Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023: Hong Kong’s COA is No.1 three years running

Hong Kong’s COA is No.1 at Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023, making cocktail history for being Asia’s best bar three years running. Jigger & Pony leads Singapore’s charge at No.2.

A hat trick.

Hong Kong’s COA was again named as the best bar by Asia’s 50 Best Bars this week at a spirited awards ceremony on home ground in the “Fragrant Harbour”, making cocktail history for being the first-ever bar to win pole position three years running since the awards began in 2016.

The Mexican-inspired craft cocktail bar led a strong showing by Hong Kong, which saw seven other Hong Kong bars in the top 50 – Argo (No.8), Darkside (No.9), The Aubrey (No.17), Penicillin (No.26), Quinary (No.31), Mostly Harmless (No.33), and The Old Man (No.47).

Singapore pushes a strong claim as Asia’s eminent cocktail capital with a total of 11 entries on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 list. Pioneering classic cocktail bar Jigger & Pony, which recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, came in at No.2, while Nutmeg & Clove and Sago House also made the top ten at No.7 and No.10 respectively.

“It’s absolutely a privilege to be named among Asia’s Best Bars, and to be on the list alongside other amazing bars from across the region. 2023 has been momentous for us at Jigger & Pony, with our visual identity refresh and the launch of our new menu, IDENTITY. We’re happy and proud that our team’s hard work and passion have been recognised by our peers,” says Uno Jang, Bar Operations Manager of Jigger & Pony.

The 11 Singapore bars that entered Asia’s 50 Best Bars list in 2023 (vs 2022) are:

• Jigger & Pony (No.2)/(No.2)
• Nutmeg & Clove (No.7)/(No.36)
• Sago House (No.10)/(No.31)
• Analogue Initiative (No.15)/(No.37)
• Republic (No.16)/(No.12)
• Manhattan Bar (No.21)/(No.9)
• 28 Hong Kong Street (No.24)/(No.49)
• Atlas Bar (No.27)/(No.23)
• Employees Only Singapore (No.30)/(No.77)
• Stay Gold Flamingo (No.32) – new entry
• Native (No.42) – re-entry

Another city pushing its cocktail cred this year is Seoul. Six bars from the South Korean capital made the list, with Zest spearheading the charge with an impressive 43-position climb from last year to land at No.5, followed by Cham Bar at No.13, Le Chamber at No.25, and Alice at No.28. Seoul also saw two totally new entrants to the list with Southside Parlor at No.37 and Soko at No.46, surely an exciting time for Seoul’s burgeoning cocktail scene.

Another Asian city, Bangkok, counts four of its bars in the rankings.

Announced earlier this month were the winners ranked 51-100 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023. Eight Singapore bars made the secondary list: Last Word (No.61), Tippling Club (No.63), The Elephant Room (No.64), No Sleep Club (No.74), Night Hawk (No.77), Offtrack (No.79), D.Bespoke (No.83), and Origin Grill & Bar (No.95).

Classic cocktail bar Last Word, India-themed The Elephant Room and music-centric Offtrack mark their debuts on the 50 Best extended rankings. No Sleep Club falls almost 60 places from its heady No.15 spot last year (and No.8 in 2021), while Tippling Club also drops off the main list to No.63 (they were No.27 in 2022).

Singapore bars also swept up a number of secondary awards. Jigger & Pony picked up the Rémy Martin Legend of the List for its consistent performance over the years, while Analogue Initiative won the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award for its sustainable practices. Then there’s Night Hawk, named Campari One To Watch Award.

“We are overjoyed to be in Hong Kong to celebrate Asia’s vibrant bar community for 50 Best’s first-ever event in this brilliant city for eating and drinking. Asia’s bars continue to push the envelope when it comes to fabulous drinking experiences and that is evident from the talent and creativity on display at the bars on this year’s list from 17 cities across the continent,” says Mark Sansom, Content Director for Asia’s 50 Best Bars.

“Congratulations yet again to Jay Khan and the team at COA for holding onto its top position — the first bar in Asia to take the No.1 spot for three years in a row,” Sansom added.

With Asia’s 50 Best Bars now revealed, all eyes are on the upcoming World’s 50 Best Bars 2023. “This incredible honour is a bonus, and with The World’s 50 Best Bars coming to Singapore for the first time this October, we hope it can be a calling card for people to visit Singapore,” says co-founder of Jigger & Pony Group, Indra Kantono.

“Join us for a cocktail or three, and discover what our community has to offer! We look forward to continuing growing together with other members of the Singaporean and Asian cocktail bar community.”

You can find the full Asia’s 50 Best Bars list for 2023 at the World’s 50 Best Bars website or here below:

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