Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2021: Hong Kong’s COA Takes The Crown, 12 Singapore Bars Make The Cut

PUBLISHED May 6th, 2021 08:18 pm | UPDATED May 11th, 2021 01:24 pm

For the second pandemic year running, the show went virtual for the sixth edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars. Lockdowns, alcohol bans, and drinking curfews might continue to cripple the region’s bar industries, but this all-star ranking is certainly heartening for hopes of future recovery. With COVID-19 vaccines on the horizon, it’s also fuel for our dreams of drinking across Asia once more. If you’re already thirsty at the thought, here’s our rundown of the results for Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2021.

Known for its passion for all things agave, COA in Hong Kong swept the crown this year, leap-frogging two places from its No. 3 spot in 2020. Singapore’s Jigger & Pony made a surprise spring into top spot last year, and they’ve continued to achieve a stellar showing at No. 2. They’ve held on to their title as Best Bar in Singapore as well – no surprise for a drinking den which has seen Campari lollipops grace its tipples.

The list gets more diverse this year with 13 cities making the cut. Dominating the rankings once more is Asia’s unofficial cocktail country China, which clocks in at 13 bars. Our little red dot, however, punches way above our weight with 12 bars on the list, including a trio of fresh faces. Coffee-and-cocktail concept No Sleep Club (No. 8) has fast become a barfly haunt, winning the Disaronno Highest New Entry award as well.

Gold-Rush inspired spot Barbary Coast (No. 29) and the eclectic Sago House (No. 49) are similarly new entries, forged in the fires of Singapore’s circuit breaker. Meanwhile, MO Bar (No. 45) snags the Michter’s Art of Hospitality award – and anyone who’s had the pleasure of being welcomed by Bar Manager Adrian Besa and his friendly team would know why.

Hong Kong follows hot on Singapore’s heels with an impressive nine bars on the list. Just one more reason why we need that SG-HK travel bubble is Penicillin (No. 30), an eco-conscious concept from The Old Man co-founders Agung Prabowo and Roman Ghale. They also swept this year’s Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award for their reforestation initiatives and inventive tipples, crafted from foraged and discarded produce. Other new kids on the block include the tea-centric Tell Camellia (No. 23) and jazz bar DarkSide (No. 40). American speakeasy The Diplomat (No. 20) wins the London Essence Best New Opening Award, while Caprice Bar (No. 10) is a joint winner of this year’s Nikka Highest Climber Award with their mean martinis.

The Nikka Highest Climber Award sees a tie this year, with two bars soaring a meteoric 24 places up the ranks. Sharing the spotlight with Hong Kong’s Caprice Bar is Sidecar (No. 16) in New Delhi, which also carries on its winning streak as the Best Bar in India. Other notable names include Hong Kong postmodern trailblazer Quinary (No. 25), which earns the title of Heering Legend of the List, as well as new entry Three X Co (No. 47) in Kuala Lumpur – a speakeasy entered through a barber shop of all things.

Here’s the full list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2021:

1. COA, Hong Kong (Best Bar in China)
2. Jigger & Pony, Singapore (Best Bar in Singapore)
3. The SG Club, Tokyo (Best Bar in Japan)
4. Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei (Best Bar in Taiwan)
5. Sober Company, Shanghai
6. Manhattan, Singapore
7. Atlas, Singapore
8. No Sleep Club, Singapore (Disaronno Highest New Entry)
9. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
10. Caprice Bar, Hong Kong (Nikka Highest Climber Award)
11. The Bamboo Bar, Bangkok (Best Bar in Thailand)
12. Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur (Best Bar in Malaysia)
13. Charles H, Seoul (Best Bar in Korea)
14. Native, Singapore
15. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou
16. Sidecar, New Delhi (Best Bar in India & Nikka Highest Climber Award)
17. Bar Mood, Taipei
18. Bee’s Knees, Kyoto
19. Room by Le Kief, Taipei
20. The Diplomat, Hong Kong (London Essence Best New Opening Award)
21. 28 HongKong Street, Singapore
22. Tropic City, Bangkok
23. Tell Camellia, Hong Kong
24. Aha Saloon, Taipei
25. Quinary, Hong Kong (Heering Legend of the List)
26. The Pontiac, Hong Kong
27. High Five, Tokyo
28. The Wise King, Hong Kong
29. Barbary Coast, Singapore
30. Penicillin, Hong Kong
31. Union Trading Company, Shanghai
32. Speak Low, Shanghai
33. Union Brasserie, Bakery & Bar, Jakarta (Best Bar in Indonesia)
34. Bar Cham, Seoul
35. Backstage Cocktail Bar, Bangkok
36. Tippling Club, Singapore
37. Junglebird, Kuala Lumpur
38. The Curator, Manila (Best Bar in the Philippines)
39. D.Bespoke, Singapore
40. DarkSide, Hong Kong
41. Alice, Seoul
42. The Old Man, Singapore
43. Bar Trench, Tokyo
44. Le Chamber, Seoul
45. MO Bar, Singapore (Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award)
46. Vesper, Bangkok
47. Three X Co, Kuala Lumpur
48. Teens of Thailand, Bangkok
49. Sago House, Singapore
50. Star Bar, Tokyo

For the first time, Asia’s 50 Best Bars has also released a 51-100 list to double the love for a pandemic-hobbled bar scene. Singapore snags a respectable six spots on this extended list, with Gibson – a former stalwart on the 50 Best list – notably slipping to No. 66, and fellow Jigger & Pony concept Live Twice ranking at No. 75. Employees Only (No.70), Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall (No.71), The Other Room (No.79), and Junior The Pocket Bar (No.82) round up the list. Meanwhile, coming in as a fresh face at No. 64, Shanghai’s Epic was also named this year’s Campari One to Watch.

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Asia’s 50 Best Bars aims to celebrate the region’s top bars, through rankings created from the votes of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars Academy – a group of over 200 industry leaders across Asia. Members list seven bars in order of preference, based on their bar experiences over the last 18 months, with a minimum of three votes going to bars located outside their country of residence. For more details, check out Asia’s 50 Best Bars’ website.

Top Image: COA