The list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2021, sponsored by Perrier, was announced on 6th May via a virtual awards ceremony that revealed the finest drinking destinations in the continent across 10 countries.
The sixth edition of the list also highlighted more bars than ever before, with the first-ever reveal of the venues ranked from 51st to 100th in the 2021 vote, giving bar-goers double the choice of expert-approved drinking destinations. With Asia’s travel corridors beginning to open as the vaccine roll-out progresses, here are the hotspots that should be on your radar
Hong Kong
For only the second time in Asia’s 50 Best Bars’ history, the award for The Best Bar in Asia 2021, sponsored by Perrier, went to Hong Kong. Jay Khan’s Coa may be diminutive and unassuming, but it is run by a team whose passion for agave spirits is palpable. The reservations diary is already filling up for the months ahead as guests make plans to sample the top-rated cocktails in the continent.
Khan and the Coa team in high spirits immediately after their win was announced
There were a total of nine bars from Hong Kong that made the list, including four new entries. Darkside landed at No.40; Penicillin – which also picked up the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award – came in at No.30; Tell Camellia made the No.23 spot; and The Diplomat, run by one of the world’s finest bartenders in John Nugent, was named the London Essence Best New Opening by placing No.20, the best position for any bar that opened within the 18-month voting period.
The Hong Kong party moved to The Diplomat, where the winning bars congregated for an event thrown by London Essence Co.
Antonio Lai’s stalwart bar Quinary – considered by many as the original post-modern cocktail spot in Hong Kong – won the Heering Legend of the List Award as the venue that has performed most consistently in the history of Asia’s 50 Best Bars. The Wise King and The Pontiac also placed and these were led by the joint Nikka Highest Climber Award winner Caprice Bar, which climbed 24 places since the last outing to take the No.10 position. All these bars are no more than a short taxi journey apart, so eminently conceivable as part of a well-structured bar crawl.
Lorenzo Antinori and Summer Lo with their team from Caprice Bar; Simone Rossi and Arkadiusz Ryback from Darkside
Singapore
Cementing its position as a key cocktail hub in Asia, the Lion City has 12 entries on the list, more than any other destination. They are led by last year’s No.1 Jigger & Pony, which picked up the award for The Best Bar in Singapore, sponsored by Matusalem, in securing the No.2 spot. Jigger & Pony will be running a celebration of all bars in the list over the next eight weeks, so head down to get a taste of the international bars you might not be able to visit right now.
Singapore champion Jigger & Pony put on a show for the city's bar scene
After securing the Campari One To Watch Award last year, No Sleep Club on Keong Saik Road won the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award as the bar which entered the list for the first time in the highest position at No.8. One of the best venues at blending kitchen with cocktails, it is developing as true all-day spot. Come for the coffee and pastries; stay for the cocktails and awesome soundtrack as the night progresses.
The No Sleep Club ladies Jessica Hutchinson and Juan Yi Jun do not practice what their bar name preaches
These two bars were joined in the top 10 by Manhattan (No.6) and Atlas (No.7), which should both be high up on any itinerary of bar visits to Singapore. Sago House (No.49) and Barbary Coast (No.29) both came into the list for the first time and are backed by a host of varied drinking destinations that cover off everything from whisky and calvados specialists, to party locations that are preparing themselves for the return of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars programme when it comes to Singapore in 2022.
Teams from MO Bar and The Old Man get ready for their viewing events
Japan
It’s impossible to talk about the Asian cocktail scene without mentioning the name of Japanese maestro and this year’s Roku Industry Icon, Shingo Gokan. He has three venues in this year’s list but leading the way is his Tokyo hometown bar, The SG Club, which won the title of The Best Bar in Japan by placing No.3.
Shingo Gokan has 50 Best in ink
True legends of the Japanese bartending tradition – Bar Benfiddich (No.9), High Five (No.27), Bar Trench (No.43) and Star Bar, which re-enters the list at No.50 – continue to mark The Land of The Rising Sun as essential destination for bar aficionados. Last year’s Disaronno Highest New Entry Bee’s Knees, in the historic city of Kyoto, continues its progress by taking the No.18 position.
The Bar Trench Team and the cocktail they created for their watching event, an Uplifted Morning Glory (Nikka Whisky, vermouth, apple cider reduction, lemon, bitters)
Mainland China
With millennia-old drinking traditions and many idiosyncratic spirits to explore, China is beginning to make its mark on the cocktail map in Asia and wider afield. Hope & Sesame from Guangzhou had a momentous year, jumping an impressive 21 places to secure the No.15 spot. Recent months have seen it make a name for itself by sharing its learnings as a first-responder to the pandemic with the rest of the globe.
Nervous times as guests at Hope & Sesame await their bar's place to be revealed; the team celebrating after their record position was announced
Shingo Gokan’s other two venues in the list this year are based in Shanghai, namely Sober Company (No.5) and Speak Low (No.32). Union Trading Company is a re-entry to the list at No.31 and well worth your hard-earned yen.
The Speak Low guys ready the first of the nights cocktails; Sober Company celebrates as their position is announced
Thailand
Although the bar scene in Thailand has been more impacted than most by restrictions surrounding alcohol consumption, it maintained its strong presence as an essential spot to imbibe with five bars on this year’s list. Leading the pack is Bangkok’s The Bamboo Bar, which is also The Best Bar in Thailand, sponsored by Bellino.
Rising two spots to No.22 is Tropic City; Backstage Cocktail Bar places No.35; Vesper secures the No.46 spot, while Teens of Thailand re-enters the list to take No.48. With an economy so heavily focussed on tourism, Bangkok is a city that would very much appreciate your visit when it is safe to do so – there is no doubt that they will be throwing one hell of a party, too.
Backstage Cocktail Bar prepares for the virtual ceremony
South Korea
A city with as much heritage around alcohol as anywhere else in the world, the Seoul drinking scene is growing in terms of its international recognition year after year. Predictions suggest that South Korea will be one of the first to welcome global travellers, so now is the time to start earmarking the bars to visit.
Jumping 16 places to No.13 and winner of The Best Bar in Korea, sponsored by Tia Maria, is Charles H, led by gregarious head bartender, Keith Motsi. Set in the city’s Four Seasons hotel, this gilded bar is focussed on the writing of legendary drink-led travel writer, Charles H. Baker Jr, where each cocktail is focussed on his explorative consumption.
The Charles H team after their record-high ranking is announced
Elsewhere in Seoul, each bar on the list improved its position since last year. Bar Cham advances 16 spots on the list to No.34, while Alice moves up six places to No.41 and Le Chamber also rises up the ranks to No.44.
Taiwan
Winning The Best Bar in Taiwan, sponsored by Asahi Super Dry, and coming in at No.4 is last year’s Heering Legend of the List, Indulge Experimental Bistro in Taipei. Aki Wang’s bar is an essential spot on a bar tour of the Fuxing Road, which is Taipei’s premiere nightlife destination.
Also on the list – and conveniently located on the Fuxing Road – are Nick Wu’s Bar Mood (No.17) and Room by Le Kief (rising eight places to No.19). Aha Saloon, located on the other side of Taipei, took the No.24 spot. However, if you’re looking for somewhere yet-to-be discovered by the masses, check out the recently opened Mu, led by this year’s Mancino Bartenders’ Bartender, Bannie Kang.
Bar Mood owner Nick Wu thanks his staff for their hard work
Malaysia
The global hub of Kuala Lumpur is quietly making a name for itself as a key location for well- considered cocktails that speak to its international landscape. Leading the way is sustainability-focussed Bar Trigona, which takes its name from the endangered indigenous Trigona honey bee, which the sale of many cocktails on its list help to protect. It won The Best Bar in Malaysia, sponsored by Rémy Martin, after placing No.12 in the list and it sets the pace across the country for quality service and a real education into local flora and fauna with many of its drinks.
The Bar Trigona team take a celebratory dinner together
Rum-specialist Junglebird, fresh from a refurb, took the No.37 position, while Three X Co, in the shadow of the Petronas Towers, entered the list for the first time at No.47. 
List debutant Three X Co enjoy their first year in the ranking
India
Making huge progress this year after first entering the list in 2019 is India’s second bar to make the 50 Best list, Sidecar. Rising 24 places since last year to claim the No.16 and a share of the joint Nikka Highest Climber Award, Yangdup Lama and Minakshi Singh’s bar in New Delhi is pushing the boundaries for what has previously been attempted in India’s nascent cocktail scene and is an essential destination to visit once travel resumes.
Sidecar, the winner of the joint Nikka Highest Climber Award
Missed the live event? Catch up on the virtual ceremony and check out the full results for Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2021, sponsored by Perrier. To stay up to date with all the latest bar news from around the globe, follow us on Instagram, like on Facebook and subscribe to 50 Best Bars TV YouTube channel.
