The Asian bar community reunited with hedonism, high spirits and highballs for Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022, sponsored by Perrier, in Bangkok. After a two-year hiatus, 700 cocktailians flocked to Thailand for a programme of events that included 55 guest shifts across the city and culminated in the countdown of the eagerly anticipated list, with Jay Khan’s Coa in Hong Kong announced as The Best Bar in Asia for the second consecutive year. Here are the key destinations you need to check out to experience the very best of Asia’s burgeoning cocktail craft right now
Singapore
The Lion City’s cocktail bars continue to lead the way in Asia, with 11 fine hostelries making the list – more than any other destination. With restrictions recently removed from hospitality venues in the city state, groups of all sizes welcome and normal opening hours resumed, there’s no better time to make the most of Singapore’s regenerative zeitgeist. Jigger & Pony (No.2) is named The Best Bar in Singapore for the second year in a row and MO Bar at No.8 is the Nikka Highest Climber with a meteoric 37-position leap after its Michter’s Art of Hospitality win last year.
Jigger & Pony was named The Best Bar in Singapore for the second consecutive year, ranking at No.2 in Asia's 50 Best Bars 2022, sponsored by Perrier
Previous two-time No.1 Manhattan comes in at No.9 and one-year-old, fabulously Sixties-themed Republic is a new entrant at No.12. There is also No Sleep Club (No.15), Atlas (No.23), Tippling Club (No.27) and Sago House (No.31), which has jumped 18 spots from last year’s No.49. Nutmeg & Clove makes a re-entry to the list at No.36, with local bartender-owner Colin Chia winning the title of Roku Industry Icon. Another newcomer to the list is Vijay Mudaliar’s 100% plant-based bar Analogue at No.37, while 28 HongKong Street also makes the list again at No.49. Fair to say it would be one almighty bar crawl if your crew managed to get through all of those in one night – or even a weekend.
An emotional Colin Chia receives the Roku Industry Icon Award 2022 at the Asia's 50 Best Bars awards ceremony in Bangkok
Hong Kong
Spectacularly holding on to the No.1 position is Coa, which consequently wins The Best Bar in Asia, sponsored by Perrier. In spite of heavy entry restrictions to the city, it is still one of the list’s top performers. With quarantine now down to seven days and suggestions that it may be removed entirely in the coming months, things are looking up for the destination, which remains one of the finest places to imbibe in the world. Alongside Coa, Hongkongers are also celebrating for Americana-themed Honky Tonks Tavern, the Campari One To Watch, an accolade given to a bar on the 51-100 list that the 50 Best team believes has the potential to break into the list in future editions.
Head bartender Edgar Santillan takes home the trophy for Hong Kong-based Honky Tonks Tavern, which was awarded the Campari One To Watch 2022
High-flying new list inductee and Disaronno Highest New Entry, Argo places at No.3, capping a fine opening 18 months for Lorenzo Antinori, Summer Lo and the team. Darkside in Rosewood Hotel comes in at No.13, jumping an impressive 27 places from last year’s No.40, Quinary at No.16 moves up nine spots from 2021’s No.25, Penicillin at No.22 is up eight spots from last year’s No.30, The Pontiac takes No.33 and The Wise King places No.34. With newcomer The Aubrey in Mandarin Oriental Hotel at No.38, these make up the Hong Kong contingent.
Watch the video to catch up on the highlights from Asia's 50 Best Bars 2022:
Thailand
The awards’ host city of Bangkok again fared superbly well. It secures five spots in the 2022 list with Four Seasons Hotel newcomer BKK Social Club led by Philip Bischoff and Lily Kittisrikangwan leading the pack at No.10. BKK Social Club is also awarded the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award as well as The Best Bar in Thailand.
After welcoming guests to his bar BKK Social Club in Four Seasons Hotel for Asia's 50 Best Bars Welcome Drinks, Philip Bischoff received the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award at the main event the following day
The rest of the list from Bangkok consists of ever-vibey guest shift champion Tropic City (No.17), Martini den Vesper (No.19), newcomer Asia Today at No.43 and Mandarin Oriental legend The Bamboo Bar at No.46. Bangkok is back in business and open for visitors – travellers require a PCR test on arrival but the bars are more welcoming than they have ever been. There’s no doubt The Land of Smiles will continue with an even stronger 50 Best presence in the years to come after the way it presented itself to travelling bartenders and industry aficionados.
Two signature cocktails from Tropic City, ranked No.17 at Asia's 50 Best Bars 2022: Welcome to the Jungle and Mumsfilibaba
India
It was arguably India’s year, with a record five placings in the list, up from just one in 2021. The bars featured span the entire length of the country, with newcomer Tesouro from the southern beach resort of Colvá in Goa landing in the list for the first time at a remarkable No.4 position. Unsurprisingly, Tesouro is awarded both the London Essence Best New Opening (due to its launch in late 2020) and The Best Bar in India crown.
The Tesouro team receives the London Essence Best New Opening Award 2022 from the Roku Industry Icon 2022, Colin Chia
Sidecar (No.14) moves up two spots from last year’s No.16. New Delhi’s Hoots’ (No.26) and Home (No.30), as well as Bengaluru’s Copitas (No.44) are new entrants to the list. Elsewhere in the subcontinent, Sri Lanka saw its first-ever placing on a 50 Best Bars ranking – Smoke & Bitters in Hiriketiya on the southern tip of India’s Teardrop lands at No.42. It all goes to show how welcome the region is to new ideas and how far its cocktail scene has come in a relatively short time.
Japan
In a similar story across the continent, access to Japan for the international bar community has been difficult to say the least. However, quarantine is now reduced and bars are fully open. Its winning bars are spread across the country and it marked a vintage year for list stalwart Bar Benfiddich, which is also named The Best Bar in Japan for the first time. It also takes the Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award – a gong given to a bar that has performed most consistently in the ranking since its 2016 inception – which can only be won once.
Bar Benfiddich is hailed for its mainstay position on the Asia's 50 Best Bars list with the Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award 2022
It's a welcome return to the list for Nara’s Lamp Bar, which comes back after a three-year absence at No.20. The SG Club comes in at No.21 and Bar Trench moves up 18 spots from last year’s No.43 to No.25. Memento Mori (No.41) is Japan’s only new entrant to the list. Bee’s Knees from the historic city of Kyoto comes in at No.47.
Shuzo Nagumo's Memento Mori marks its first appearance on the Asia's 50 Best Bars list, ranked No.41
Mainland China
If bartenders in the People’s Republic are to be believed, as soon as flight lanes open, bars are ready to throw one hell of a party. Although travel in and out remains all but impossible right now as cities lurch in and out of lockdowns, its metropolises continue to hold a stake in the list. Shanghai is represented by Shingo Gokan’s Sober Company at No.11, Union Trading Company at No.45 and Speak Low rounding off the list at No.50. Guangzhou has one bar on the list, Hope & Sesame at No.18.
The interior of Speak Low in Shanghai, ranked No.50 in the latest edition of Asia's 50 Best Bars
Indonesia and Malaysia
Almost a rite of passage for all travellers visiting the most southerly point of Southeast Asia, the two nations’ bars continue to perform well. Fast becoming a true mainstay in 50 Best lists, Bar Trigona – now under the bar-stewardship of Julian Brigget – takes the No.29 position and both The Best Bar in Malaysia crown and the inaugural victory for producing the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu.
Julian Brigget is all smiles as he receives the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award 2022
Junglebird, the rapscallion’s rum bar in Kuala Lumpur, flies up two places to No.35, while Indonesia is represented by Jakarta’s The Cocktail Club at No.32, which is a newcomer to the list and is also The Best Bar in Indonesia.
Thanks to everyone who made it to Bangkok for the events surrounding Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022 and to everyone who tuned into the livestream. For those that missed it, the ceremony can be viewed in its entirety below:
The list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022, sponsored by Perrier, was announced on Thursday, 28th April at a live awards ceremony in Bangkok. To stay up to date with all news and announcements, browse the website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
