The 50 Best Bars In Asia

Having lived and traveled across Asia, I have always enjoyed the unique bar culture; while this list could be much larger, here are The 50 Best Bars In Asia worth visiting in 2018. Manhattan in Singapore claims the no.1 spot for its second consecutive year, retaining its titles of The Best Bar in Asia and The Best Bar in Singapore, sponsored by Perrier. I have linked the top 10 of the 50; my favorite place to get a drink is High Five in Tokyo, which came in the top 10.

Singapore is also represented by Atlas (rising eight places to No.4), Tippling Club (No.7), Native (rising 12 places to No.8), 28 HongKong Street (No.12), Operation Dagger (No.19), Gibson (No.22), Employees Only (No.23), D.bespoke (No.32), Nutmeg & Clove (No.33), Jigger & Pony (No.42) and The Other Room (No.50).

Native’s Head Bartender, Vijay Mudaliar, wins the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender award for his contribution to the sector over the previous year.

Top 50 Best Bars In Asia Ranked by Country:

Best Bars In Asia: China

Shanghai’s Speak Low (No.3) retains its three-time title of The Best Bar in China and one of the best bars in Asia, sponsored by Michter’s Distillery. It also earns the Heering Legend of the List Award, which celebrates a bar with consistent excellence over the list’s history.

The Old Man in Hong Kong debuts at No.5, earning the Highest New Entry Award, sponsored by Torres Brandy.

10 other bars on the list from mainland China include Hong Kong’s Lobster Bar & Grill (No.10), Stockton (No.11), Quinary (No.15), Zuma (No.18), 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana (No.24), and The Pontiac (No.31), and Shanghai’s Sober Company (No.14) and Union Trading Company (No.28).

Beijing is represented by Janes & Hooch (No.30), while Macau-based The Ritz Carlton Bar & Lounge is a newcomer at No.48.

Best Bars In Asia: Japan

High Five (No.6) in Tokyo is named The Best Bar in Japan, sponsored by Cocktail Kingdom for the third year. The seven other bars on the list are Tokyo-based Trench (rising 12 places to No.16), Bar Benfiddich (No.20), Bar Orchard Ginza (No.37), Star Bar (No.43), and Lamp Bar (No.45) in Nara, as well as two newcomers, Gen Yamamoto (No.34) and Mixology Salon (No.40). This by far is my pick for best bar in Asia.

Best Bars In Asia: Korea

Rising 15 places, Le Chamber (No.17) in Seoul is awarded dual titles — The Best Bar in Korea and the Highest Climber Award, both sponsored by The London Essence Company. Other bars in Seoul include Charles H (No.21), Alice Cheongdam (No.26) and Keepers’ (No.47).

Best Bars In Asia: The Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia

The Curator Coffee & Cocktails (No.25) in Manila retains the title of The Best Bar in the Philippines, sponsored by Peroni for the second year, while Potato Head Beach Club (No.36) in Bali rises seven places to earn The Best Bar in Indonesia, sponsored by Seedlip, as well as the first Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award in Asia. Indonesia also celebrates the re-entry of Jakarta-based bars Loewy (No.39) and Union Brasserie, Bakery & Bar (No.41).

Malaysia is represented by two new entries from Kuala Lumpur: Junglebird (No.38) awarded The Best Bar in Malaysia, sponsored by Nikka Whisky, and Coley (No.46).

Best Bars In Asia: Taiwan

Rising three places to No.2, Indulge Experimental Bistro in Taipei is named The Best Bar in Taiwan, sponsored by Mancino Vermouth, while TCRC in Tainan re-enters the list at No.35.

Best Bars In Asia: Thailand

Moving up four places to No.9, The Bamboo Bar at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok retains the honor of The Best Bar in Thailand, sponsored by Cognac Hennessy. Five other winning bars in Bangkok include Backstage (No.13), Vesper (No.27), Teens of Thailand (No.44), as well as two first-time entries: Smalls (No.29) and Ku Bar (No.49).

Special Award

Bangkok’s Rabbit Hole wins the Campari One To Watch Award as a rising star bar with the potential to break into the elite list in the future.

How 50 Best Bars in Asia list is compiled:

The list is created from the votes of Asia’s 50 Best Bars Academy, an influential group of almost 200 industry leaders across Asia’s bar sector. Members list seven choices each in order of preference based on their best bar experiences over the last 18 months. A minimum of three votes must go to bars located outside their country of residence.

For more details on the voting process, click here.