The top 50 bars in Asia were named tonight (July 16) in the ninth edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars’ annual awards ceremony. Movers and shakers of the continent’s bar scene gathered at Rosewood Hong Kong for the second year in a row to celebrate the tipple talent of the region.
While crowning the creme de la creme of mixology seems near impossible on a continent now famed as an unparalleled cocktail destination, Bar Leone in Hong Kong was named the best bar in Asia out of 14 new entries and bars from 18 different cities.
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For the first time since 2021, Coa in Hong Kong did not take home the title of best bar in Asia and was dethroned by another Hong Kong favourite, Bar Leone. This marks the spot’s debut on the list, making it the first bar to do so in first place.
While the coveted title escaped one of Hong Kong’s most beloved bars, the region proved victorious with its sheer number of mentions on the list. A total of 9 Hong Kong-based bars made it onto the list. In second place was Seoul’s Zest followed by Singapore’s Jigger & Pony.
Singaporean spots dominated the list, with 11 of its bars making it into the top 50, achieving the same number of mentions as last year. Bangkok saw 3 of its bars on the list, with BKK Social Club being awarded the title of Best Bar in Thailand. Malaysia followed suit with 3 homegrown spots on the list, seeing Penrose break into the list’s top 10 at No.8.
Taiwan saw its bars gain international recognition with 3 placing on the list while Seoul saw the same. Philippines, Nepal, and India each made it onto the list with one bar each. Fresh faces made appearances on this year’s list, with notable debuts being Bar Leone at No.1, Night Hawk at No.16, and The Savory Project at No.19.
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Individual award recipients, as part of the occasion’s special award ceremony, were also called onstage in between announcements of the list. Bangkok’s Dry Wave Cocktail Studio was deemed The One To Watch for its innovation, while Taipei’s Nest by Pun’s excellence in cocktail curation was awarded Best Cocktail Menu.
Penrose, renowned for its takes on classic serves, took home the Highest Climber award, moving from No.50 in 2023 to No.8 this year. Best New Opening went to The Savory Project in Hong Kong while Fura in Singapore was awarded the Sustainable Bar award. Another Singapore-based spot, Atlas was crowned Legend of The List, appearing every year since 2017.
The ceremony also presented bars across the continent with its Destination Awards, naming the best bar in each country. Here are the best bars in each location:
- Bar Leone, The Best Bar in Hong Kong
- Zest, The Best Bar in Korea
- Jigger & Pony, The Best Bar in Singapore
- Bar Benfiddich, The Best Bar in Japan
- BKK Social Club, The Best Bar in Thailand
- Penrose, The Best Bar in Malaysia
- The Cocktail Club, The Best Bar in Indonesia
- Hope & Sesame, The Best Bar in Mainland China
- Smoke & Bitters, The Best Bar in Sri Lanka
- Vender, The Best Bar in Taiwan
- The Curator, The Best Bar in Philippines
- Barc, The Best Bar in Nepal
- ZLB23, The Best Bar in India
- The Haflington, The Best Bar in Vietnam
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Find all of Asia’s 50 Best Bars listed below (asterisk denotes new entires):
1. Bar Leone, Hong Kong*
2. Zest, Seoul
3. Jigger & Pony, Singapore
4. Coa, Hong Kong
5. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
6. Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore
7. BKK Social Club, Bangkok
8. Penrose, Kuala Lumpur
9. Argo, Hong Kong
10. The Aubrey, Hong Kong
11. Virtù, Tokyo
12. The Cocktail Club, Jakarta
13. Vesper, Bangkok
14. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou
15. Sago House, Singapore
16. Night Hawk, Singapore*
17. Dark Side, Hong Kong
18. Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, Bangkok
19. The Savory Project, Hong Kong*
20. Bar Cham, Seoul
21. Bar Us, Bangkok*
22. The St. Regis Bar, Macau*
23. The SG Club, Tokyo
24. Penicillin, Hong Kong
25. Offtrack, Singapore*
26. Quinary, Hong Kong
27. Pantja, Jakarta
28. Craftroom, Osaka*
29. Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya
30. Vender, Taichung
31. Native, Singapore
32. Origin Bar, Singapore*
33. The Curator, Manila
34. The Bellwood, Tokyo
35. Analogue Initiative, Singapore
36. Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur
37. Bar Mood, Taipei
38. Employees Only, Singapore
39. Barc, Kathmandu*
40. ZLB23, Bengalaru*
41. Reka, Kuala Lumpur*
42. Fura, Singapore*
43. CMYK, Changsha*
44. The Public House, Taipei
45. Mostly Harmless, Hong Kong
46. Alice, Seoul
47. The Haflington, Hanoi*
48. Le Chamber, Seoul
49. Atlas, Singapore
50. Pine & Co, Seoul*
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