World’s 50 Best Bars 2023: The must-attend guest shifts around town

Soon, the mixology world’s glitterati will descend on Singapore, as Asia’s cocktail capital prepares to host one of the biggest cocktail events of the year - the first edition of The World’s 50 Best Bars held outside of Europe on 17th October.

Naturally, there’ll be more world-class mixologists than you can shake a jigger at popping up at some of our favourite bars for some hotly anticipated guest shifts. With such an unprecedented number of international bar talents in town, cocktail connoisseurs here will certainly be spoilt for choice.

Here’s how to navigate (almost) a week of exclusive, one-night-only cocktail experiences you won’t need to buy a plane ticket for.

Related: Singapore bars Jigger & Pony and Manhattan on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022 list

13 October

Where: Smoke & Mirrors

Guest Bar: Pier 42 (Oslo)

National Gallery’s rooftop bar Smoke & Mirrors kicks things off on 14th October with a shift by Diageo World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2022 Adrián Michalcík. Director of Mixology at Norwegian bar Pier 42, the renowned Slovakian bartender will present a selection of classic cocktails from boutique hotel Amerikalinjen’s award-winning bar.

14 October

Where: Live Twice

Guest Bar: Soko (Seoul)

The schedule really starts to heat up the next day, with guest shifts at multiple bars across the island. Jigger & Pony Group is hosting four, including a 50 Best Signature Session in collaboration with Stockholm’s Tjoget at their flagship venue. If that gets too crowded, not far, at the more low-key Live Twice, Seoul bar Soko will be meticulously crafting its 1920s-style classic cocktails in the intimate mid-century Japan-inspired bar.

Anti:dote

Guest Bar: Vender (Taichung)

For something different, move to Fairmont’s Anti:dote. Taichung’s Summer Chen, co-founder of award-winning cocktail bar Vender, will be serving up four low-ABV, low-sugar Matusalem Rum concoctions, made with naturally sweet ingredients like winter melon, agave nectar, maple and honey.

15 October

Where: Potato Head Singapore

Featuring bartenders from The Pontiac (Hong Kong), Bar Lab Hospitality (Miami), Salón de Agave (Mexico City), Potato Head (Bali)

After a special edition brunch at Manhattan with cocktails by Vancouver’s Botanist Bar, keep the festivities going with a Rooftop Party at Potato Head Singapore. From 4 to 8pm, four stellar bartenders Beckaly Franks (The Pontiac, Call Me Al, Ponty Café and Artifact - Hong Kong), Christine Wiseman (Bar Lab Hospitality - Miami), Megs Miller (Salón de Agave - Mexico City), and Shafira Permata (Potato Head - Bali) will making magic behind the bar. Sip delicious Altos Tequila creations while grooving to a DJ set by Tropic City’s Sebastian De La Cruz at the top of Keong Saik’s iconic building.

Where: Plume

Guest Bars: Quinary (Hong Kong), The Gresham (Brisbane), Tokyo Confidential (Tokyo)

When night falls, the drinks don’t stop flowing as the guest shifts continue. Bar Benfiddich, The Best Bar in Japan 2023, is setting up shop for the evening at Jigger & Pony, while Sago House is hosting quirky bar-within-a-bar Service Bar at its original address before their move to Duxton Hill. We say end the night at Plume, Pan Pacific Singapore’s destination bar, and let the bars come to you for a change. Over 23 mixologists will showcase their signature drinks, including Antonio Lai of Hong Kong’s Quinary in Hong Kong, Millie Tang from The Gresham in Australia, and Holly Graham from Tokyo Confidential, across three days of the inaugural Barstars festival.

16 October

Where: Manhattan

Guest Bar: The Connaught Bar (London)

A day ahead of the ceremony, The Connaught Bar, 8th on The World’s 50 Best Bars last year, brings its iconic drinks like the Connaught Martini, and The Goodfellas to Conrad Singapore Orchard’s Manhattan. Enjoy the cocktail bar’s famously elegant hospitality as Ago Perrone, along with Maura Milia and Riccardo Lugano, recreate the full experience from 4 to 7pm.

Where: Sago House 2.0

Guest Bar: Harry’s New York Bar (Paris)

In the evening, catch a sneak peek at Sago House’s new digs when the bar plays host to another legendary bar - Harry’s Bar. Bartender Patrick Dooley and owner Franz Mac Elhone themselves will be making their celebrated classics from the century-old bar, so you know you’re in for a rare treat. 

Where: Atlas

Guest Bar: Boadas Cocktails (Barcelona)

It’ll be hard to tear yourself away, but a stint by Boadas Cocktails, Barcelona’s oldest cocktail bar, at Atlas might just be reason enough. Drinks will be made by industry legend Simone Coporale, whose bar Sips ranked 3rd on The World's 50 Best Bars 2022. Or you could carve out some time for another Barcelonian bar Paradiso, last year’s World’s Best Bar, as it pops up at Shangri-La Hotel’s Origin Bar from 9 to 11pm.

18 October

Where: Manhattan

Guest Bar: Dukes Bar (London)

No doubt the mood will be extra celebratory a day after the awards. It’s more than likely it’s at least in part because the "maestro of the martini" Dukes Bar Manager, Alessandro Palazzi himself will be making his famous table-side martinis at Manhattan from 5 to 10pm. James Bond fans will be thrilled; it’s where author Ian Fleming, a regular at the renowned bar, reportedly thought up the classic “shaken, not stirred” line.

Where: Las Palmas

Guest Bar: The Bar at The Ritz-Carlton (Tokyo)

If a Californian poolside bar is more your vibe, however, The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo’s Head Bartender Kentaro Wada will be taking over at Las Palmas, the rooftop bar at Courtyard by Marriott Singapore Novena. The award-winning bartender will be mixing up such drinks as Tokyo Martini, Bee’s & Tea, and Aberdeen Hoji Highball. 

Where: Republic

Guest Bar: L’Antiquario (Naples)

And then there’s classic Italian speakeasy cocktail bar, L’Antiquario. A staple in the Naples cocktail scene, the bar’s Neapolitan hospitality is brought to Singapore by Founder and Manager Alexander Frezza, and Bartender Dario Tortorella. To sample their five-cocktail menu, pay a visit to The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore’s Republic.