50 Best Bars in Asia in 2025 revealed; New Delhi breaks into top 10 while Bengaluru's three bars say cheers
The 50 Best list is compiled by more than 300 anonymous voters across 14 territories in Asia. It is part of the World's 50 Best franchise run by UK-based William Reed Business Media Ltd. The World's 50 Best Restaurants began in 2002, followed by The World's 50 Best Bars in 2009 and
Asia's 50 Best Bars
in 2016. William Reed acquired the bars rankings in 2017.
This year's list includes bars from 20 cities, with 20 new entries and two re-entries.
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5 best bars in Asia
Adjudged the
best bar in Asia
2025,
Bar Leone
, Hong Kong, might seem like a run-of-the-mill transplant of a Roman aperitivo hangout, but to brand it as such would be a disservice. Armed with a simple aim to serve up "cocktails for the people," speed, simplicity and consistency are central to the Leone operation, with drinks such as the Filthy Martini – created with smoked olive brine – and the now-emblematic mortadella focaccia.
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In 2024, Bar Leone made 50 Best Bars history as the first-ever establishment to debut on the list in the No.1 position. In 2025, it holds onto its title as both The Best Bar in Hong Kong and The Best Bar in Asia, sponsored by Perrier.
The second spot was occupied by
Zest
, Seoul, which is also adjudged as the best bar in Korea. Led by a quadruple of Korean bar heavyweights, Zest's compact cocktail list majors on myriad local ingredients in cocktails like Jeju Garibaldi, crafted with speciality regional oranges and Gujwa village carrots.
Jigger & Pony
from Singapore was ranked third in the list of Asia's best bars and it was also adjudged to be The Best Bar in Singapore 2025. From humble origins on Amoy Street to its now sumptuous digs at the Amara Hotel, Jigger & Pony has been a staple of the Asian bar scene, having featured in the top 10 of the last seven rankings of Asia's 50 Best Bars.
In fact, the top three of Asia's 50 Best Bars remained unchanged. It was a momentous night for Bar Leone, the Italian-vibed spot that shook up the drinks world in 2024 when it debuted at the top of the list — barely over a year after opening. In the process, it dethroned Hong Kong's Coa, which held the coveted distinction for three consecutive years.
Bar Us
and new entrant
Dry Wave Cocktail Studio
, both from Bangkok, took the fourth and fifth ranks, respectively.
Bar Us won the award for The Best Bar in Thailand 2025. With an almost all-black interior, theatrical spotlights and a team dressed in clinical white lab coats, visitors would be forgiven for thinking they'd entered an experimental laboratory rather than a bar. Bar Us looks to fine dining as inspiration for its drinks programme, with the menu split into starters, mains, afters and an all-night portion featuring twists on classics.
Though Hong Kong brought home the highest honours, Bangkok made a strong showing with seven spots in the top 50, including the debut of Dry Wave Cocktail Studio at No. 5, right behind neighbouring Bar Us, which jumped up from No. 21 last year.
Best bars in Asia from India
There was also notable representation from India: New Delhi's Lair, also a new entry, came in at eighth place as the country's best bar, and was joined on the list by Soka (28), Boilermaker (30), ZLB23 (31) and Bar Spirit Forward (37).
No.8 Lair
, located in the heart of New Delhi, is a modern speakeasy inspired by secretive 1920s prohibition-era bars, where moonshine and craftsmanship reigned supreme. The bar offers a perfect environment for relaxed conversations and immersive drinking experiences, with dim lighting and earthy décor that heighten the sensory experience.
Soka
from Bengaluru is dedicated to delivering stories of its home city in liquid form. The bijou space is designed to feel like an intimate izakaya – perfectly crafted to hide away in for a few hours as you taste cocktails inspired by the surrounding locale. Take The Mofo Don, for instance – a spicy tequila concoction with a pink hue from red cabbage and a cilantro-sprinkled rim and a playful homage to the bar's cabbage vendor.
Boilermaker
, which ranked 30 in Asia's best 50 bars list, is brainchild of craft beer entrepreneur Nakul Bhonsle and renowned mixologist Pankaj Balachandran, the dynamic duo created Boilermaker to answer criticism that Goa's bar scene had started to lose its soul. Beyond a stellar lineup of beer, expect cocktails shaken with local flavours and a food menu of reimagined Goan bar bites.
Following Soka immediately is the 31st ranked
ZLB23
, again from Bengaluru. ZLB23 is an exclusive underground den with boisterous live jazz, red velvet in surplus and a remarkable drinks programme that injects classics with Japanese influences.
Another new entry and from Bengaluru,
Bar Spirit Forward
took the 37th rank in the list of Asia's best bars. Bar Spirit Forward is built for cocktail enthusiasts who appreciate craft, clarity and context in their drinks. Sink into a plush leather chair and soak in the warm, lounge-like vibe as you browse an inventive cocktail menu replete with thoughtful ingredients.
A Carroll-like climb
Separately, Seoul's Alice snagged the highest climber award, making the greatest rise from last year's ranking at 46th place to 13th. Locating this hidden cocktail den inspired by the Lewis Carroll literary classic is just the first step of the adventure. Those who succeed are rewarded with a bar that serves up suitably imaginative and seasonally varied creations inspired by Carroll's timeless masterpiece. Jumping 33 places from its 2024 ranking, Alice takes home the Nikka Highest Climber Award 2025.
List of 50 Best Bars in Asia in 2025
2025 Rank
Bar Name
City
2024 Rank
New Entry
1
Bar Leone
Hong Kong
1
2
Zest
Seoul
2
3
Jigger & Pony
Singapore
3
4
Bar Us
Bangkok
21
5
567 ∞ 0
Bangkok
—
*
6
Dry Wave Cocktail Studio
Bangkok
—
*
7
Lair
New Delhi
—
*
8
Bar Cham
Seoul
—
*
9
Hope & Sesame
Guangzhou
—
10
Bar Benfiddich
Tokyo
—
11
Penrose
Kuala Lumpur
—
12
Argo
Hong Kong
5
13
Modernhaus
Jakarta
—
*
14
Alice
Seoul
46
15
Smoke & Bitters
Hiriketiya, Sri Lanka
29
16
Three X Co
Kuala Lumpur
—
17
CMYK
Changsha, China
—
18
Coa
Hong Kong
88
19
Virtù
Tokyo
43
20
BKK Social Club
Bangkok
4
21
Vender
Taichung, Taiwan
11
22
MO Bar
Shenzhen
7
*
23
The St. Regis Bar
Jakarta
30
*
24
Offtrack
Singapore
25
25
Nutmeg & Clove
Singapore
6
26
Bloomberg
—
24
27
Yakoboku
Kumamoto, Japan
29
28
G.O.D
Bangkok
—
29
Penicillin
Hong Kong
—
30
Soka
Bengaluru
—
*
31
Vesper
Bangkok
13
32
Boilermaker
Goa
—
*
33
ZLB23
Bengaluru
40
34
The Savory Project
Hong Kong
19
35
Gokan
Hong Kong
—
*
36
Carrots Bar
Jakarta
—
*
37
Barc
Kathmandu, Nepal
39
38
Punch Room Tokyo
Tokyo
—
*
39
Bar Spirit Forward
Bengaluru
—
*
40
Cosmo Pony
Jakarta
—
*
41
Bar Trigona
Kuala Lumpur
36
42
The Public House
Taipei
44
43
Opium
Bangkok
—
*
44
To Infinity & Beyond
Taipei
—
*
45
Moonrock
Tainan, Taiwan
—
*
46
Cat Bite Club
Singapore
—
*
47
Native
Singapore
31
48
Lamp Bar
Nara, Japan
—
49
Reka
Kuala Lumpur
41
50
Bar Sathorn
Bangkok
—
*
51
Bar Libre
Tokyo
—
*
52
Le Chamber
Seoul
48
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