Bar News

Within the destinations covered by Happy Hour Asia, Bangkok stands out as the dominating city in terms of the number of awarded bars in the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 list, celebrated with a glittering ceremony at Wynn Palace in Macau on 28 July. Hope & Sesame bar in Guangzhou, China claimed the top spot, sponsored by Perrier. The annual ranking this year features bars from 22 cities across Asia, with 14 new entries, marking continued innovation and creativity in the region

Bangkok is reinforced as a regional powerhouse, retaining its crown as Asia’s most densely-represented cocktail capital with eight spots in the 1-50 list. Dry Wave Cocktail Studio rises from its debut last year to No.4, clinching The Best Bar in Thailand, sponsored by Torres Brandy. One of Bangkok’s most talked-about cocktail legends, Bar Us, retains the No.6 spot and claims the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award. Soaring into No.7, debutante Lennon’s atop the Rosewood hotel captures the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award for its retro Great Gatsby-style speakeasy inspired by a home recording studio.

Especially noteworthy is that Genteel Bar Sathorn, set within the heritage House on Sathorn (as the highest climber of the list), jumps 31 places to No.17, taking the Nikka Highest Climber Award.

BKK Social Club, where Latin American glamour meets Thai hospitality at Four Seasons Bangkok beside the Chao Phraya River, places No.20. Hidden speakeasy Opium, named after the location’s previous life as an opium den, rises to No.25. Located above celebrated restaurant Potong, it draws on the soul of Bangkok’s Chinatown and classic New York bars. In a serene courtyard of lush greenery and a koi-carp pond at Anantara Siam Bangkok, chic jazz spot Aqua Bar is another new entry at No.48, in the heart of Bangkok’s vibrant Ratchaprasong district.

Three Hong Kong bars earn major accolades and the city remains a regional authority in bar culture, with seven bars placing on the prestigious list. Last year’s No.1, Bar Leone, which is inspired by the bars of Rome’s Trastevere district where founder Lorenzo Antinori grew up, comes in at the No.3 spot, garnering continued recognition as The Best Bar in Hong Kong, sponsored by Amaro Lucano.

Gokan, the eponymous bar by internationally renowned Japanese mixologist Shingo Gokan, rises to No.22. Inspired by Mexican drinking dens with agave tequila and traditional mezcal cocktails, perennial favourite Coa ranks No.24 and collects the Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award for sustained renown at the forefront of Asia’s cocktail scene. True to her belief in “doing simple things exceptionally well”, Shelley Tai not only wins the pre-announced Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award for her first Hong Kong cocktail bar Mius, but also joins the list at No.36 and wins the SevenRooms Best Bar Design Award. Newly opened Montana pays homage to Cuba’s golden age through an exuberant Miami disco haze at No.47. Beyond the ranking, Kinsman is recognised with the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award in Asia for its inventive drinks programme that pays tribute to Hong Kong’s Cantonese heritage through a contemporary cocktail lens.

Singapore maintains stability across multiple tiers of the list with four spots, led by plush drinking den stalwart Jigger & Pony at No.9 to claim The Best Bar in Singapore, sponsored by Back to the Roots. Its co-founder Indra Kantono is honoured with the Roku Industry Icon Award in recognition of his transformative influence on Asia’s bar landscape and his role in shaping Singapore’s emergence as a global cocktail capital. With cocktails that pay homage to Singapore’s rich history, personalities, landmarks and hawker food culture, Nutmeg & Clove places No.12, followed by music-centric Offtrack at No.16. The theatrical Origin Bar at the Shangri-La Hotel brings its old-school train station vibe back to the list at No.43 as a re-entry.

Vietnam is now also making itself known on the highly attractive list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars: Workshop14 in Hanoi (No.34) is named The Best Bar in Vietnam and wins the Three Cents Best New Opening Award.

Jakarta emerges as a rising Southeast Asian hub, with four bars securing spots on the list. Modernhaus places highest at No.11 and is named The Best Bar in Indonesia, sponsored by Monkey Shoulder, with its stylish living room embracing an ingredients-first philosophy that celebrates the rich biodiversity of Indonesia. Convivial cosmopolitan cocktail bar Cosmo Pony at the Grand Hyatt places No.15. Intimate Carrots Bar rises to No.21 with a culinary-focused cocktail menu. The Golden Tooth in Melawai, South Jakarta, is a newcomer at No.40, applauded for its laid-back New York-style “cocktail and chats” experience. Further underscoring the city’s momentum, Hats Bar is honoured with the Campari One To Watch Award, spotlighting its rising influence on the regional cocktail scene.

Bars in Kuala Lumpur retain two spots on the list, with speakeasy Three X Co – hidden behind a pop-up barbershop in Bangsar Shopping Centre – ranking at No.32 to take The Best Bar in Malaysia, sponsored by Noam. Opulent, beehive-inspired Bar Trigona at Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur follows at No.38.

The 2026 list also signals expansion beyond established capitals, with bars in emerging new cities strengthening Asia’s cocktail map. In Hanoi, down a quiet lane in a former architect’s studio beside West Lake, effortlessly refined Workshop14 continues its meteoric rise from last year’s Campari One To Watch Award to No.34 and is named The Best Bar in Vietnam as well as capturing the Three Cents Best New Opening Award. Hanoi’s growing depth is further reinforced by The Hudson Rooms as a new entry at No.46. In Makati, bold and unconventional Problem Child gains immediate recognition as a new entry voted The Best Bar in the Philippines, sponsored by Roku Gin placed at No.44.

Paying homage to local traditions and ingredients, south coast resort Hiriketiya puts Sri Lanka on the best bar map with rustic coastal bar Smoke & Bitters, which placed at No.29, earning The Best Bar in Sri Lanka, in addition to receiving the pre-announced Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award.

Faye Huggett, Director of Community, Asia’s 50 Best Bars, says: “This year’s ranking, voted for by over 300 independent Academy members across the region, showcases the remarkable depth and diversity of Asia’s bar scene – from Hope & Sesame’s well-earned ascent to No.1, to 14 new entries spanning emerging cities like Hiriketiya, Hanoi and Makati. It’s a clear reflection of how Asia’s cocktail culture is being shaped not just by its traditional capitals, but by a new generation of bars redefining what hospitality looks like across the region.”

Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 reached its grand finale at Wynn Palace, Macau. Alongside a red-carpet reception and live awards ceremony revealing the region’s 50 best bars and The Best Bar in Asia 2026, this year’s event programme includes the Bartenders’ Feast showcasing Macau’s diverse F&B scene and Meet the Bartenders, an exclusive media roundtable session. The Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony was streamed live and is available to view on the 50 Best YouTube channel here.

50 Best works with professional services consultancy Deloitte as its official independent adjudication partner to help protect the integrity and authenticity of the voting process and the resulting list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars.

1) Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou
2) Zest, Seoul
3) Bar Leone, Hong Kong
4) Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, Bangkok
5) MO Bar Shenzhen, Shenzhen
6) Bar Us, Bangkok
7) Lennon’s, Bangkok
8) Boilermaker, Goa
9) Jigger & Pony, Singapore
10) Obsidian Bar, Shenzhen
11) Modernhaus, Jakarta
12) Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore
13) Alice, Seoul
14) Vender, Taichung
15) Cosmo Pony, Jakarta
16) Offtrack, Singapore
17) Bar Sathorn, Bangkok
18) Soka, Bengaluru
19) Pony Up, Shanghai
20) BKK Social Club, Bangkok
21) Carrots Bar, Jakarta
22) Gokan, Hong Kong
23) Punch Room Tokyo, Tokyo
24) Coa, Hong Kong
25) Opium, Bangkok
26) Virtù, Tokyo
27) CMYK, Changsha
28) Ralph’s Bar, Chengdu
29) Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya
30) Bar Spirit Forward, Bengaluru
31) G.O.D, Bangkok
32) Three X Co, Kuala Lumpur
33) Bar Cham, Seoul
34) Workshop14, Hanoi
35) To Infinity & Beyond, Taipei
36) Mius, Hong Kong
37) Argo, Hong Kong
38) Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur
39) Bar Libre, Tokyo
40) The Golden Tooth, Jakarta
41) The Han-Jia, Tainan
42 M+MS Bar, Seoul
43) Origin Bar, Singapore
44) Problem Child, Makati
45) The St. Regis Bar (Macau), Macau
46) The Hudson Rooms, Hanoi
47) Montana, Hong Kong
48) Aqua Bar, Bangkok
49) Penicillin, Hong Kong
50) Tiao, Beijing

About Asia’s 50 Best Bars

Asia’s 50 Best Bars is the first regional event of The World’s 50 Best Bars brand, created in 2016 with the purpose of showcasing the best and most innovative talent in the drinks industry in this region. The annual ranking is based on the votes of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars Academy, comprising the most knowledgeable and travelled members of the bar industry, drinks media and mixology experts from across Asia. The Academy spans dozens of cities across the continent, reflecting the relative development and importance of bar scenes in different locations and the diversity of the drinking scene in Asia. Asia’s 50 Best Bars, The World’s 50 Best Bars, North America’s 50 Best Bars and Europe’s 50 Best Bars are owned and organised by William Reed, the group behind The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, The World’s 50 Best Hotels and The World’s 50 Best Vineyards.

About the host destination partners Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace

Wynn Macau is a luxury integrated resort in Macau with two iconic towers featuring a total of 1,014 spacious rooms, luxury retail, 11 food and beverage outlets, two spas, a salon and a pool. The resort proudly boasts three distinct entertainment experiences, including the choreographed Performance Lake, blending lofty plumes of water, gracefully choreographed, powerful LED lights and fire effects.

About the main sponsor: Perrier

For more than a century, PERRIER® has collaborated with some of the world’s most influential major artists, including Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Bernard Villemot, and Jean-Gabriel Domergue, each of whom in their own way have demonstrated a certain artistic irreverence. With a history that began in 1863 in Vergèze, in the Gard region of France, the brand is now recognized worldwide thanks to its iconic green bottle. Appreciated in more than 140 countries, the brand is acclaimed for its natural mineral water combined with the power of its bubbles.