’s best bars. Magnus on Water first appeared on the guide’s inaugural list with a single pin in 2024, a surprise for its owner, Brian Catapang, who recalled seeing the Biddeford name next to bars in London and New York.
“We were a bit stunned the first time. Seeing Biddeford alongside places we idolized was a humorous moment,” Catapang said. “When we earned a second pin, it felt more earned. I knew the team was strong, and we’re proving who we are.”
To qualify for an upgrade, bars must reapply after a two‑year period. Catapang said he submitted the reapplication in June, and over the past two months, the Pinnacle Guide sent a handful of anonymous reviewers to assess the establishment. “I usually know who’s coming to my restaurant, but this time I had no idea,” he said.
The 2025 reapplication cycle saw 33 bars submit new applications. Seven bars—including Magnus on Water—were promoted from one to two pins. Magnus is the only U.S. bar to achieve this upgrade, and the guide now lists 60 two‑pin bars worldwide, with 17 located in the United States.
Pinnacle Guide co‑founder Dan Dove commented on the recent upgrades: “The strength of the UK results, and the fact that Magnus on Water in Maine shows the same progress on the other side of the Atlantic, tells us the framework is doing what we built it to do: giving bars a genuine, assessable route to improve their operations and guest experience, verified through the same in‑depth applications and anonymous reviewer visits every bar goes through, whether it is their first assessment or their second.”
Catapang, who rarely works behind the bar these days, credits the “work, experience and talent” of his team for the bar’s two‑pin achievement. “Once they send the feedback, I’ll pass it over to my team,” he said. “That will be the first order of business—figuring out how we get the third pin. Knowing them, they’re never going to be happy with two.”
Only four bars worldwide have earned three pins, including Champagne Bar at the Surf Club in Miami and Kumiko in Chicago—both U.S. venues.
The Pinnacle Guide plans to send Magnus on Water detailed feedback later this year, which Catapang expects to use to chart a path toward a third pin. “Because knowing them, they’re never going to be happy with two,” he added, hinting at the bar’s ambitious goals.
Magnus on Water, known for its Peruvian‑inspired menu, nuanced cocktails, and attentive staff, has become a local fixture in Biddeford’s dining scene. Its recent accolades underline the growing recognition of Maine’s hospitality offerings on the international stage.
