The 2021 list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier – announced over a virtual awards ceremony on 6th May – features venues from 10 countries and aims to recognise the immense talent, dedication and resilience evident across Asia’s cocktail landscape.
Following the announcement of the inaugural 51-100 list on 29th April, explore below the sixth edition of the prestigious Asia's 50 Best Bars ranking and discover its eight new entries, three re-entries and plethora of special awards recognising the cream of the region's bar scene.
No.50 Star Bar, Tokyo, Japan – Re-Entry
One of the consistently top-ranked bars in Japan, Star Bar is located in the upscale Ginza neighbourhood and attracts true cocktail nerds, both local and international. Helmed by Hisashi Kishi, one of Japan's preeminent bartenders, this basement bar’s attention to detail has attained legendary status.
No.49 Sago House, Singapore – New Entry
Born during the 2020 lockdown in Singapore, Sago House's menu always features six classic styles of cocktails, but the actual drinks will vary on a weekly basis according to ingredients available in local markets.
No.48 Teens of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand – Re-Entry
Located in a restored shophouse in Chinatown, ToT was one of the first bars to focus on gin in the Thai capital, so it is not surprising that the daily-changing drinks list (check the board when you get there) could include a Ramos Gin Fizz alongside its signature Unusual Gin Tonics.
No.47 Three X Co, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – New Entry
A cocktail bar on the third floor of a shopping centre? Well, why not? Because once you find the joint (hint: look for a barbershop and an image the GOAT himself, Muhammad Ali), you will step into the Art Deco-inspired lounge and be transported to another time, another place.
No.46 Vesper, Bangkok, Thailand
James Bond would approve of this suave Bangkok destination, which takes its name from the secret agent's latterly choice of martini. Vesper has evolved since opening in 2014 with barrel-aged interpretations of classic cocktails, plus mixes inspired by modern art.
No.45 MO Bar, Singapore
Boasting impressive views over Singapore’s Marina Bay, this is a hotel bar with the spirit of an indie cocktail lab coursing through its veins, and the winner of the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award 2021.
No.44 Le Chamber, Seoul, South Korea
Step into Le Chamber’s library, push the magical book, and a hidden door slides open to reveal a handsome illuminated bar with sunken lounge chairs beneath glowing chandeliers.
No.43 Bar Trench, Tokyo, Japan
At this much-loved back-alley speakeasy, Rogerio Igarashi Vaz and his team are dab hands at traditional absinthe and sugar cube drips, but also showcase the 'green fairy' in cocktails such as a McClelland with sloe gin and orange liqueur.
No.42 The Old Man, Singapore
The Singapore outpost of The Old Man is already well established as a favourite in the city’s ever-competitive bar scene. The unique I-shaped open bar concept is front and centre and perfect for mingling, while a lounge at the back is ideal for larger groups.
No.41 Alice, Seoul, South Korea
On first glance, there appears to be no rabbit hole of note, but finding this trendy spot inspired by the classic Lewis Carroll tale is still an adventure, involving white rabbit signs, a flight of stairs and a secret door at the back of a flower shop in Seoul’s Gangnam district.
No.40 Darkside, Hong Kong, China – New Entry
Taking inspiration from all things dark, Darkside focuses on dark spirits, cigars and chocolate which, when combined with the live music, makes for an altogether elegant experience.
No.39 D.Bespoke, Singapore
It's not just owner Daiki Kanetaka's sharp suits and dickie bows that are well-tailored at this sleek Ginza-style bar (the D is for Daiki). The cocktails are just as individually designed, with drinks customised to guests' personal tastes.
No.38 The Curator, Manila, Philippines
Third-wave coffee by day and kick-ass cocktails by night is a winning combination, judging by the popularity of this vibey bar. Staff treat ingredients with the utmost respect, whether it’s coffee beans or small-batch spirits.
No.37 Junglebird, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Junglebird's selection of rums remains unsurpassed: there are over 240, from all over the world, which feature in sleek, modern cocktails that offer a refreshing respite from the city’s heat.
No.36 Tippling Club, Singapore
It’s well over a decade since chef Ryan Clift opened his boundary-pushing gastro-cocktail destination, but he continues to break new ground in his vision of drinks and food pairings.
No.35 Backstage Cocktail Bar, Bangkok, Thailand
Part of the theatre-themed Playhaus hotel, this fun cocktail bar hidden behind heavy stage curtains is styled as a glitzy dressing room, complete with red velvet sofas and lightbulb-framed mirrors.
No.34 Bar Cham, Seoul, South Korea
Helmed by Lim Byung-jin, Bar Cham offers cocktails based on Korean spirits with local flavours using modern techniques. You can expect a deep dive into native alcohols, with products sourced from all over the provinces of South Korea.
No.33 Union Brasserie, Bakery & Bar, Jakarta, Indonesia
Union can transform from a bistro to enjoy bourbon pork ribs during sunlight, to the ideal setting for an Old Fashioned Sticky Rice after sundown.
No.32 Speak Low, Shanghai, China
A slide-away bookcase in a cocktail equipment shop leads to a funky space that wouldn't look out of place in downtown Manhattan and serves fine-tuned signature serves and well-wrought New York staples.
No.31 Union Trading Company, Shanghai, China – Re-Entry
This pumping neighbourhood bar is the kind of place you can pop in for one, or prop up the long, wooden bar all night. Decor is warm and unfussy, with exposed bricks and photos of its international bar family dotting the walls.
No.30 Penicillin, Hong Kong, China – New Entry
Formerly of one-time Asia’s 50 Best Bar list-topper The Old Man Hong Kong, Agung Prabowo leads Hong Kong’s first ‘closed-loop’ cocktail bar, which aims to respect its environment in everything it does. Despite only launching in late 2020, the eco-friendly principles it has established have seen it win the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award 2021.
No.29 Barbary Coast, Singapore – New Entry
Modelled after San Francisco’s Barbary Coast during the Gold Rush, this namesake bar in Singapore comprises two levels. On the second floor is where it gets fancy: the Barbary Coast Ballroom is sumptuously decorated with an extensive cocktail and snack menu.
No.28 The Wise King, Hong Kong, China
A new entry to the list in 2019, The Wise King has rapidly established itself as a Hong Kong favourite with a difference. Try the signature cocktail named after Alfonso himself, El Sabio or The Wise, featuring spiced dried fruit and red wine reduction with Cava.
No.27 High Five, Tokyo, Japan
It's high fives all round for this sleek, low-lit bar, which has received widespread acclaim thanks to the drive of owner Hidetsugu Ueno.
No.26 The Pontiac, Hong Kong, China
The Pontiac is a local cocktail and dive bar focused on inclusivity and excellent drinks, made in volume. The brilliant Beckaly Franks and her team crank the music and service up to 11.
No.25 Quinary, Hong Kong, China
This industrial-designed space, with a long, glowing bar, takes a modernist approach, with drinks engineered to stimulate the senses. The hyper-modern bar has collected countless accolades, not least attaining Heering Legend of the List status as part of this year’s awards.
No.24 Aha Saloon, Taipei, Taiwan
At this music-themed hostelry, stacks of old vinyl records and vintage cassettes sit alongside beakers containing spices, berries and seeds from around the world.
No.23 Tell Camellia, Hong Kong, China – New Entry
Industry veterans Sandeep Hathiramani and Gagan Gurung run this tea-forward cocktail bar, which takes its name from Camellia Sinensis – a species of evergreen shrub native to East Asia whose leaves are used to produce tea.
No.22 Tropic City, Bangkok, Thailand
A true oasis within Bangkok’s up-and-coming Charoenkrung neighbourhood, this cool joint reinterprets ‘tropical’ in its widest sense, with inspiration coming from Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and even the South Pacific, with a strong focus on rum.
No.21 28 HongKong Street, Singapore
Despite the secrecy (or perhaps because of it), 28 HongKong Street has become a landmark destination thanks to a fun, laid-back vibe and stellar cocktails.
No.20 The Diplomat, Hong Kong, China – New Entry
Small but mighty, The Diplomat packs a punch with its neat menu of classics, twists and mini cocktails paired with top-notch hospitality. Gathering huge pace and recognition since its launch in February 2020, The Diplomat wins the London Essence Best New Opening Award 2021.
No.19 Room by Le Kief, Taipei, Taiwan
The entrance behind a bespoke tailor shop (think the movie series Kingsman) is the first clue that you are in for a unique evening at this molecular gastronomy restaurant-slash-drinks lab.
No.18 Bee's Knees, Kyoto, Japan
This New York-inspired speakeasy opened in April 2018 and has been serving up Prohibition-era cocktails (with a twist), throwback hip hop tunes, and a fun, casual vibe ever since.
No.17 Bar Mood, Taipei, Taiwan
Taiwanese bar supremo Nick Wu’s Bar Mood is a serious cocktail cove where the art of ingredient-focused Japanese bartending meets the speed and efficiency of American drink-making.
No.16 Sidecar, New Delhi, India
Brought to you by Indian bartending legend Yangdup Lama and front-of-house supremo Minakshi Singh, Sidecar continues to grow in prominence on the Asian cocktail map and this year is named the joint Nikka Highest Climber.
No.15 Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou, Chin
Opening in 2016 as the first speakeasy in Guangzhou, Hope & Sesame brings far-reaching technique (centrifugal clarification, sous vide infusions and dry ice distillation) to a bar scene that previously stuck to the traditional.
No.14 Native, Singapore
A simple-looking joint that serves far-from-simple drinks, Native has been a trailblazer for many things since it opened in 2016, though arguably is best known for leading the way in cocktail bar sustainability across the whole of Asia.
No.13 Charles H, Seoul, South Korea
Helmed by the ever-dapper Keith Motsi, this bar improves year on year under his talented bar-stewardship and 2021 marks the highest position it has ever achieved at No.13, picking up The Best Bar in Korea, sponsored by Tia Maria, in the process.
No.12 Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
With a menu focusing on indigenous and sustainable ingredients, Bar Trigona speaks to its setting beyond the gilded walls of its host Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur. For the third year in succession, Bar Trigona is named The Best Bar in Malaysia 2021, sponsored by Remy Martin.
No.11 The Bamboo Bar, Bangkok, Thailand
The Mandarin Oriental hotel's superlative bar has been a sanctuary for music lovers in Bangkok ever since it opened in 1953, with live jazz still a prominent part of the experience today. This year again sees The Bamboo Bar pick up The Best Bar in Thailand Award, sponsored by Bellino.
No.10 Caprice Bar, Hong Kong, China
Adjacent to its famed sister restaurant and Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants regular of the same name, Caprice Bar is one of the most luxuriously styled hostelries in Hong Kong. In 2021, it marks success in being the joint winner of the Nikka Highest Climber Award.
No.9 Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo, Japan
Hiroyasu Kayama's charming bar resembles an apothecary thanks to the numerous herbal infusions and unusual potions and tinctures that line the shelves.
No.8 No Sleep Club, Singapore – Disaronno Highest New Entry
This all-day concept welcomes guests for coffee, snacks, one of the best tequila-based Espresso Martinis around as well as a banging Reverse Harvard.
No.7 Atlas, Singapore
Since Atlas opened, it has made waves with its specialist gin collection, with more than 1,300 labels on offer. In addition to the gin, the champagne menu is extensive and head bartender Jesse Vida creates cocktails in keeping with the grand location.
No.6 Manhattan, Singapore
Hued with warm tones, the grand lounge melds Old World glamour with luxe contemporary comfort via velvet armchairs, rich drapery and mahogany tables. A fitting backdrop to drink down over 150 rare American whiskies, or a solera-aged Negronis produced through the bar’s onsite rickhouse.
No.5 Sober Company, Shanghai, China
Three experiences make up this Shanghai destination by Shingo Gokan – winner of the Roku Industry Icon Award 2021 – each as dumbfounding as the last. This ironically named bar sees the Japanese maestro take two venues into the top five of Asia’s 50 Best Bars for the first time in 2021.
No.4 Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei, Taiwan
Aki Wang’s bar has an international feel but the details are an ode to Taiwan’s produce and heritage, only viewed through the lens of modern mixology. It picks up the award for The Best Bar in Taiwan 2021, sponsored by Asahi Super Dry.
No.3 The SG Club, Tokyo, Japan
Emphasising a fusion of Japanese and American bartending styles and incorporating unsung flavour combinations using ingredients from all over the world, The SG Club claims two floors, with slightly different drinking experiences offered on each.
No.2 Jigger & Pony, Singapore
It’s rare that anyone ever leaves Jigger & Pony without anything other than an ear-to-ear grin. Indra Katona and Guoyi Gan, the bar’s owners, have devised a style of relaxed hospitality that prioritises atmosphere over everything else. It may have slipped from the top spot after achieving The Best Bar in Asia crown in 2020, but this will do nothing stem the steady stream of loyal regulars that come through the venue as it is named The Best Bar in Singapore 2021, sponsored by Matusalem.
No.1 Coa, Hong Kong, China
When some bars launch, it’s very clear from opening night that they have superstar quality. After debuting with the Highest New Entry Award in 2019 and following with Coa’s owner-bartender Jay Khan winning the Bartenders’ Bartender Award in 2021, it’s been apparent since day one that Coa had something special. Completing this meteoric ascent to the summit of its continent’s bar scene, Coa is named The Best Bar in Asia 2021, sponsored by Perrier.
Now recap the full list in the video:
The list of Asia's 50 Best Bars 2021, sponsored by Perrier, was announced on May 6, 2021, via a virtual awards ceremony. To stay up to date with the latest news, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
