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The 50 Best Bars in Asia in 2023

by David Klemt

Join us in congratulating each of the bars and their teams earning placements on the 2023 Asia’s 50 Best Bars list by the World’s 50 Best Bars.

As is often the case, Hong Kong and Singapore claim an exceptional number of bars. I fully expect to see a handful of the bars on the list below on the World’s 50 Best Bars list this year.

Speaking of which, that ceremony, the 15th edition of the list, will take place on October 17 in Singapore. Again, I expect the host city to claim multiple spots.

Cheers to Asia’s 50 Best Bars for 2023!

To review the 2023 Asia’s 50 Best Bars, 51 to 100 list, please click here.

By the Numbers

While Singapore doesn’t claim the number one spot this year, the island country does boast 11 entrants. Further, three of Singapore’s bars hold spots in the top ten.

Hong Kong is home to eight bars on this year’s Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. Like Singapore, three bars in Hong Kong are among the top ten.

There are seven bars in Japan (five in Tokyo), one earning a top-ten slot. Six of the bars on the 2023 list are in Seoul, South Korea.

Thailand and India both have four bars on the list. The former boasts two bars in the top ten.

There are three bars in Taiwan among the fifty.

Malaysia and Indonesia each have two bars among Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2023. Both of Malaysia’s bars in Kuala Lumpur, and both of Indonesia’s are in Jakarta.

Mainland China, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka each have a bar on this year’s list.

100 Incredible Bars

When we take the back half of this list into account, Singapore continues its domination, with 19 bars earning placement.

Hong Kong boosts its number of bars to 13, and Japan adds seven bars to bump its total to an even dozen. Seoul, South Korea, claims eight bars total.

Thailand, counting both lists, has eight amazing bars, as does Taiwan. In total, there are nine bars in India. Six bars in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and there are a total of four bars in China.

The Philippines have one bar on the one to 50 list, and one on the 51 to 100 list, for a total of two bars among Asia’s 100 best.

The Best Bar In:

Hong Kong: Coa

India: Sidecar

Japan: Bar Benfiddich

Korea: Zest

Mainland China: Hope & Sesame

Malaysia: Bar Trigona

Philippines: The Curator

Singapore: Jigger & Pony

Sri Lanka: Smoke & Bitters

Taiwan: Indulge Experimental Bistro

Thailand: BKK Social Club

See the list below for the Best Bar in Asia.

Asia’s 50 Best Bars: 50 to 1

50. Penrose (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)*
51. The Bellwood (Tokyo, Japan)*
52. The Living Room (Mumbai, India)*
53. The Old Man (Hong Kong)**
54. Soko (Seoul, South Korea)*
55. High Five (Tokyo, Japan)**
56. Bee’s Knees (Kyoto, Japan)
57. The Public House (Taipei, Taiwan)*
58. Native (Singapore)**
59. Vender (Taichung, Taiwan)*
60. Smoke & Bitters (Hiriketiya, Sri Lanka)(The Best Bar in Sri Lanka)
61. Hope & Sesame (Guangzhou, China)(The Best Bar in Mainland China)
62. Copitas (Bengaluru, India)
63. Southside Parlor (Seoul, South Korea)*
64. Bar Trigona (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)(The Best Bar in Malaysia)
65. The Bombay Canteen (Mumbai, India)*
66. The Curator (Manila, Philippines)(The Best Bar in the Philippines)**
67. Mostly Harmless (Hong Kong)*
68. Stay Gold Flamingo (Singapore)*
69. Quinary (Hong Kong)
70. Employees Only (Singapore)**
71. Pantja (Jakarta, Indonesia)*
72. Alice (Seoul, South Korea)
73. Atlas (Singapore)
74. Penicillin (Hong Kong)
75. Le Chamber (Seoul, South Korea)
76. 28 HongKong Street (Singapore)
77. Lamp Bar (Nara, Japan)
78. Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar (Bangkok, Thailand)(London Essence Best New Opening)*
79. Manhattan (Singapore)
80. Virtù (Tokyo, Japan)(Disaronno Highest New Entry)
81. The Cocktail Club (Jakarta, Indonesia)(Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu, the Best Bar in Indonesia)
82. Sidecar (New Delhi, India)(The Best Bar in India)
83. The Aubrey (Hong Kong)
84. Republic (Singapore)
85. Analogue Initiative (Singapore)(Ketel One Sustainable Bar)
86. The SG Club (Tokyo, Japan)
87. Cham Bar (Seoul, South Korea)
88. Vesper (Bangkok, Thailand)
89. Indulge Experimental Bistro (Taipei, Taiwan)(The Best Bar in Taiwan)
90. Sago House (Singapore)(Michter’s Art of Hospitality)
91. Darkside (Hong Kong)
92. Argo (Hong Kong)
93. Nutmeg & Clove (Singapore)
94. Tropic City (Bangkok, Thailand)
95. Zest (Seoul, South Korea)(Nikka Highest Climber, the Best Bar in Korea)
96. Bar Benfiddich (Tokyo, Japan)(The Best Bar in Japan)
97. BKK Social Club (Bangkok, Thailand)(The Best Bar in Thailand)
98. Jigger & Pony (Singapore)(Rémy Martin Legend of the List, the Best Bar in Singapore)
99. Coa (Hong Kong)(The Best Bar in Asia, the Best Bar in Hong Kong)

Congratulations to each of the operators and bar teams above! Cheers!

* Denotes new entry, ** denotes re-entry.

Image: The World’s 50 Best Bars