2018 World's 50 Asia's Best Bars: Complete List and 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.

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.

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 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 Old Man when the bar is the point of the night, not just a stop after dinner. Its awards history makes it a serious Central cocktail pick, but it is better for couples or small groups than loose larger parties. If you want wine, James Suckling Wine Central is the cleaner alternative; for another cocktail-led night, compare Coa and Bar Leone.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Smalls is a good Bangkok pick when the plan calls for a relaxed Sathon room rather than a formal, food-led booking. Use it as a late-evening anchor or casual group stop; choose Saawaan, Lahnyai, or Plu instead when the priority is Thai dining with clearer cuisine and price signals.

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 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.

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.

Gen Yamamoto is worth targeting for a serious two-person cocktail evening in Tokyo, especially for anniversaries or a return visit that needs focus rather than noise. Booking is hard, so treat it as the anchor of the night. Better for couples than groups, stronger as an occasion bar than a casual fallback.

TCRC is the Tainan pick to prioritize when the night is drinks-first and occasion-driven, not when you need dinner or a confirmed wine-bar format. Its strongest public credential is World's 50 Best Asia's Best Bars #23 in 2016, which makes it a more serious cocktail choice than a casual fallback.

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.

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.

JungleBird is a practical Bukit Damansara choice when the night calls for flexibility rather than a full restaurant booking. Use it after dinner, for a casual catch-up, or when a smaller group wants an easier Kuala Lumpur plan without committing to a long meal.

Loewy works when the brief is a polished Jakarta bar night in Mega Kuningan rather than a wine-led dinner plan. Its strongest proof point is Asia's Best Bars recognition from 2018, making it a safer first-timer choice than a speculative new opening, especially for pairs, client drinks, or small groups.

Book Mixology Salon for a polished Ginza cocktail stop when the bar is the main event, especially for a date or compact celebration. Its 2019 Asia's Best Bars #49 recognition gives it a credible quality signal, but it is not the right choice for a food-led night or a casual group crawl.

Union Brasserie, Bakery and Bar is worth booking when drinks and food need to carry equal weight in central Jakarta. The Plaza Senayan setting makes it practical, while its Asia bar recognition gives it more credibility than a generic mall stop. Choose it for a polished all-purpose night; pick a specialist cocktail bar if drinks are the only priority.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Coley suits a cocktail-led night in Bangsar more than a formal hotel-bar evening. Choose it for dates or small groups who value regional bar recognition and atmosphere; choose a hotel bar instead when the night calls for easier logistics, a larger-group setup, or a fuller dining plan.

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 The Ritz-Carlton Bar & Lounge when you want a polished Cotai hotel-bar setting rather than a casual drinks stop. Its clearest proof point is Asia's Best Bars recognition in 2018, but the safer call is to treat it as a formal lounge pick, not a dedicated wine-bar replacement.

Ku Bar is a strong Bangkok date-night pick for two people who want a focused cocktail stop rather than dinner or a loose group hang. Its Asia's Best Bars recognition gives it a real trust signal, but booking difficulty means first-timers should plan a backup and avoid making it the only anchor of the night.

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.