After such a difficult year for the bar industry in Hong Kong, with so many COVID restrictions shutting their doors for months on end, we’re thrilled to report that the local bar scene has been given a much-needed big boost with last night’s announcement that nine HK bars have claimed spots on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2021 list.
At the tippity-top of this esteemed list, Oaxaca-inspired cocktail bar COA stands proudly at number 1, crowned The Best Bar in China and The Best Bar in Asia. Congrats to mixologist-owner Jay Khan (who was voted Bartenders’ Bartender at Asia’s 50 Best Bars last year) and the COA team for this huge achievement!
We visited COA back in June 2018 and were blown over by Khan’s complex, refined cocktails made with agave spirits – and we’re not the only ones. On The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020 list, COA sits extremely pretty at number 8, winning last year’s Highest Climber Award. We’re waiting with bated breath to see what this year’s list has in store for the watering hole.
COA’s Jay Khan with his well-deserved gongs
Coming in at number 2 is Singapore’s Jigger & Pony, which held the top spot last year. Completing the top 5 are The SG Club in Tokyo, Japan (3), Taiwan’s Indulge Experimental Bistro in Taipei (4) and Sober Company in Shanghai, China (5).
Other top 50 bars in the 852 include the Four Seasons’ Caprice Bar, jumping 24 places to number 10 and joint winner of the Nikka Highest Climber Award, and newcomers The Diplomat speakeasy at number 20 (also winning the London Essence Best New Opening Award), tea-inspired Tell Camellia (23), eco-conscious bar Penicillin at number 30 (also swooping the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award) and DarkSide at Rosewood Hong Kong (40).
Highlighting its fifth year in a row as a member of the top 50, Quinary (25) has been named the Heering Legend of the List, neighbourhood fave The Pontiac has jumped nine spots to number 26 and 13th-century-inspired The Wise King has secured a spot at number 28.
Multisensory cocktail bar Quinary is legendary
Just as with Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021, Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2021 has also – for the first time – published their rankings for 51–100, providing optimism and encouragement to the bar industry. On this portion of the list, three HK bars are recognised: The Old Man (54), 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana (65) and Shady Acres (68).
Click here for the complete list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2021.
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