COA IN HONG KONG RETAINS ITS TITLE AS THE BEST BAR IN ASIA FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW

The list of Asia's 50 Best Bars 2023 was announced at a live ceremony in Hong Kong and features bars from 17 cities across the region 

HONG KONG, July 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

• Coa ranks No.1 and is named The Best Bar in Asia, sponsored by Perrier, and The Best Bar in Hong Kong
• The list features 13 new entries and bars spanning 17 cities
• Singapore leads with 11 bars on the list, with Jigger & Pony ranking No.2 and named The Best Bar in Singapore, as well as clinching the Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award
• Analogue Initiative in Singapore takes the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award
• Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar in Bangkok is named the London Essence Best New Opening
• Virtù, Tokyo wins Disaronno Highest New Entry
• Tokyo's Hiroyasu Kayama, bartender-owner of Bar Benfiddich, is crowned Roku Industry Icon
• Zest in Seoul is named Nikka Highest Climber after rising 43 places up the rankings
• Night Hawk in Singapore receives the Campari One To Watch Award
• The Cocktail Club, Jakarta takes the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award

For the full 1-50 list, please refer to the accompanying graphic or scroll to the bottom of this release.

The list of Asia's 50 Best Bars 2023, sponsored by Perrier, was announced at a live awards ceremony tonight in Hong Kong. The ceremony, hosted in collaboration with 50 Best's destination partner Hong Kong Tourism Board, was the first full-scale gathering of the bar community in Asia since 2019. The highly-anticipated countdown featured bars from 17 cities across Asia and culminated in Coa in Hong Kong being named The Best Bar in Asia, for the third consecutive year. 

The awards ceremony was also streamed live on The World's 50 Best Bars Facebook and 50 Best Bars TV YouTube channel and is available to view on both of these platforms.

Coa, Hong Kong, has achieved the remarkable feat of holding onto the No.1 spot for three consecutive years while also being awarded The Best Bar in Asia and The Best Bar in Hong Kong, sponsored by Perrier. Established in 2017 by bartender-owner Jay Khan, the bar takes its name from the agave harvesting tool and showcases a vast collection of over 200 bottles of tequila, mezcal, and other handcrafted Mexican spirits like raicilla, bacanora, sotol, and charanda. Khan, an industry veteran with over 15 years of experience, was voted Bartenders' Bartender at Asia's 50 Best Bars 2020. Coa made its debut on the list in 2019, securing the Highest New Entry Award at No.12 and has been steadily rising in popularity to claim the coveted top spot which it has been holding onto steadfastly.

At No.2 is Jigger & Pony, Singapore, which is also The Best Bar in Singapore for the third year running. This year, it has also been crowned the Rémy Martin Legend of the List. Climbing up seven spots to No.3 is BKK Social Club, which is named The Best Bar in Thailand. Tokyo's Bar Benfiddich comes in at No.4, moving up a spot from last year's No.5 and taking the title of The Best Bar in Japan. A meteoric rise of 43 spots puts Seoul's Zest at No.5 and with this, it wins both the Nikka Highest Climber Award as well as The Best Bar in Korea. 

Mark Sansom, Content Director for Asia's 50 Best Bars, says: "We are overjoyed to be in Hong Kong to celebrate Asia's vibrant bar community for 50 Best's first-ever event in this brilliant city for eating and drinking. Asia's bars continue to push the envelope when it comes to fabulous drinking experiences and that is evident from the talent and creativity on display at the bars on this year's list from 17 cities across the continent. Congratulations yet again to Jay Khan and the team at Coa for holding onto its top position ? the first bar in Asia to take the No.1 spot for three years in a row."

Elisa Gregori, Perrier Global Business Unit Director, says: "On behalf of Perrier®, we are, once again, honoured to be the leading sponsor of Asia's 50 Best Bars 2023. Perrier's expansion into Asia was facilitated through the most iconic hotels and bars of this region, and we are grateful to return the support. We are extremely proud to spotlight the bartenders, mixologists and other professionals who push boundaries to create unforgettable experiences for anyone who walks through their doors. From its ancient source in Vergèze, in the Gard region of France, Perrier® exploded forth from the French café culture and, for more than a century, has proudly been the ultimate companion to the global bar community, who create, innovate, and delight in their never-ending quest to create the perfect drink."

Success stories by destination

A total of 12 bars made the list this year from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Holding on to the No.1 position is Coa, which also wins The Best Bar in Asia, sponsored by Perrier, and The Best Bar in Hong Kong. Other ranked bars from Hong Kong are Argo and Darkside at No.8 and No.9 respectively and The Aubrey at No.17, which has moved up an impressive 21 spots from 2022's No.38. Penicillin sits at No.26 and Quinary is at No.31. At No.33 is the omakase cocktail bar Mostly Harmless which is a new entry on the list. Hong Kong's stalwart cocktail bar The Old Man re-enters the 50 Best rankings at No.47. Taipei's Indulge Experimental Bistro is at No.11 and is also named The Best Bar in Taiwan. Breaking into the top 50 rankings is The Public House, Taipei at No.43 and rounding off Taiwan's three bars on the list is Taichung's Vender coming in at No.41.

Singapore commands 11 spots on the list, led by Jigger & Pony at No.2. For its consistently elevated classic cocktails served in a convivial setting, it has been named The Best Bar in Singapore for the third consecutive year. Founded by bar veteran and former Roku Industry Icon winner Colin Chia, Nutmeg & Clove makes an impressive leap of 29 spots up to No.7. Sago House comes in at No.10, climbing up 21 spots from last year's No.31 and also clinches the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award for its unparalleled service experience. Analogue Initiative at No.15 is another high climber with a meteoric 22-spot jump, as is 28 HongKong Street at No. 24 which has moved up 25 places from last year's No.49. Manhattan comes in at No. 21, Atlas is at No.27 and Employees Only re-enters the list at No.30. Stay Gold Flamingo from industry titans Jerrold Khoo and Bai JiaWei is Singapore's only new entrant to the rankings at No.32, while Native re-enters at No.42.

Japan secures seven spots in 2023's list led by Tokyo's Bar Benfiddich which moves up one position to No.4 and is also named The Best Bar in Japan. The venue's bartender-owner Hiroyasu Kayama has also been named the Roku Industry Icon 2023. The SG Club climbs 7 spots up to No.14 and coming in at No.20 is new entrant Virtù, which is also this year's Disaronno Highest New Entry. Nara's Lamp Bar is at No.23 and Kyoto's Bee's Knees is at No.44, while Tokyo's High Five re-enters the list at No.45. Rounding off Japan's showing is The Bellwood at No.49.

Zest in Seoul leads the charge for Korea at No.5 with an impressive 43-position climb giving it both the Nikka Highest Climber as well as The Best Bar in Korea titles. Cham Bar comes in at No.13, with Le Chamber at No.25 and Alice at No.28. Seoul counts two new entrants to the top 50 rankings: Texan-themed BBQ and cocktail joint Southside Parlor at No.37 and Soko at No.46.

India's showing on the rankings accounts for four spots led by New Delhi's Sidecar at No.18, which is also The Best Bar in India. From Mumbai, The Bombay Canteen is a new entrant at No.35 and Bengaluru's Copitas climbs up six spots to No.38. The Living Room, a cocktail bar set in Mumbai's fine-dining restaurant Masque (No.16 on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2023 list), breaks into the ranking at No.48.

Thailand is represented by four positions in the list, all of which belong to Bangkok bars. BKK Social Club leads the pack at No.3. Evoking the legendary glamour of Buenos Aires, it is also crowned The Best Bar in Thailand for the second year. Tropic City climbs up to No.6 from last year's No.17 and Vesper sits at No.12. At No.22 is new entrant Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar which is also this year's London Essence Best New Opening.

Indonesia counts two spots on the list led by Jakarta's The Cocktail Club at No.19, which is both The Best Bar in Indonesia and the winner of the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award. Pantja, also from Jakarta, with its farm-to-table cocktail list, comes in at No.29 as a new entrant. Kuala Lumpur's Bar Trigona leads Malaysia's showing at No.36, taking home The Best Bar in Malaysia title. Rounding off the list at No.50 is Penrose, Kuala Lumpur. The intimate, 25-seater drinking den is a new entrant to the ranking. Smoke & Bitters from Hirikiteya is Sri Lanka's sole representative on the list climbing two spots to No.40, while being crowned The Best Bar in Sri Lanka. Re-entering the list is Manila's The Curator at No. 34, which is also The Best Bar in The Philippines.

Special Awards

Night Hawk (No.73 on the 51-100 list) in Singapore has been named the Campari One To Watch Award, hand-picked by the organisers of Asia's 50 Best Bars as a venue with the potential to break into the 1-50 list in the future. Singapore bar veteran Peter Chua's walk-ins-only, 22-seater watering hole offers a spot for mixology enthusiasts to appreciate potent libations, engage in cocktail conversations at the counter-seats, and indulge in intimate, heady escapism.

Hiroyasu Kayama, the bartender-owner of Tokyo's Bar Benfiddich, is crowned the Roku Industry Icon. Kayama is a farm-to-bar cocktail champion and forestry enthusiast whose establishment exudes a medieval apothecary vibe. An inspiring force and a true master of his craft, he pioneers ethical farming and in-house distillation to bring creativity to his drinks.

The Rémy Martin Legend of the List has been awarded to Singapore's Jigger & Pony (No.2), an award given to a bar that has performed most consistently in the rankings since the list's 2016 inception. They debuted on the list at No.8 and landed the coveted No.1 spot in 2020 and have steadfastly ranked No.2 for the past three years. 

Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, Bangkok is awarded London Essence Best New Opening and enters the list at No.22. The stylish new drinking den led by Ronnaporn Kanivichaporn impresses with its cocktail list that honours every part of the ingredient to create its drinks.

The Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award is won by Analogue (No.15) in Singapore. It marks a deserving win for this three-year-old bar that puts sustainability at the fore, right from a bar counter 3D printed from recycled plastic bottles, upcycled coasters and tabletops, and plant-based menus featuring low-impact ingredients and base spirits with reduced carbon footprints.

Making its debut on the list at No.20 is Virtù, which wins the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award. The cocktail and cognac lounge at the Four Seasons Otemachi has impressed drink enthusiasts with a cocktail list that marries French aperitifs and liqueurs with Japanese shochu and whisky.

Ascending a remarkable 43 spots from last year's list, Zest at No.5 wins the Nikka Highest Climber Award as well as The Best Bar in Korea. The sustainability-driven bar is steadfast on its low-waste principles while also paying homage to Korean aesthetics and locally sourced ingredients and flavours.

The Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu goes to The Cocktail Club in Jakarta. Its vast and extensive menu is anchored with creative riffs on the classics and heavily features local ingredients (fermented cempedak, curry leaves, and red rice to name a few) inventive techniques (house-barrel aged whiskey) and unique flavour combinations, all enjoyed in a setting where art deco meets lush Indonesian warmth.

Pre-announced special award winners that accepted their accolades at the live ceremony include Sago House in Singapore, winner of the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award, and Beckaly Franks from Hong Kong, winner of the Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award.

Voting Structure

The annual list of Asia's 50 Best Bars is created from the votes of Asia's 50 Best Bars Academy ? an influential and anonymous group of 260 industry leaders that include bartenders, bar owners, drinks writers and cocktail aficionados. Voting for Asia's 50 Best Bars is based on the same model as The World's 50 Best Bars, but in this case, all voters are based in Asia.  Prior to 2021, each Academy member voted for six bars, with at least two of these from outside their home country/SAR. Since the global pandemic has restricted international travel, the voting rules have been revised to reflect this situation. Since 2022, voters can nominate a total of seven bars, including up to five from their home country, but with no obligation to vote for bars outside of their home country/SAR if they have been unable to travel. 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. 

For more details on Asia's 50 Best Bars and selection process, please visit:
https://www.worlds50bestbars.com/asia/ 

For media centre access, please visit:
https://mediacentre.theworlds50best.com

Follow 50 Best:

• Follow on Instagram: @50BestBars #Asias50BestBars
• Follow on Twitter: @50BestBars
• Like on Facebook: www.facebook.com/50BestBars
• Subscribe to the YouTube channel: 50 Best Bars TV
• Visit the website: www.worlds50bestbars.com/asia

Asia's 50 Best Bars Ceremony Livestream

• Date and time: 18 July 2023, 20:25 in Hong Kong / 13:25 in the UK
• YouTube: https://bit.ly/A50BB23Livestream
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/A50BB23LivestreamFB

Notes to the Editor:

1 - 50 list:

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 260-strong 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. Asia's 50 Best Bars, The World's 50 Best Bars and North America's 50 Best Bars are owned and organised by William Reed, the group behind The World's 50 Best Restaurants and The World's 50 Best Hotels.

Our Partners:

• Hong Kong Tourism Board ? Official Host Partner
• Perrier ? Official Water Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in Asia and The Best Bar in Hong Kong
• Michter's ? Official American Whiskey Partner; sponsor of Michter's Art of Hospitality
• Nikka Whisky ? Official Whisky of the World Partner; sponsor of Nikka Highest Climber and The Best Bar in Korea
• Ketel One ? Official Vodka Partner; sponsor of Ketel One Sustainable Bar
• Altos Tequila ? Official Tequila Partner; sponsor of Altos Bartenders' Bartender
• Siete Misterios ? Official Mezcal Partner; sponsor of Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu and The Best Bar in Indonesia
• The London Essence Co. ? Official Mixer Partner; sponsor of London Essence Best New Opening
• Disaronno ? Official Italian Liqueur Partner; sponsor Disaronno Highest New Entry
• Roku Gin ? Official Gin Partner; sponsor of Roku Industry Icon
• Matusalem ? Official Rum Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in Malaysia and ceremonial scarves
• Naked Malt ? Official Scotch Whisky Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in Mainland China
• Tia Maria ? Official Coffee Liqueur Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in Thailand
• Rémy Martin ? Official Cognac Partner; sponsor of Rémy Martin Legend of the List and The Best Bar in Singapore
• Campari ? Official Bitters Partner; sponsor of Campari One To Watch
• Torres Brandy ? Official Brandy Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in Japan
• Bareksten ? Official Aquavit Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in Taiwan
• Mancino Vermouth ? Official Vermouth Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in Sri Lanka and ceremonial shakers
• Amaro Lucano ? Official Amaro Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in India
• Scrappy's Bitters ? Official Cocktail Bitters Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in The Philippines
• Rosewood Hong Kong ? Official Hotel and Award Ceremony Venue Partner
• Four Seasons Hong Kong ? Official Hotel and Bartenders' Feast Venue Partner
• Aqua Hutong Hong Kong ? Official Closing Party Venue Partner

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SOURCE 50 Best