Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024: the list revealed

Josh Ong - 16/07/2024

Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024: the list revealed

The brand-new 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. This year’s ranking features bars from 18 different destinations across Asia, from Macau to Manila. Explore the list of leading venues and find out which has taken the title of The Best Bar in Asia 2024, sponsored by Perrier


No.50 Pine & Co – NEW ENTRY

Seoul
@pineandco_seoul
Pine Co-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP-1
Hidden in a dark back alley in Seoul is one of South Korea’s finest speakeasies. In the space, you’ll find scientific equipment and advanced techniques which are used to create a cocktail programme that majors on bold and unconventional flavours.

No.49 Atlas
Singapore
@atlasbarsg
atlasbar.sg
Atlas-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
In a city full of grand properties, Atlas stands above the crowd. Gatsby-esque opulence is the order of the day, alongside a gin of your choice, with more than 1,300 different bottles housed in its stunning, central, 8m-tall tower. Combining breathtaking architecture with superb consistency for cocktail creation, Atlas is the winner of both the Bareksten Best Bar Design Award 2024 and the Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award 2024.

No.48 Le Chamber
Seoul
@le_chamber
lechamber.com
Le Chamber-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
A true speakeasy, hidden behind a sliding door opened by a switch disguised as a book, Le Chamber has been one of Seoul’s premier drinking dens since it opened its doors in 2014. Grab a cocktail, sink into its lounge chairs and enjoy the live jazz soundtrack.

No.47 The Haflington – NEW ENTRY
Hanoi
@thehaflington
The Haflington-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Inspired by the grand museums of western Europe, The Haflington offers a charming getaway from the noise and bustle of Hanoi’s streets. Expect polished wood, refined takes on classic cocktails and a dinosaur skeleton hanging from the ceiling. The Haflington is also The Best Bar in Vietnam 2024.

No.46 Alice
Seoul
@alice_cheongdam
Alice-interior_A50BB24-LIP
Locating this fairytale bar is an adventure in itself, but inside is a wonderland of literary cocktails themed around the Lewis Carroll classic, like the Unbirthday Tea Party (whiskey, oloroso sherry, black tea, coconut). If cocktails aren’t your drink of choice, enjoy the range of sipping spirits and local soju.

No.45 Mostly Harmless
Hong Kong
@mostlyharmlessbar
Mostly Harmless-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
This intimate bar in Hong Kong’s central district comes from Venezuelan-born bartender Ezra Star. Inside the venue, floor-to-ceiling white tiles are decorated with the names of guests and the drinks of the day in colourful magic markers.

No.44 The Public House
Taipei
@thepublichouse_taipei
The Public House-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
While its name and interior take inspiration from the pubs of the UK, the similarities at Taipei’s The Public House stop there. From gin and tonics made with hand-carved ice to a cocktail menu filled with both classic and signature serves, there really aren’t many pubs around the world with a drinks list like this.

No.43 CMYK – NEW ENTRY
Changsha
@cmyk.china
CMYK-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Created by local hospitality heavyweight Ethan Liu, CMYK is Changha’s hottest drinks space, offering a three-room, high-energy extravaganza, dedicated to seriously sippable cocktails. Expect technically advanced drinks that are ‘easy to love but not too complicated to enjoy’.

No.42 Fura – NEW ENTRY
Singapore
@fura.sg
fura.space
Fura-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Opened in October 2023, Fura has made an astounding splash into the saturated cocktail market of Singapore in its short lifespan. Bartender-chef duo Sasha Wijidessa and Christina Rasmussen have created an effortlessly cool gastrobar centred around delicious and eco-friendly sips. For its green credentials, Fura is named the winner of the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award 2024.

No.41 Reka – NEW ENTRY
Kuala Lumpur
@reka.bar
Reka-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Reka opened in 2021 in a residential suburb of Malaysia’s capital and has been on the rise to become one of Kuala Lumpur’s finest cocktail spots ever since. Salt, fat, acid and heat guide its drinks list, with the bar describing itself as a ‘postmodern flavour lab’. Expect big flavours and astute food pairings.

No.40 ZLB23 – NEW ENTRY
Bengaluru
@zlb23.in
ZLB23-interior_A50BB24-LIP
It’s hard to keep a bar secret in the age of social media, especially when it's located inside one of Bengaluru’s most iconic hotels. But ZLB23 is a Kyoto-inspired speakeasy that tries to keep its presence secluded. Dressed in deep red velvet, with live jazz and a serious cocktail list, it’s a struggle to leave – once you find it. ZLB23 earns the title of The Best Bar in India 2024.

No.39 Barc – NEW ENTRY
Kathmandu
@barc.cocktails
Barc-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP

An office block may be the last place you’d expect to find The Best Bar in Nepal 2024, but Barc is no ordinary drinkery. Inside the cosy space is a true speakeasy, marked by emerald walls and moody lighting, alongside a serious bar team ready to create a host of drinks highlighting Nepalese ingredients.

No.38 Employees Only
Singapore
@employeesonlysg
employeesonlysg.com
Employees Only-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
The Singaporean offshoot of the New York cocktail institution of the same name has been slinging drinks to blasting soundtracks since 2016. With consistently excellent cocktails and delicious bar food – including the now iconic ‘sober up soup’ served free at closing time – nights at EO are always memorable.

No.37 Bar Mood – RE-ENTRY
Taipei
@barmood_taipei
Bar Mood-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
When Bar Mood opened its doors in 2017, it pioneered the new wave of craft cocktails that has since spread across Taiwan. In the years since, it's become loved for its drinks platforming the beauty and biodiversity of the island through mixology.

No.36 Bar Trigona
Kuala Lumpur
@bartrigona
Bar Trigona-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Found in the Four Seasons in Kuala Lumpur, this luxurious hotel bar uses the Malaysian pantry as its flavour playground. Trigona bee honey is its speciality, so don’t miss the flight of three cocktails made using the sweet stuff.

No.35 Analogue Initiative
Singapore
@analogueinitiative
analogueinitiative.com
Analogue-interior_A50BB24-LIP
Bartending heavyweight Vijay Mudaliar opened Analogue Initiative as his second project, following the success of Native. Sustainability sits as a core pillar of the bar, with its 3D-printed counter made from recycled plastic and cocktails that ingeniously substitute ingredients for less polluting alternatives.

No.34 The Bellwood
Tokyo
@the_bellwood
The Bellwood-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
After spending six years at leading bars in New York and Shanghai, Atsushi Suzuki returned home to Japan to open The Bellwood. This spot works as an homage to Japanese food and drink culture and history, grouped according to the flow of dishes in kaiseki.

No.33 The Curator
Manila
@thecurator_
thecuratorcoffeeandcocktails.com 
The Curator-interior_A50BB24-LIP
Formerly known as The Curator Coffee and Cocktails, this bar is all about caffeinated drinks, great cocktails – and sometimes a combination of both. Behind the coffee shop, the intimate backroom creates inventive concoctions with Filipino spirits at their base. For the fourth time, The Curator is named The Best Bar in the Philippines.

No.32 Origin Bar – NEW ENTRY
Singapore
@originbarsg
shangri-la.com
Origin Bar-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
A plush lounge in the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, Origin Bar opened in 2017 and has been quietly evolving and refining its cocktail offering in the years since. Menus change annually, but always on offer are creative drinks that supercharge ingredients with advanced techniques.

No.31 Native
Singapore
@nativebarsg
tribenative.com 
Native-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Great bars are two a penny on Singapore’s Amoy Street, but Native is one of its finest. This multifaceted hospitality hub is situated across three storeys, with a restaurant, bar and fermentation lab all housed inside. Sustainable sips and snacks are the order of the day, and make sure to order the Black Rice or Strawberry Gochujang.

No.30 Vender
Taichung
@venderbar
Vender-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Taking its moniker from the machines that supply the essentials of life, Vender is the work of bartending duo Summer Chen and Darren Lim. Together, they created a bar that dispenses joy in delicious pours utilising the diverse palate of Southeast Asia.

No.29 Smoke & Bitters
Hiriketiya
@smoke_n_bitters
Smoke Bitters-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Tucked away in a coconut grove two and a half hours from the country’s capital, Smoke & Bitters is a beacon of hospitality and The Best Bar in Sri Lanka 2024. This tropical paradise is committed to championing the surrounding region through its cocktail programme that makes the most of South Asian spirits and ingredients, masterminded by the indomitable Don Ranasinghe.

No.28 Craftroom – NEW ENTRY
Osaka
@craftroom.jpn
craft-room.jp
Craftroom-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
This 10-seat den is the first-ever establishment from Osaka to break into the list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, thanks in part to its delicate balance of refined classic cocktails injected with a touch of contemporary flair. Ryu Fujii’s masterful creations are all exquisite, but regulars know to opt for the Grasshopper.

No.27 Pantja
Jakarta
@pantja.id
pantja.id
Pantja-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Located in the business district of Jakarta, this restaurant and bar takes its name from the Sanskrit word for ‘five’ and focuses on a quintuple of core pillars: food, drink, music, design and hospitality. A farm-to-table philosophy guides the venue, so expect local Indonesian ingredients used throughout its serves.

No.26 Quinary
Hong Kong
@quinaryhk
quinary.hk
Quinary-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Opened in 2012 by local bar pioneer Antonio Lai, Quinary is one of Hong Kong’s finest drinking dens, thanks in part to its ‘multisensory mixology’ philosophy. The bar’s hyper-modern approach uses laboratory-adjacent equipment to create signature serves, such as the Earl Grey Caviar Martini, topped with Earl Grey ‘air’ and spherified tea ‘caviar’.

No.25 Offtrack – NEW ENTRY
Singapore
@offtrack.sg
offtrack.sg
Offtrack-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
This music-centric bar opened in 2022 and has quickly become a hangout for the cocktail lovers, music enthusiasts and creative minds of Singapore. Designed with music listening in mind, the space is the ideal hangout to sip on a classic drink set to a well-curated soundtrack.

No.24 Penicillin
Hong Kong
@penicillin_bar
penicillinbar.com
Penicillin-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
When Agung and Laura Prabowo’s Penicillin opened its doors in 2020, it was the first closed-loop bar in Hong Kong. Sustainable initiatives continue to guide everything Penicillin does, with cocktails such as the One Penicillin, One Tree continuing to give back to the planet. For a look into the magic behind the scenes, ask for a peek into the fermentation lab, better known as ‘The Stinky Room’.

No.23 The SG Club
Tokyo
@the_sg_club
sg-management.jp
The SG Club-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
The homecoming project from legendary mixologist Shingo Gokan is three establishments in one. In the building, each of the bars has its own menu and concept, with the informal Guzzle, chic and classy Sip and cigar room each well loved. Expect Gokan’s own brand of shochu available across them all.

No.22 The St. Regis Bar – NEW ENTRY
Macau
@stregisbar_macao
thestregisbarmacao.com
The St Regis Bar Macau-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
The bar of the St. Regis Hotel Macau is all about paying homage to the New York of yesteryear. From dark wood to rich fabrics, the interior feels like walking into the Golden Age of the Big Apple and its honed menu of classic serves keeps the vibe going. As the highest ranked bar in its area, The St. Regis Bar is named The Best Bar in Macau 2024.

No.21 Bar Us – NEW ENTRY
Bangkok
@bar.us.bkk
us-bar.com
Bar Us-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
This high concept drinking room might seem intimidating at first, with its all-black interior contrasted by everyone dressed in pristine white lab coats. But the team, led by Sudarat ‘Taln’ Rojanavanich and Veerach ‘Aum’ Sawaengsupt, is warm and welcoming, delivering a drinks programme that takes inspiration from fine dining, with cocktails split into ‘starters’, ‘mains’ and ‘afters’.

No.20 Bar Cham
Seoul
@bar.cham
Bar Cham-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Tucked away in one of Seoul’s oldest neighbourhoods, Bar Cham is set inside a hanok [traditional Korean house] and delivers a cocktail menu that spotlights a host of spirits and ingredients from provinces across South Korea. Order its take on the negroni, made with spiced soju and bitters, for a taste of the bar’s soul.

No.19 The Savory Project – NEW ENTRY
Hong Kong
@thesavoryproject_
thesavoryproject.com
The Savory Project-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Launched in 2023 by the duo behind Asia’s most awarded bar, Coa, The Savory Project has been ripping up the cocktail rulebook to craft memorable and layered serves that fall outside the expected palate of drinks. Think Thai Beef Salad or Shiitake Bamboo, in sippable form. Its ingenious offering and stellar debut into the ranking earns the bar the London Essence Best New Opening Award 2024.

No.18 Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar
Bangkok
@mahaniyom.cocktailbar
Mahaniyom-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Playfully riffing on the Thai proverb, ‘two tigers cannot share the same den’, guests are greeted at the door of Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar by a neon sign of the two-headed big cat. Inside, its drinks offering showcases singular Thai flavours and ingredients explored in different ways.

No.17 Darkside
Hong Kong
@darksidebar 
darkside.hk
Darkside-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Located in the luxurious Rosewood Hong Kong, Darkside takes its moniker from the nickname given to Kowloon, where the hotel is located. The bar doubles down on the imagery through a focus on everything dark: spirits, cigars and chocolate. Classic cocktails are the name of the game and come paired with live music for a seriously elegant offering.

No.16 Night Hawk – NEW ENTRY
Singapore
@night.hawk.sg
nighthawk.sg
Night Hawk-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Renowned bartender Peter Chua teamed up with architecture firm Studio Dinding to put together Night Hawk in 2022, taking inspiration from Edward Hopper’s legendary painting of a similar name. Inside the immaculately designed space, the drinks menu leans into the neo-futurist, cleverly injecting classics with a touch of contemporary fun.

No.15 Sago House
Singapore
@sagohousesg
sagohouse.sg
Sago House-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Opened during the 2020 lockdown, Sago House was born as a true labour of love between bartending trio Desiree Jane, Jay Gray and Abhishek C George. A forced relocation saw it move to a new premises in late 2023, but its welcoming spirit, unique local artwork and weekly rotating menu of serious sips all successfully made the move to the new space.

No.14 Hope & Sesame
Guangzhou
@hopeandsesame
hopeandsesamegz.com
Hope Sesame-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
When Hope & Sesame opened in 2016, it was the first speakeasy in southern China. In the years since, this sultry den has been refining its offering through advanced techniques and equipment – think centrifugal clarification, sous vide infusions and rotary distillation – to craft a cocktail list leagues ahead of its surrounding traditionalist bar scene. For the fifth time, Hope & Sesame is named The Best Bar in Mainland China 2024, sponsored by Matusalem.

No.13 Vesper
Bangkok
@vesperbkk
vesperbar.co
Vesper-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
One of Bangkok’s OG sipping spots, European-inspired Vesper is serious about cocktails. The bar is now led by Tom Hearn, who earned his stripes at the American Bar at The Savoy, and has brought with him an astute attention to detail. The leather and plush green furnishings make for the ultimate place to sip its namesake cocktail.

No.12 The Cocktail Club
Jakarta
@thecocktailclubjakarta
uniongroupjakarta.com
The Cocktail Club-interior_A50BB24-LIP
The Cocktail Club made a stellar entrance into Jakarta’s cocktail scene in 2021 and has spent the three following years continuously honing its offering and gaining praise. Its creative drinks programme, which earned it the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu 2023, is unafraid to go big on flavour. This year, The Cocktail Club is named The Best Bar in Indonesia 2024, sponsored by Amaro Lucano.

No.11 Virtù
Tokyo
@virtutokyo
fourseasons.com/restaurants/virtu
Virtu-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Led by the effortlessly charismatic Keith Motsi, Virtù aims to redefine the expectations of a hotel bar. While its interior and drinks offering is opulent and classy, the well-drilled team is unpretentious and warm with its service, making it a drinking destination for all. This feat earned the bar the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award 2024.

No.10 The Aubrey
Hong Kong
@theaubreyhk
mandarinoriental.com/hong-kong/bars/the-aubrey
The Aubrey-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
This izakaya concept in the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong boasts one of the city’s finest drinking backdrops overlooking Victoria Harbour. Its cocktails are all about Japanese spirits, with plenty of shochus, sakes, awamoris and whiskies. For the ultimate experience, the bespoke five-seater cocktail omakase experience is not to be missed.

No.9 Argo
Hong Kong
@argobarhk
fourseasons.com/hongkong/lounges/argo
Argo-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Argo may take its name from ancient Greek mythology, but its eyes are certainly on the future. With a menu exploring a world where produce becomes increasingly sparse due to climate change, drinks at Argo cleverly reframe singular ingredients through research and development and serious technique.

No.8 Penrose
Kuala Lumpur
@penrose.kl
Penrose-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Opened in August 2022, Penrose is the rising star of Kuala Lumpur’s cocktail scene. Each of its drinks are created with five key pillars in mind: alcohol, flavour, taste, body and dilution. The resulting serves, like the Penrose Gibson (gin, shochu, sake vinegar, leeks, wasabi), are smash hits. Climbing a mammoth 42 places from its 2023 debut position, Penrose is the winner of both the Nikka Highest Climber Award 2024 and The Best Bar in Malaysia 2024, sponsored by Nikka Whisky.

No.7 BKK Social Club
Bangkok
@bkksocialclub
fourseasons.com/bangkok/lounges/bkk-social-club
BKK Social Club-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
This luxurious bar inside the Four Seasons at Chao Phraya River is 1980s Buenos Aires meets Bangkok. Argentinian craft spirits and ingredients make appearances throughout the menu, with its creations often inspired by famed figures of the South American country, such as Diego Maradona. The bar continues its successful streak, retaining the title of The Best Bar in Thailand 2024, sponsored by Scrappy’s Bitters.

No.6 Nutmeg & Clove
Singapore
@nutmegandclove
nutmegclove.com
Nutmeg Clove-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Nutmeg & Clove is Singaporean through and through. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the bar has been a staple of the Lion City’s cocktail scene thanks to its progressive drinks programme that reimagines Singaporean flavours into liquid form, masterminded by Colin Chia and Shelley Tai.

No.5 Bar Benfiddich
Tokyo
@benfiddich_toyko
ameblo.jp/kayama
Bar Benfiddich-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
On the ninth floor of a commercial building in Tokyo lies Bar Benfiddich – an apothecary-inspired, fantastical wonderland bridging the past, present and future of cocktail creation. Homemade tinctures, infusions and aged liquors line the back bar, with the iconic Hiroyasu Kayama creating a masterful mix of drinks using ingredients taken from his family’s own farm. Benfiddich is named The Best Bar in Japan 2024, sponsored by Torres Brandy.

No.4 Coa
Hong Kong
@coahongkong
coa.com.hk
Coa-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
This record-breaking former No.1 is a temple to all things agave, with its name taken from the machete used to harvest the plant for tequila and mezcal production. Inside the industrial space, you’ll find Hong Kong’s largest agave spirit collection used to create its consummate cocktail list, where each drink is delivered with a short, verbal history of the bottle used.

No.3 Jigger & Pony
Singapore
@jiggerandponysg
jiggerandpony.com
Jigger Pony-interior_A50BB24-LIP
From humble beginnings on Amoy Street to its now upscale site inside the Amara Hotel, Jigger & Pony has been a mainstay of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list for the past six years. Its now-renowned ‘menuzines’ feature cocktails that are technically brilliant while retaining their accessibility, such as Strawberry Fields, made with tequila, local strawberries and fruit blossoms. This year, Jigger & Pony earns the title of The Best Bar in Singapore, sponsored by Tia Maria.

No.2 Zest
Seoul
@zest.seoul
Zest-cocktail_A50BB24-LIP
Zest is a true celebration of all things local. Founded by four stalwarts of Korea’s burgeoning cocktail scene – including Altos Bartenders’ Bartender 2024 winner Dohyung ‘Demie’ Kim – Zest brings minimalism to the next level, with a sleek golden-hued back bar and sustainably minded cocktails that are deviously simple. Continuing its meteoric ascent, Zest rises to the No.2 spot and takes home the title of The Best Bar in Korea 2024, sponsored by Naked Malt.

No.1 Bar Leone – NEW ENTRY
@barleonehk
barleonehk.com
Hong Kong
Bar Leone-interior_A50BB24-LIP
From its wall adorned with framed football jerseys to the dual soundtrack of Italo-disco and Pavarotti, there are dozens of aperitivo bars in Rome like Bar Leone. But Lorenzo Antinori’s bar is more than just a simple transplant. Everything Leone does is centred around a core philosophy: cocktail popolari, meaning cocktails for the people. Scientific superfluity is thrown out in favour of speed, consistency and simplicity, best seen via the Leone martini and yuzu gimlet, perfectly paired with a mortadella sandwich and smoked olives.

Bar Leone makes history as the strongest-ever debut in the ranking of Asia’s 50 Best Bars at the top spot, taking home a trio of titles: the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award 2024, The Best Bar in Hong Kong 2024 and The Best Bar in Asia 2024, sponsored by Perrier.

Now watch the countdown! 

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, InstagramX and YouTube to stay up to date with all the news and announcements.