16 Greater China Bars on Asia's 50 Best Bar List for 2019

By Cristina Ng, May 11, 2019

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Asia's 50 Best Bars 2019 was announced at Singapore's historic Capitol Theatre on May 9, and 16 Greater China bars have earned spots on the list. 

Greater China claims 16 of the spots followed by Singapore and Thailand, with 11 and seven, respectively.

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Image by Fred Lin/That's

The No. 1 spot and title of “Best Bar in Asia” goes to The Old Man, Hong Kong. 

Taipei's Indulge Experimental Bistro also cracks the top three, claiming a position after the “Best Bar in Singapore” Manhattan. Other Taipei-based bars to make the list are three newcomers: Aha Saloon (No. 24), Bar Mood (No. 43) and Draft Land (No. 45). 

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Kazuhisa Arai (left) and Shingo Gokan (right) at the awards ceremony. Image courtesy of Asia's 50 Best Bars

As the recipient of the “Altos Bartenders' Bartender” Shingo Gokan also had three bars on the list. That includes Shanghai bars Speak Low (No. 7) and Sober Company (No. 16) plus new entry The SG Club (No. 13) in Tokyo. 

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Image by Fred Lin/That's 

Yao Lu's neighborhood cocktail bar Union Trading Company also represents Shanghai - for the fourth year running - at No. 30 (down two spots from 2018).  

This year's “Highest New Entry” award goes to Coa, in Hong Kong. Also in Hong Kong, Quinary (up five spaces to No. 10), The Pontiac (No. 32), Lobster Bar & Grill (No. 33), and 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana (No. 38) were joined by newcomer The Wise King (No. 18).  


Image courtesy of Hope & Sesame

While Beijing's Janes & Hooch has fallen off the list, Guangzhou's Hope & Sesame (No. 35) has put their city on the map as one to watch. 

Here's the full list: 

1.The Old Man, Hong Kong, China

2. Manhattan, Singapore, Singapore

3. Indulge Experimental Bistro, Chinese Taipei

4. Native, Singapore, Singapore

5. Atlas, Singapore, Singapore

6. High Five, Tokyo, Japan

7. Speak Low, Shanghai, China

8. The Bamboo Bar At Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, Thailand

9. Jigger & Pony, Singapore, Singapore

10. Quinary, Hong Kong, China

11. Tippling Club, Singapore, Singapore

12. Coa, Hong Kong, China

13. The SG Club, Tokyo, Japan

14. Charles H, Seoul, South Korea

15. Gibson, Singapore, Singapore

16. Sober Company, Shanghai, China

17. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo, Japan

18. The Wise King, Hong Kong, China

19. Le Chamber, Seoul, South Korea

20. Backstage Cocktail Bar, Bangkok, Thailand

21. 28 HongKong Street, Singapore, Singapore

22. Operation Dagger, Singapore, Singapore

23. Bar Trench, Tokyo, Japan

24. Aha Saloon, Taipei, Chinese Taipei

25. D.Bespoke, Singapore, Singapore

26. Vesper, Bangkok, Thailand

27. Coley, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

28. Bar Orchard Ginza, Tokyo, Japan

29. Alice Cheongdam, Seoul, South Korea

30. Union Trading Company, Shanghai, China

31. Tropic City, Bangkok, Thailand

32. The Pontiac, Hong Kong, China

33. Lobster Bar & Grill, Hong Kong, China

34. Rabbit Hole, Bangkok, Thailand

35. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou, China

36. Stockton, Hong Kong, China

37. The Curator, Manila, Philippines

38. 8 1/2 Otto E Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong, China

39. Union Brasserie, Bakery & Bar, Jakarta, Indonesia

40. Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

41. Employees Only, Singapore, Singapore

42. Smalls, Bangkok, Thailand

43. Bar Mood, Taipei, Chinese Taipei

44. Junglebird, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

45. Draft Land, Taipei, Chinese Taipei

46. The Other Room, Singapore, Singapore 

47. Oto, Manila, Philippines

48. Teens Of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand

49. Mixology Salon, Tokyo, Japan

50. The Back Room, Manila, Philippines

[Cover image courtesy of Asia's 50 Best Bars]


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