Hong Kong's The Old Man named the best bar in Asia
Revealed at the awards ceremy for Asia's 50 Best Bars 2019, The Old Man from Hong Kong has clinched the number one spot.
By The Peak Team /
The Old Man, Hong Kong, has claimed the no. 1 spot on the list of Asia's 50 Best Bars. Announced at Capitol Piazza on 09 May, the results saw China as one of the most represented countries this year, with 8 bars from Hong Kong, 3 from Shanghai, and for the first time this year, a bar — Hope & Sesame — from Guangzhou.
The Old Man, an Ernest Hemmingway-inspired bar, features drinks that are named after some of the writer's best-known works including The Sun Also Rises — which lends its name to a tipple of copra fat-washed applejack, gin infused with curry leaf, sweet vermouth sous-vide pandan leaves, and kaffir lime.
The bar has opened an offshoot in Singapore along Keong Saik Road, which is helmed by managing partner and founder Andrew Yap.
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11 bars from Singapore also made the list — Manhattan bar at Regent Singapore, which was the best bar in 2018, slid a spot to No. 2.
Craft cocktail stalwart Jigger & Pony was one of the highest climbers, moving 33 places to reach No.9 on the list this year — perhaps due to the move to their new location at Amara hotel.
4 bars from Singapore are in the top 10 — with the locavore Native rising 4 spots to No.4 and Art-Deco gin/Champagne heaven Atlas dropping a spot to no.5.
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Other countries on the list also include China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, The Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand — the lattermost also has a strong showing this year, with 7 bars from Bangkok making the list.
The Asia's 50 Best Bars list has been running since 2016, and is complied from a voting panel of over 200 industry leaders across Asia.
(Related: Best jazz bars in Singapore)
Here's the full list:
- The Old Man, Hong Kong
- Manhattan Bar, Singapore
- Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei
- Native, Singapore
- Atlas, Singapore
- High Five, Tokyo
- Speak Low, Shanghai
- The Bamboo Bar, Bangkok
- Jigger & Pony, Singapore
- Quinary, Hong Kong
- Tippling Club, Singapore
- Coa, Hong Kong [new]
- The SG Club, Tokyo [new]
- Charles H, Seoul
- Gibson, Singapore
- Sober Company, Shanghai
- Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
- The Wise King, Hong Kong [new]
- Le Chamber, Seoul
- Backstage, Bangkok
- 28 HongKong Street, Singapore
- Operation Dagger, Singapore
- Bar Trench, Tokyo
- Aha Saloon, Taipei [new]
- D.Bespoke, Singapore
- Vesper, Bangkok
- Coley, Kuala Lumpur
- Bar Orchard Ginza, Tokyo
- Alice Cheongdam, Seoul
- Union Trading Company, Shanghai
- Tropic City, Bangkok [new]
- The Pontiac, Hong Kong
- Lobster Bar & Grill, Hong Kong
- Rabbit Hole, Bangkok [new]
- Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou [new]
- Stockton, Hong Kong
- The Curator, Manila
- Otto E Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong
- Union Brasserie Bakery & Bar, Jakarta
- Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur
- Employees Only, Singapore
- Smalls, Bangkok [new]
- Bar Mood, Taipei [new]
- Jungle Bird, Kuala Lumpur
- Draft Land, Taipei [new]
- The Other Room, Singapore
- Oto, Manila
- Teens of Thailand, Bangkok [new]
- Mixology Salon, Tokyo
- The Back Room, Manila