Asia's 50 Best Bars 2019: Rankings and Analysis

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Coa is the Hong Kong pick for a cocktail-led celebration in Central, especially for a date or small group that cares more about the drinks than dinner, wine, or views. The catch is access: treat it as a planned booking with backup options, not a casual walk-up or happy-hour play.

A serious Shibuya cocktail choice for travellers who want the bar to anchor the night, not just follow dinner. The SG Club is worth prioritising for its international bar-list recognition, especially for pairs, but groups looking for a looser lounge setting should compare it with TRUNK(LOUNGE) or Trump Room.

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.

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.

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 Wise King is a stronger choice for cocktails than for a food-led night. Its Asia bar recognition and Soho/Central basement setting make it useful for dates or small groups, but readers should plan dinner separately if food is the main priority.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tropic City is worth prioritizing for a lively Bangkok cocktail night, especially if the plan is to keep the evening moving rather than sit through a quiet hotel-bar session. It suits small groups, visiting friends, repeat guests who want energy with serious bar credentials. Choose a more formal peer if conversation, dress expectations, or polished hotel service matter more.

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.

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 Rabbit Hole if the plan is a serious Thong Lo cocktail stop, not dinner. Its Asia's Best Bars recognition gives it a stronger reason to plan ahead than a casual neighborhood bar, but food should not be the deciding factor unless the venue's current food details are confirmed elsewhere.

Hope & Sesame is worth prioritising if your Guangzhou night is about cocktails, not dinner. The awards profile is strong enough to justify planning around it, but food should be treated as secondary unless you already have a separate dining plan.

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.

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.

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.

Book Bar Trigona if you want a serious Kuala Lumpur cocktail bar with major global recognition and a polished hotel-bar crowd. It is better for dates, small groups, cocktail-focused travellers than for spontaneous drinks or food-led plans; treat reservations as difficult and keep a fallback ready.

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.

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.

Book Bar Mood if the goal is a serious Taipei cocktail session with a Taiwan-specific point of view, especially around whisky, oolong, local botanicals. It is strongest for dates or small parties who want guidance from the bar team, less ideal for loose groups treating it as a casual drop-in.

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.

Draft Land is worth prioritizing if the night is about cocktails, speed, a clear bar concept rather than a full meal. It suits dates and small celebrations better than large group plans, with Asia's Best Bars recognition giving it a stronger reason to book than a casual walk-in drink.

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.

Oto is the Manila bar to prioritise when drinks matter more than dinner structure. Its public credential, World's 50 Best Asia's Best Bars #47 (2019), makes it a serious Poblacion choice, but it is a poor pick for deal-hunting, large groups, or anyone choosing mainly for outdoor seating. Go with a compact plan and a backup.

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.

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.

The Back Room is worth prioritizing in Manila when cocktails matter more than dinner. Its Shangri-La The Fort address gives it a polished BGC setting, its Asia's 50 Best Bars and Top 500 Bars recognition makes it a stronger choice than a generic hotel lounge for date drinks or a focused after-dinner stop.