2017 World's 50 Asia's Best Bars: The Complete Rankings

A serious Singapore cocktail booking for guests who want a polished, award-recognised hotel-bar experience rather than a casual drink. Go for the cocktails and service, not as a substitute for a full restaurant dinner; smaller parties and planned nights are the better fit.

Speak Low is the Shanghai cocktail pick to prioritize when reputation matters: a small-occasion, drinks-led bar with World's 50 Best, Top 500 Bars, Tatler recognition. Choose it for a date or visitor night; pick a lounge-style alternative if the group is large or the plan needs easier logistics.

Book Bar High Five if the priority is a serious Ginza cocktail stop with global recognition, not a food-led night or casual group drinks. It works best as a focused pre- or post-dinner plan, with food handled elsewhere and a backup bar kept in mind.

28 HongKong Street is worth booking for a focused two-person cocktail night in Singapore, especially if bar pedigree matters more than skyline views or a full dinner format. It is less suitable for spontaneous groups, bargain-led happy hour plans, or guests who want food to drive the evening.

A strong pick for a planned cocktail night in Taipei, especially for first-timers who want a bar with serious international recognition rather than a casual drop-in. It works best for couples or small groups making Da'an the centre of the evening; choose a simpler peer if flexibility matters more than the cocktail program.

Quinary is worth prioritizing for a first Hong Kong cocktail night if drinks are the main event and the group is small. Do not make it the core dinner plan: the safer move is to eat elsewhere, then treat this Central address as a focused bar stop with serious awards credibility and high demand.

Lobster Bar is a strong Central pick for a polished two-person drinks night, especially if you value proven bar recognition and a hotel-adjacent setting. It is less useful as a last-minute fallback, so plan ahead and treat it as a focused cocktail stop rather than a casual group gathering.

Book ATLAS when the occasion calls for a polished Singapore bar rather than a full restaurant meal. It is strongest as a celebration, date, or client-drinks stop in Bugis, especially if the group values setting and easy central logistics over a chef-led dining format.

Book The Bamboo Bar if you want a polished Bangkok hotel-bar experience with serious cocktail recognition, not a bargain round. It is strongest for first-timers, dates, one focused drink in Bang Rak; groups and deal-seekers should compare other Bangkok bars first.

Book Gibson if you want a serious cocktail stop in Singapore and can plan ahead; availability is tough enough that it should anchor the night, not sit as a backup. Choose Big Wine Freaks or Gaston instead if the priority is a wine-by-the-glass evening rather than cocktails.

Alice Cheongdam is the Seoul bar to prioritize for a polished Gangnam date night, especially if cocktail credibility matters more than a food-led evening. Its awards record makes it a safer special-occasion pick than a casual neighborhood stop, but plan ahead and go earlier if conversation is the point.

The Pontiac is worth targeting for a high-energy Central cocktail night, especially for a date or after-dinner stop where drinks matter more than quiet service. It is less suited to groups, dinner-led occasions, or anyone who needs predictable logistics. Recognition from major bar lists gives it credibility, but the smarter move is to build in a backup.

Book Employees Only Singapore when the night needs a polished, group-friendly cocktail bar rather than a quiet specialist counter. Its awards history gives it credibility, but the practical value is social: it works better for four-plus people who want a recognizable Singapore bar anchor and are willing to plan ahead.

Sober Company is a strong Shanghai pick when the priority is a recognized cocktail bar rather than an easy, casual drink. Book it for a focused date or small-group night in Huangpu; do not rely on it as a dinner substitute, since the confirmed food details are thin.

Native is worth booking for a focused cocktail occasion in Singapore, especially for two people or a small celebration group. Its Amoy Street address makes it easy to pair with dinner nearby, but larger parties should plan early and avoid treating it like a casual walk-in group bar. Recognition from World's 50 Best Bars and Asia's Best Bars supports the case for prioritising it.

Jigger & Pony is worth prioritizing when the brief is a serious Singapore cocktail night with a lively room and strong awards credibility. It is less useful for rooftop views, outdoor space, or an easy last-minute plan, so book early and use it as the anchor rather than a backup stop.

Book Bar Benfiddich if the night is about a serious, bartender-led cocktail experience rather than dinner or a loose group hang. The recognition is strong, the format is intimate, the value makes sense when drinks are the main event, not a pre-meal add-on.

The Curator is the Manila cocktail pick to prioritize when drink quality matters more than skyline views or hotel-lounge comfort. Its awards history gives it a stronger credibility signal than many casual Makati night-out options, but it is better for small, focused drinks plans than terrace-seeking groups.

Zuma in Dubai's DIFC is a high-energy, sharing-format contemporary Japanese restaurant with a Michelin Plate, a MENA 50 Best ranking of #19, a booking difficulty that demands three to four weeks' lead time for weekend dinners. Best suited to groups of three or more who want robata grill, sashimi, a room that runs late; not for intimate or solo dining.

Bar Orchard Ginza is worth prioritizing for a cocktail-led night in Tokyo, especially if the goal is a serious Ginza bar with international recognition rather than a casual drop-in. It suits couples, solo cocktail travelers, small groups better than large parties or discount-driven drinkers.

The only Italian restaurant outside Italy with three Michelin stars, Otto e Mezzo has held that distinction continuously since 2012. Book the tasting menu, time your visit for truffle season (October–December) if possible, plan well ahead; tables are genuinely difficult to secure. At the $$$$ price point, it is the reference address for Italian fine dining in Hong Kong.

Charles H. at the Four Seasons Seoul offers seasonally rotating craft cocktails in a quiet, hotel-lounge setting. Keith Motsi's program earned a 2026 OAD Asia Recommended nod for its technical execution and ingredient-focused approach. Best for travelers seeking a calm, conversational cocktail before or after dinner in Gwanghwamun; not Seoul's most experimental bar, but reliably polished and easy to book.

Bar Trench is a strong Ebisu pick when cocktails are the reason for the night, not when food needs to carry the booking. Go as a pair or on a date, plan dinner separately, treat the reservation as difficult enough to require a backup. The value is in a focused, internationally recognised bar experience rather than a full evening meal.

D.Bespoke is a serious Singapore cocktail booking for small groups, dates, special-occasion drinks, backed by Asia's Best Bars recognition. It is less practical for four-plus guests who need flexibility, food-led pacing, or an easy backup plan; cross-shop Gibson, Live Twice, Humpback, Gaston, or Big Wine Freaks depending on the night.

Nutmeg & Clove is a strong Singapore pick for a drinks-first night when awards credibility matters more than rooftop views or hotel-lounge ease. Book it for a date or small cocktail-focused group; look elsewhere if the plan needs outdoor space, a full dinner substitute, or a lower-effort walk-in evening.

A strong Ginza pick when cocktails are the point, not dinner. STAR BAR GINZA is priced for a serious bar stop and carries a Tabelog 100 signal, making it better for dates, solo drinkers, or two-person after-dinner plans than casual groups chasing a low-cost night out.

Le Chamber is a strong Seoul pick for cocktail-focused dates or small groups who want a polished indoor room in Gangnam. Its awards history gives it real destination-bar credibility, but it is not the right choice if the night depends on outdoor seating, a food-led plan, or easy last-minute flexibility.

Janes & Hooch is worth planning for when the night calls for a cocktail-first date or celebration in Beijing's Chaoyang bar circuit. Its Asia's Best Bars #30 ranking in 2018 gives it real credibility, but treat it as a drinks booking rather than a dinner plan, do not leave arrangements late.

The Other Room is worth prioritising if the goal is a serious cocktail stop on Orchard Road rather than a generic hotel drink. Its World's 50 Best Asia's Best Bars #50 recognition gives it credibility, but the fit is strongest for smaller groups who care about cocktail focus, controlled ambiance, easy central logistics.

Lamp Bar is worth prioritizing if cocktails are the reason for the night, not just a post-dinner add-on. Its Asia's Best Bars recognition gives it a stronger case than a casual Nara drinking stop, but the smarter plan is a small party, tight timing, dinner handled elsewhere.

AER Bar & Lounge is worth booking for a polished Worli night when the priority is atmosphere, date-night energy, a recognized Mumbai bar setting. Treat the food as secondary unless the current menu fits the plan; for a serious meal, eat elsewhere first and use this for drinks after.

Choose East End for a polished Taipei hotel-bar night built around serious cocktails, Taiwanese flavor cues, a stylish Da’an setting. It is worth the splurge for dates and cocktail-focused travelers, but less suited to larger groups or anyone chasing a cheap, casual drink.

Vesper is worth prioritizing when the night is about cocktails rather than a loose group hang. Its recognition includes Top 500 Bars Best Bars #172 in 2025 and World's 50 Best Bars #55 in 2023, which puts it in Bangkok's serious-drinks set. Best fit: dates, two-person crawls, visitors staying around Si Lom.

The Chinnery at Mandarin Oriental is the Central pick for a polished, spirits-first hotel bar rather than a loud cocktail crawl. Choose it over The Aubrey for a quieter classic-hotel mood, over Artifact if category depth matters more than concept-driven drinks.

A strong Seminyak pick when the night calls for a lively drinks anchor with Asia's Best Bars recognition, not a quiet wine-bar dinner. First-timers should choose it for atmosphere and social energy; for calmer conversation, compare W Lounge or Ku de Ta before committing.

Book Bar D.Still when the plan is a serious cocktail stop in Seoul's Mapo area, not a casual group fallback. Its Asia's Best Bars recognition gives it credibility, but the smarter play is a small-party visit planned ahead rather than an improvised late-night stop.

ABV is the Mission pick for a drink-led date or small celebration when cocktail credibility matters more than a full dinner plan. The late hours help, but the smarter move is early evening if conversation matters; choose Little Star Pizza or Poc-Chuc Restaurant instead when food value is the priority.

Teens of Thailand works when drinks, not dinner, are the main event in Bangkok. Treat it as a flexible date-night or post-meal bar stop rather than a full special-occasion restaurant; for a more structured food plan nearby, compare it with Jok's Kitchen, Delia, or Nai Mong Hoi Thod.

Keepers is a better pick for a focused Cheongdam cocktail night than for a loose group plan. Its World's 50 Best Asia's Best Bars #47 recognition from 2018 gives it a credible reason to book, but the safer use case is two people who care about the bar program, not four or more people chasing an easy all-purpose night out.

Book Club Boys Saloon if you want a recognized Taipei bar with Ximending energy and do not need a quiet, predictable night. Its 2017 Asia's Best Bars #49 recognition gives it credibility, but with no published price or hours here, value is mainly about atmosphere and occasion rather than a clearly priced round.

The Night Rooster is the Ubud pick for a cocktail-focused night rather than a full dinner or resort-lounge plan. Its Asia bar recognition makes it more compelling than many casual central-Ubud options, but small groups and date-night drinkers are the safest fit. If space, hotel convenience, or a slower group evening matters more, compare Jati Bar, Pinstripe Bar, Uma Bar, The Panen Padi Bar.