Freshly stirred and served straight from Hong Kong, the winners of the coveted Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 awards have been released. This annual list of bars, widely watched by cocktail lovers across the globe, are selected via anonymous voting by 260 drink experts, of which 50% are bartenders and bar owners, 25% are drink writers and 25% are cocktail experts!  

This year, Coa from Hong Kong retained its crown and topped the list of awarded cocktail bars. The mezcal-focused bar, helmed by Jay Khan, made history as the first ever bar to be thrice-awarded the No. 1 spot. Similarly unstoppable, Singapore’s Jigger and Pony cinched 2^nd place for the second year in a row, picking up the Remy Martin Legend of the List Award 2023 and the Best Bar in Singapore 2023 awards along the way. 

Korea's Zest is this year's winner of the Nikka Highest Climber Award.

Notably, Korea’s sustainability-forward Zest rose a staggering 43 positions from last year’s ranking, making it the winner of the Nikka Highest Climber Award. Helmed by Demie Kim, Korea’s Best Bar is known for its minimal-waste approach to transforming locally sourced ingredients like the Juju Garibaldi and Gujwa village carrot into innovative libations.

Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar is Bangkok's newest cocktail hotspot.

This year also featured a couple of exciting new entrants to the list, led by Virtù – a French-Japanese fusion cocktail bar in Tokyo that serves up cocktails as decadent as its cavier-and-burrata bar snack. Virtù also scored the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award of 2023.  Another noteworthy newcomer to the list is Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar in Bangkok – serving up creative and eclectic cocktails that incorporate orange peel chips, beef fat, and blue cheese air. Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar even picked up the London Essence Best New Opening Award 2023.

Singapore’s own Sago House, which ranked at #10, also cinched the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award 2023. The bar, which was built quite literally by the hands of Jay Gray, Desiree Jane and Abhishek C George, was recognized for its exceptional hospitality and personalized touches that make every guest feel at home.

| Read more: Cocktail recipes from Sago House! 

Among the list, a total of 11 winning were from Singapore (making the Little Red Dot home to the most awardees in 2032), 8 bars from Hong Kong, 7 bars from Japan, 6 from Korea, 4 from India, 4 from Thailand, 3 from Taiwan, 2 from Indonesia, 2 from Malaysia, 1 from Mainland China, 1 from Philippines, and 1 from Sri Lanka.

A big congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Asia’s 50 Best Bars!

No. 1 – 10

1. Coa – Hong Kong
2. Jigger & Pony – Singapore
3. BKK Social Club – Bangkok
4. Bar Benfiddich – Tokyo
5. Zest – Seoul
6. Tropic City – Bangkok
7. Nutmeg & Clove – Singapore
8. Argo – Hong Kong
9. Darkside – Hong Kong
10. Sago House – Singapore

| Read more: Our interviews with Nutmeg & Clove's Shelley Tai, Darkside's KT Lam, and Sago House's Jay Gray! 

No. 11 - 20

11. Indulge Experimental Bistro – Taipei
12. Vesper – Bangkok
13. Cham Bar – Seoul
14. The SG Club – Tokyo
15. Analogue Initiative – Singapore
16. Republic – Singapore
17. The Aubrey – Hong Kong
18. Sidecar – New Delhi
19. The Cocktail Club – Jakarta
20. Virtù – Tokyo 

No. 21 – 30

21. Manhattan – Singapore
22. Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar – Bangkok
23. Lamp Bar – Nara
24. 28 HongKong Street – Singapore
25. Le Chamber – Seoul
26. Penicillin – Hong Kong
27. Atlas – Singapore
28. Alice – Seoul
29. Pantja – Jakarta
30. Employees Only – Singapore

| Read more: Our interview with Atlas Bar's Yana Keller!

No. 31 – 40

31. Quinary – Hong Kong
32. Stay Gold Flamingo – Singapore
33. Mostly Harmless – Hong Kong
34. The Curator – Manila
35. The Bombay Canteen – Mumbai
36. Bar Trigona – Kuala Lumpur
37. Southside Parlor – Seoul
38. Copitas – Bengaluru
39. Hope & Sesame – Guangzhou
40. Smoke & Bitters – Hiriketiya

No. 41 – 50

41. Vender – Taichung
42. Native – Singapore
43. The Public House – Taipei
44. Bee’s Knees – Kyoto
45. High Five – Tokyo
46. Soko – Seoul
47. The Old Man – Hong Kong
48. The Living Room – Mumbai
49. The Bellwood – Tokyo
50. Penrose – Kuala Lumpur

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team