The 9th edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, assembled the continent’s leading cocktail talent for a week of festivities culminating in a live awards ceremony on 16 July at Rosewood Hong Kong. Relive the excitement with our round up
From 13-18 July, Asia’s leading bartenders packed their bags and headed to Hong Kong for a series of celebrations to recognise the achievements of the continent’s bar sector. From never-before-seen cocktail collaborations with international talent to ecstatic celebrations on stage, here’s everything you need to know about what happened at this year’s edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars.
1. Sips in the stratosphere
A host of international talent served up bespoke cocktails at Ozone bar
This year’s programme of events kicked off at The Ritz-Carlton’s Ozone bar, where the bar teams about be included in the upcoming ranking reunited over incredible cocktails shaken by a stellar roster of international talent, all set against a view of Hong Kong’s cityscape from the hotel’s 118th floor.
Bartenders from Bar Mordecai (No.40 in North America’s 50 Best Bars 2024) in Toronto, Speak Low (No.50 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022) in Shanghai and Sips (The World’s Best Bar 2023) in Barcelona created a host of specially curated drinks.
Simone Caporale of Sips offered the perfectly chilled Sips martini made with either gin or vodka. Legendary bartender Shingo Gokan got shaking with his Speak Low team – the Coconut Old Fashioned (Matusalem Gran Reserva 15, sherry, Scrappy’s Aromatic Bitters) proved a particular hit. Christina Veira, winner of the Roku Industry Icon Award for North America’s 50 Best Bars 2022, from Bar Mordecai gave guests a taste of Canadian hospitality via the Tame Impala, made with Altos tequila, London Essence Ginger Beer, Canadian wild ginger and chai spices, finished with a spray of Los Siete Misterios Mezcal.
2. Globetrotting talent
Jay Khan and the Coa team played host to Simone Caporale of Sips and Eric Van Beek of Handshake Speakeasy (L to R)
Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 events programme saw the addition of 50 Best Signature Sessions to its line-up for the first time. This series of exclusive collaborations saw world-leading talent fly in to collaborate with five local heavyweight host bars, with each session offering a unique theme and combined menu of drinks.
There were queues around the block for sessions at closed-loop cocktail bar Penicillin, food-forward Quinary, hidden speakeasy XX and luxe drinking den The Aubrey. Three-time No.1 of Asia’s 50 Best Bars Coa played host to Handshake Speakeasy (No.1 in North America’s 50 Best Bars 2024) and Sips for an afternoon of Tres Números Uno (three number ones). Agave-based serves from all three bars went down a storm, with Handshake classic Salt-N-Pepper (Los Siete Misterios Mezcal, strawberry, yellow bell pepper, Scrappy’s Firewater Bitters) a crowd favourite.
3. Red carpet roll call 
Shelley Tai picked up the signature red scarf and shaker for her bar, Nutmeg & Clove
As the awards ceremony opened its doors, excited bar teams made their way onto the Rosewood Hong Kong red carpet to show off their signature 50 Best Bars red scarves, courtesy of Matusalem, and custom cocktail shakers, provided by Amaro Lucano and
Mancino Vermouth.
4. Keeping an eye out for the One To Watch
Dry Wave Cocktail Studio won the Campari One To Watch Award after just a few months of opening
Ahead of the main countdown reveal, the first very special accolade of the evening was revealed: the Campari One To Watch Award. This year’s winner was brand new Bangkok watering hole Dry Wave Cocktail Studio. Despite opening in early 2024, it’s already gained traction for its innovative and design-forward philosophy along with the mixology skills of its founder and leader, Supawit ‘Palm’ Muttrattana, who joyfully took to the stage to accept the accolade.
5. Malaysia makes waves
Bartenders from Malaysia celebrated their country's burgeoning cocktail scene
It was a proud evening for Malaysian bartenders as KL bar Penrose jumped a remarkable 42 positions from its No.50 position in 2023 to claim the No.8 spot, becoming the highest ranked Malaysian drinkery in the history of Asia’s 50 Best Bars. This remarkable feat earned the bar a duo of titles as both the winner of the Nikka Highest Climber Award and The Best Bar in Malaysia 2024. Also within the Malaysian capital, Bar Trigona took the No.36 position, while the self-described postmodern flavour lab, Reka, broke into the list after previously sitting in the extended 51-100 ranking.
6. South Asia mixology stars
ZLB23 made its debut into the ranking and was named The Best Bar in India 2024
Applause erupted throughout the room as veteran Indian bartender and cocktail pioneer Yangdup Lama was named the winner of the Roku Industry Icon Award 2024. The mastermind behind Sidecar (No.84 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024) was honoured for his 30 years of service to mixology. Cheers were just as loud as ZLB23 in Bengaluru made a stellar debut onto the list to claim the No.40 spot, earning it the title of The Best Bar in India 2024.
It was just as jubilant a day for bars across the Indian subcontinent as Barc in Kathmandu also broke into the ranking as The Best Bar in Nepal at No.39 and Smoke & Bitters in Hiriketiya held onto its crown as The Best Bar in Sri Lanka for another year at No.29.
7. A taste of Taiwan
The Nest by Pun team took to the stage in shock to collect its award
Mason Zheng and House Fang jumped for joy in the crowd and gleefully sprinted onto the stage as Nest by Pun was named winner of the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award for its innovative drinks list, Tales of Nest. In Taichung, Vender’s unique machine-inspired offering saw the bar storm onto the list at the No.30 position and become the first venue outside of Taipei to be named The Best Bar in Taiwan, sponsored by Mancino Vermouth.
8. Lions became legends
The Jigger & Pony team celebrated its No.3 spot in high spirits
The Lion City made itself known throughout the night with 11 bars featured in the ranking. First, the Gatsby-esque Atlas took home two special accolades – one for its remarkable consistency within the Asia’s 50 Best Bars ranking, which earned it the Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award – and the second for its breathtaking architecture that saw it win the Bareksten Best Bar Design Award.
On bar hotspot Amoy Street, Fura – the ultra-cool new kid on the block – made its debut at No.42 and was celebrated for its green credentials with the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award. Jigger & Pony, which also previously inhabited the street, continued to lead from the front by taking home The Best Bar in Singapore 2024, sponsored by Tia Maria.
9. From Tokyo to Osaka
Hiroyasu Kayama of Bar Benfiddich humbly accepted his bar's title
Tokyo fortified its credentials as a cocktail capital of Asia with four bars featuring on the list. Leading the pack was former Roku Industry Icon Award winner Hiroyasu Kayama, who made his way to the stage in trademark humble fashion as Bar Benfiddich was named The Best Bar in Japan 2024, sponsored by Torres Brandy.
Across town in the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi, the enigmatic Keith Motsi and McHayla Killoran from Virtù proudly accepted the bar’s Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award, celebrating its impeccable yet accessible service. From Osaka, Craftroom, the 10-seat bar helmed by Ryu Fujii, made its debut as the first-ever establishment from the city to feature in the Asia’s 50 Best Bars ranking.
10. K-cocktails from South Korea
Zest continued its meteoric rise to claim the No.2 spot
The South Korean bartending community was in high spirits as the rankings of each of the five listed bars was revealed on stage. As the ceremony reached its crescendo, cheers echoed throughout the room as Zest continued its meteoric rise to take the No.2 spot, named The Best Bar in Korea 2024, sponsored by Naked Malt. One of the bar’s four co-founders, Dohyung ‘Demie’ Kim, was joyously thrown into the air by his compatriots after he claimed his trophy as winner of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2024.
11. Bar Leone breaks records
The teams from Bar Leone and Zest celebrated together in the crowd
As the final two bars were revealed, Lorenzo Antinori stood still in a state of total shock as Bar Leone, his first solo venture that has been open for just one year, took home multiple awards including the Disaronno Highest New Entry and The Best Bar in Hong Kong 2024. The bar also won the ultimate accolade: The Best Bar in Asia 2024, sponsored by Perrier. The Italian aperitivo spot centred around creating ‘cocktails for the people’ made history as the first venue in 50 Best Bars history to enter the ranking at the No.1 spot. “I really had no idea,” said Antinori in the moments following his coronation. “I went to celebrate with the Zest team because I was sure they were going to win.”
A few roads away from Bar Leone, Jay Khan and Ajit Gurung celebrated as Coa stayed strong at No.4 and their new bar, The Savory Project, entered into the list at the No.19 spot, winning the London Essence Best New Opening Award 2024, thanks to its innovative and rule-breaking cocktail programme that majors on unconventional flavours.
12. Farewell from Hong Kong
Bartenders assembled for a final time at Aqua Hong Kong
The day following the ceremony, the teams behind the newly awarded bars assembled at Aqua Hong Kong for one final moment to unwind and unpack the preceding night’s festivities. Christina Veira and Josh LeBlanc from Bar Mordecai returned to shake up some cocktails, joined by the teams from SubAstor in Sao Paulo (No.58 in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023) and Eric Van Beek and Candy Midori from Handshake Speakeasy. The non-alcoholic Cambuci Highball (cambuci cordial, London Essence Blood Orange & Elderflower Tonic) was welcomed by many as a refreshing addition to the line-up.
See you next year!
Asia's 50 Best Bars will return in 2025 with a brand new ranking
The 2024 edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars brought the continent’s leading cocktail community together in Hong Kong for a second year and with it its largest events programme to date. Next year, the awards will be announced once more with a refreshed list of establishments deemed the best in Asia. Until then, stay tuned to the 50 Best Bars channels for upcoming announcements and news.
Now rewatch the highlights in video form:
The list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024, sponsored by Perrier, was revealed at a live awards ceremony at Rosewood Hong Kong on 16 July. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube to stay up to date with all the news and announcements.
