Hong Kong, Singapore take the lead in Asia’s 50 Best Bars
A Hong Kong favourite has once again taken top billing in the annual bar rankings, but there are some big changes too.
Dimly lit and adorned in hand-drawn murals of goddesses and fantastical creatures, Hong Kong mezcal bar ‘Coa’ has once again taken top honours in the annual ranking of Asia’s 50 Best Bars – making it the third consecutive win for the Jay Khan-helmed hangout.
Named after a machete-like tool used for harvesting agave, the bar and its ever-evolving menu are of a love letter to the Mexican spirit, one first started in 2017 and which has since been embellished with a slew of international accolades and awards.
Complementing its 41 page-strong agave menu – categorised by species and adhering to the same concept of terroir as wine – the bar introduces a new cocktail each week based on seasonal ingredients, which are hand picked by the team.
Asia’s 50 Best Bars is an annual spotlight and recognition of the bartending talent across the region, with awardees this year hailing from 17 cities – Manila, Bangkok and Tokyo, to name a few. It follows the same format as the World’s 50 Best Bars.
Voters consist of an anonymous academy of 260 “industry leaders” with their fingers on the pulse (or lips, as the case may be). On that list are bartenders, bar owners, drinks writers and cocktail aficionados, all of them based in Asia.
Singapore is no doubt celebrating particularly hard this week, boasting an impressive 11 bars on the 2023 list, including number two winner Jigger & Pony, though Hong Kong and Seoul aren’t far behind, achieving eight and six places respectively.
Climbing seven spots to third position is Four Seasons Bangkok watering hole BKK Social Club, followed by Tokyo Bar Benfiddich at number four, up one place from last year. Zest in Seoul rounds out the top five after rocketing up 43 positions from 2022.
Mark Sansom, Content Director for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, says the region continues to “push the envelope when it comes to fabulous drinking experiences”, while also commending Jay Khan and the team at Coa for holding onto its top position for the third year in a row.
In addition to the top 50, several special awards were also bestowed, including the Campari One To Watch Award to Singapore bar Night Hawk (which came in at number 73 this year) and the Roku Industry Icon, which went to Hiroyasu Kayama from Tokyo's Bar Benfiddich for being a “farm-to-bar cocktail champion”.
Singapore bar Analogue (no.15) also received the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award for bringing sustainability to the fore, most notably in its bar counter, which is 3D printed from recycled plastic bottles, upcycled coasters and tabletops.
Here are the Best 50 Bars in Asia with their locations:
- Coa, Hong Kong
- Jigger & Pony, Singapore
- BKK Social Club, Bangkok
- Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
- Zest, Seoul
- Tropic City, Bangkok
- Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore
- Argo, Hong Kong
- Darkside, Hong Kong
- Sago House, Singapore
- Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei
- Vesper, Bangkok
- Cham Bar, Seoul
- The SG Club, Tokyo
- Analogue Initiative, Singapore
- Republic, Singapore
- The Aubrey, Hong Kong
- Sidecar, New Delhi
- The Cocktail Club, Jakarta
- Virtù, Tokyo
- Manhattan, Singapore
- Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, Bangkok
- Lamp Bar, Nara
- 28 HongKong Street, Singapore
- Le Chamber, Seoul
- Penicillin, Hong Kong
- Atlas, Singapore
- Alice, Seoul
- Pantja, Jakarta
- Employees Only, Singapore
- Quinary, Hong Kong,
- Stay Gold Flamingo, Singapore
- Mostly Harmless, Hong Kong
- The Curator, Manila
- The Bombay Canteen, Mumbai
- Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur
- Southside Parlor, Seoul
- Copitas, Bengaluru
- Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou
- Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya
- Vender, Taichung
- Native, Singapore
- The Public House, Taipei
- Bee's Knees, Kyoto
- High Five, Tokyo
- Soko, Seoul
- The Old Man, Hong Kong
- The Living Room, Mumbai
- The Bellwood, Tokyo
- Penrose, Kuala Lumpur
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