Header image credit: The Old Man
The list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2020, sponsored by Perrier, was announced in a virtual awards ceremony on 14 May. We recently reported that this year, Asia’s 50 Best Bars has launched multiple initiatives to provide relief for the struggling bar industry. With all the devastating news of late, the listing of Asia’s 50 Best Bars hoped to boost morale by spreading a little positivity and recognising the efforts of those in the industry. There is certainly much to celebrate, with a total of eight Hong Kong bars placing on the list – two of which rank in the top 3!
It will come as no surprise that Foodie Forks Best New Bar 2018 The Old Man was named number 2 in Asia and was also awarded the title of The Best Bar in China, sponsored by Matusalem. The tiny but vibrant speakeasy inspired by the works of Ernest Hemingway was named number 1 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019. So who took its well-deserved top spot? That now belongs to Jigger & Pony in Singapore. We’ll have to see how this celebrated cocktail bar compares to our beloved The Old Man as soon as Singapore’s lockdown ends!
Oaxaca-inspired bar COA is raking in the awards this year. Co-founder and head mixologist Jay Khan was recently named Altos Bartenders’ Bartender 2020, and now the bar has earned the coveted number 3 spot on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2020. Go, COA, go!
Quinary, HK’s multisensory mixology destination, has secured a spot on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list for the fourth year in a row, placing at number 16. Neighbourhood favourite The Pontiac comes in at number 35, while new entrants Caprice Bar at the Four Seasons and Island Shangri-La’s Lobster Bar and Grill have placed at numbers 34 and 44 respectively. The 13th-century-inspired The Wise King comes in at number 18, and Chef Umberto Bombana’s three-Michelin-stared 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana sits pretty at number 28.
The bar teams from Quinary, COA, The Wise King and 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana live-streamed the awards and celebrated together at COA
Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2020
1. Jigger & Pony, Singapore
2. The Old Man Hong Kong, Hong Kong
3. COA, Hong Kong
4. Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei
5. Atlas, Singapore
6. Native, Singapore
7. The Bamboo Bar, Bangkok
8. Manhattan, Singapore
9. The SG Club, Tokyo
10. AHA Saloon, Taipei
11. Vesper, Bangkok
12. Sober Company, Shanghai
13. Bar Mood, Taipei
14. Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur
15. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
16. Quinary, Hong Kong
17. Tippling Club, Singapore
18. The Wise King, Hong Kong
19. Speak Low, Shanghai
20. Bar High Five, Tokyo
21. Bee’s Knees, Kyoto
22. The Old Man Singapore, Singapore
23. D.Bespoke, Singapore
24. Tropic City, Bangkok
25. Gibson, Singapore
26. Draft Land, Taipei
27. ROOM by Le Kief, Taipei
28. 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong
29. Charles H, Seoul
30. 28 HongKong Street, Singapore
31. Rabbit Hole, Bangkok
32. Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore
33. Backstage Cocktail Bar, Bangkok
34. Caprice Bar, Hong Kong
35. The Pontiac, Hong Kong
36. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou
37. JungleBird, Kuala Lumpur
38. The Odd Couple, Shanghai
39. Bar Trench, Tokyo
40. Sidecar, New Delhi
41. Bar Orchard Ginza, Tokyo
42. The Curator, Manila
43. Union Brasserie, Bakery & Bar, Jakarta
44. Lobster Bar and Grill, Hong Kong
45. The Back Room, Manila
46. MO Bar, Singapore
47. Alice, Seoul
48. Coley Cocktail Bar, Kuala Lumpur
49. Le Chamber, Seoul
50. Bar Cham, Seoul
Which spot should be named Foodie Forks Best New Bar this year?
Cast your vote for Foodie Forks 2020 now!
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