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NATCHEZ – Never one to shy away from a good party, Natchez has long enjoyed a reputation for its hospitality and drinking establishments.

Now, one of the Mississippi River town’s most iconic bars has earned the privilege of ranking among the best in the world.

Steffan Rhys, a writer, traveler and self-proclaimed bar aficionado, penned recently compiled his list of the best pubs and bars “I ever walked into” for The Mirror.

From London to Ireland, Bruges to Havanna, Ryhs listed the top 13 places to stop for a drink and enjoy the local culture. And coming in at No. 13 is the Natchez Under-the-Hill Saloon.

“In these establishments, the history, distinctive features, staff and the mix of patrons all contribute to the unique atmosphere and sense of place. Whether it’s the meticulous attention the proprietors pay to their beer, wine or cocktail selections, the passion the bartenders bring to their craft or the friendships formed over a couple of drinks, the importance of a good boozer can never be underestimated,” Rhys writes.

About the Saloon in particular, he writes that the bar “boasts a history over two centuries long – positively ancient by U.S. benchmarks.”

Going on, he says “this boozer’s seen it all, having welcomed ‘cut-throats, prostitutes and thieves’ amid its heyday as a hotspot in the cotton port trade on the Mississippi river. Knocking back a pint on the outside bench, with the stunning expanse of the iconic river in view, splitting Mississippi from Louisiana, you’re in for a treat that’s second to none.”

Other spots earning the “best in the world” nod in the article include The Carousel Bar in New Orleans; The Salty Dawg Saloon in Homer, Alaska; ‘t Brugs Beertje in Bruges; The Holy Tavern, London; The Temple, Manchester; Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem in Nottingham (England’s oldest inn); Het Waterhuis aa de Bierkant, Ghent; Lianthony Priory Hotel cellar bar, Lianthony, Wales; Mulligans, Dublin, Ireland; Royal Oak, Pencelli, Wales; La Bodequita del Medio, Havana, Cuba; and The Haunch of Venison, Salisbury, England;