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Vogue Singapore
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue Singapore
A look inside mixology's biggest night: Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025
There is a noticeable buzz in the air the moment one steps into Wynn Palace. It is the weekend before the award ceremony for Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025, and hundreds of guests from all over the region—bartenders, journalists and cocktail enthusiasts—are gradually trickling into the hotel where this year's celebration is set to take place. Colossal and opulent, Macau's Wynn Palace feels like a fitting destination for an event of this scale. Courtesy of Wynn Palace Macau Colossal and opulent, Macau's Wynn Palace feels like a fitting destination for an event of this scale. It's a thought that crosses my mind the moment I step through the entrance and find myself greeted by a vibrant pink fabergé egg—three times my height and embellished with more than 60,000 flowers—opening up to reveal a phoenix. U pon checking into my suite, this idea is only reinforced. Huge floor-to-ceiling windows look out to the hotel's performance lake, at which an impressive fountain show that rises several stories up is ongoing. All the while, cable cars leisurely glide across the scene. Inside the room, I find a mixology set sculpted entirely out of chocolate, and a welcome cocktail from the hotel's Wing Lei Bar. Asia's 50 Best Bars ceremony was held on 15 July. Courtesy of 50 Best Bars While this year's Asia's 50 Best Bars ceremony was held on 15 July, the event was more of a week-long affair, filled with countless guest shifts, pop-ups and cocktail pairing dinners in the lead up to the big night. All across Macau, the region's best and brightest came together to celebrate their love for mixology, offering a glimpse of the vibrant and diverse cocktail scene in Asia. From the most exciting guest shifts to the grand night itself, we take you inside the highlights of this year's festivities. Guest shifts galore At Wynn Palace, over 25 intriguing events and guest shifts were held over the course of the week, building up an undeniable and inescapable thrill in anticipation for the awaited night. After all, it's not every day you get to sample drinks made by industry icons like Julio Mermejo and Sam Ross, or try cocktails from bars in less frequently travelled countries like Nepal. The event allowed guests to sample drinks made by industry icons like Julio Mermejo and Sam Ross. Courtesy of 50 Best Bars Some of Singapore's most beloved nightlife spots also made an appearance, from a coffee liqueur-centred pop-up by Offtrack, to a shochu-focused takeover of modern Japanese restaurant Mizumi by 28 HongKong Street alongside Tokyo's Bar Trench. Also on the itinerary was Sago House, in an exciting bar shift, dubbed the battle of the houses, with Chengdu Temple House's Jing Bar. As for some of the most memorable drinks of the week? There was the Shoyu Ramen from Bengaluru's ZLB23, an umami-rich concoction of tequila, shoyu, miso and sake, with dried seaweed on the side. Hong Kong's Artifact also served up The Grape One, a delicious combination of gin, white grape, miso and toasted sesame, whilst Bangkok's Bar Sathorn presented Bangkok Brunch: a tequila and mezcal based libation with salted tomato water and the makings of Thai pad krapow , all poured and served over an eye-catching frozen whole tomato. Chef Tam's Seasons hosted a cocktail-paired dinner with Taipei's Bar Mood. Courtesy of Wynn Palace Macau While it was the cocktails that were in the spotlight all week, the culinary experiences certainly did not fall short either. At Mizumi, executive chef Hironomi Maeda served up a spectacular lunch—think tender cubes of wagyu that melt in the mouth, decadent ribbons of toro wrapped around uni and caviar, and unagi charcoal-grilled to crisp and smoky perfection—paired with a gorgeous selection of sakes and Japanese wines. Meanwhile, two separate dining experiences at Chef Tam's Seasons demonstrated the restaurant's versatility. The first, a cocktail-paired dinner with Taipei's Bar Mood, featured executive chef Tam Kwok Fung's usual elegant Cantonese fare, from unassuming but delicious braised vegetables topped with crab roe, to a delicate pigeon stuffed with 'eight treasures'. In the second—a four-hands collaboration with modern Indian cuisine restaurant Masque, paired with libations from New Delhi bar Sidecar—unique dishes that blend Cantonese and Indian flavours prove that the two cuisines go together surprisingly well. Dry Wave Cocktail Studio clinched the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award at number five. Courtesy of Dry Wave Cocktail Studio The ceremony On the night of the ceremony, we gather in the grand theatre ballroom of the Wynn Palace. Hundreds of guests mill around the room, drinks in hand, eagerly greeting fellow bartenders and friends from the community. With 98 out of the 100 bars on the extended list in attendance, the anticipation in the air is palpable. The lights dim. As the ceremony begins, an exciting tidbit is soon announced: there are 20 new entries to the list this year. A murmur ripples through the room at the promise of a night that will shake things up. Among the 20 bars, we eventually find out, is Singapore's Cat Bite Club at number 44. At number 12, Jakarta's Modernhaus, which opened its doors just last year, is named Indonesia's best bar as well as the best new opening on the list. And at number five, Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, which also opened last year, clinches the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award at number five. Jigger & Pony comes in third on the list, making it also the best bar in Singapore. Courtesy of Jigger & Pony As the night goes on, Singapore's Native, Nutmeg & Clove, and Offtrack all earn places on the list—at 45th, 24th and 23rd respectively. Seoul's beloved Wonderland-themed bar Alice rises 33 spots to place 13th, making it the bar that has climbed the most ranks. Meanwhile, Hanoi's Workshop14 receives the Campari One To Watch Award after only opening six months ago. Bangkok's seven and Hong Kong's six bars on the list cement the two cities as leaders in the cocktail scene, but more exciting, perhaps, are India's five entries—of which four are new, proving the country a rising one to watch. For the second year in a row, Hong Kong's Bar Leone was crowned the best bar in Asia. Courtesy of Bar Leone Crawling up the list, we eventually arrive at the moment everyone's been waiting for: the top three spots. At this point, everyone can guess who they are—it's just a matter of what order they are in. As the crowd holds its breath, the top three bars in Asia are finally announced. Jigger & Pony comes in third on the list, making it also the best bar in Singapore. Seoul's Zest is second. And for the second year in a row, Hong Kong's Bar Leone is crowned the best bar in Asia. The only thing that's left to do, then, is head on down to the after-party, grab a drink—or multiple—and celebrate.
AsiaOne
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025: 5 Singapore bars make the list, a drop from last year's 11, Lifestyle News
The results of Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 are out, and while several of our local bars have done us proud once again, the number of Singapore-based establishments on the list this year has dropped compared to last year's. In 2024, Singapore had 11 bars listed while this year saw five making the cut. During the awards ceremony in Macau on Tuesday (July 15), it was announced that Jigger & Pony, located in Amara Singapore, had retained its position at No. 3 on the list for the second year running. The other four bars that made the top 50 are Offtrack at No. 23, which moved up from No. 25 last year; Nutmeg & Clove at No. 24, which dropped from No. 6; Cat Bite Club at No. 44, which moved up from No. 77; and finally, Native at No. 45, a drop from No. 31. Five of the bars that were on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024 list have dropped to the extended 51 to 100 list. These are Sago House at No. 56 (from No. 15), Origin Bar at No. 60 (from No. 32), Night Hawk at No. 77 (from No. 16), Employees Only at No. 89 (from No. 38) and Fura at No. 95 (from No. 42). Atlas, which was ranked No. 49 last year, was not on the top 50 or extended 51 to 100 list. The remaining Singapore bar on the extended 51 to 100 list is Side Door at No. 53. Last year, Singapore had eight bars on the extended 51 to 100 list, and this year, we have six. Hong Kong's Bar Leone at No. 1 Topping the Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 list is Bar Leone, which hails from Hong Kong. Other bars at in the top five are Zest from Seoul (No. 2), Bar Us from Bangkok (No. 4) and Dry Wave Cocktail Studio (No. 5), which also is from Bangkok. With seven bars listed, Bangkok has the most bars in the top 50. Hong Kong follows closely with six bars on the list. The Asia's 50 Best Bars list is organised by UK-based media group William Reed and is the regional edition of The World's 50 Best Bars. The annual rankings are decided by votes from the Asia's 50 Best Bars Academy. The full list can be seen on The World's 50 Best website. Next up is The World's 50 Best Bars awards, which will take place in Hong Kong on Oct 8.
The Star
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
4 Malaysian bars on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 list, Penang bar wins best menu
Malaysia's cocktail scene enjoyed one of its best showings on the annual Asia's 50 Best Bars list, as four bars made it into the Top 50, with one bar in the Top 10. — Photos: 50 Best Bars Malaysia's cocktail scene enjoyed one of its best showings on the annual Asia's 50 Best Bars list, as four bars made it into the Top 50, with one bar in the Top 10. Petaling Street cocktail bar Penrose retained its title as the Best Bar In Malaysia, ranking No.10 this year, dropping just two spots from its No.8 placing in last year's list. Bangsar bar Three X Co made a stunning return into the Top 50 at No.15, its best placing on the list since making its debut at No.47 in 2021. Two other Kuala Lumpur bars were also listed – Bar Trigona (No.39) and Reka:Bar (No.47). The tenth edition of Asia's 50 Best Bars, was announced at a live awards ceremony in Macau on July 15, in collaboration with destination partners Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace. Penang's Backdoor Bodega won the Best Cocktail Menu Award at the Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025. Penang bar Backdoor Bodega pulled off a surprise when it won the Best Cocktail Menu Award 2025 for its 'The Backdoor Bodega Guide to Penang' menu, which "surpasses the traditional drinks list idea to create an all-singing celebration of its unique locality". While it didn't make it into the Top 50, Backdoor Bodega did place No.64 on the extended 51-100 list which was announced last week, together with Bangsar favourite Coley at No.92. Hong Kong's Bar Leone topped the list for the second year running. This year's list featured bars from 20 cities across Asia, including 20 new entries. Hong Kong's Bar Leone was crowned The Best Bar in Asia for the second year running, with Seoul's Zest at No.2 and Singapore's Jigger And Pony at No.3, an exact repeat of last year's Top 3. Chinese bartender Andrew Ho of Guangzhou's Hope & Sesame won the Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award 2024 for his role in elevating Mainland China's drinks scene to new heights. The Asia's 50 Best Bars list is voted upon by a region-wide Academy comprising a gender-balanced group of bartenders, bar owners, drinks writers and cocktail aficionados, all of whom place independent and anonymous votes for what they believe constitutes a 'best bar experience'. Penrose By maintaining its Top 10 position, Penrose continues to fly the flag for Malaysian hospitality, with its on functionalism and simplicity, while providing an intimate atmosphere that allows for engaging conversations between bartender and customer. Founder Jon Lee and his team recently opened a new outlet called Lavantha, also located around the city centre. Three X Co The big Malaysian story of this year's list is the reentry of Three X Co at its highest ever position, at No.15. Located in Bangsar Shopping Centre, the bar been one of mainstays in the KL bar scene since it was founded in 2017. It made its debut at No. 47 on the Asia's 50 Best Bars list in 2021, and this year, it stormed back into the Top 50 on the back of a strong cocktail programme by Head Bartender Amanda Wan, and a reputation of being one of the most hospitable bars in town. Bar Trigona At No.39, Bar Trigona continued its strong presence on the list for the sixth year running. Located at the Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, the bar was the first Malaysian bar to make it on the World's 50 Best Bars list in 2020. With head bartender Darwin Ng at the helm, the bar sets the standard for sustainable bar practices by focusing on Malaysian produce. The bar is currently celebrating its seventh anniversary with a look back at some of the best cocktails it has created over the last seven year. Reka:Bar Reka Bar, which had broken into the Top 50 last year the first time at No. 41, placed at No.47 this time around. A self-styled 'post-modern flavour lab' located at Damansara Heights, the bar is like a cross between a chill out lounge club and a space-age laboratory. Led by head bartender Joel Poon, the bar team creates unique and complex, yet clean and flavourful drinks through a myriad of techniques, including infusion, clarification, distillation and more.
Time Out
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025: Bar Leone named Best Bar in Asia for second year in a row
Asia's 50 Best Bars has just wrapped up its 10th annual award ceremony, and this year, the prestigious event took place for the first time ever in Macau and was held at Wynn Place on July 15. 2025's list comprises bars from 23 different Asian destinations, with 20 brand-new entries. Hong Kong was represented by a total of six venues on the list, which include Gokan (No. 33), The Savory Project (No. 32), Penicillin (No. 27), Coa (No. 17), Argo (No.11), and most notably, Bar Leone, which retained its title at No. 1. In addition to the prestigious list, the ceremony also appointed venues such as Hanoi's Workshop14 with the Campari One to Watch award, Andrew Ho from Guangzhou's Hope & Sesame with the Altos Bartender's Bartender award, and Kathmandu's Barc for the Michter's Art of Hospitality award. Penang's Back Door Bodega nabbed the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu award, followed by Jakarta's Modernhaus taking home the Three Cents Best New Opening award, Phnom Penh's Sora secured the Ketel One Sustainable Bar award, and Jay Khan from our city's very own Coa was honoured with the Roku Industry Icon Award. The annual 50 Best Bars list is curated by over 300 industry experts, including esteemed consultants, influential writers, and talented bartenders from across the region. See the complete list of Asia's 50 Best Bars for 2025: 1 Bar Leone, Hong Kong (Best Bar in Hong Kong) 2 Zest, Seoul (Best Bar in Seoul) 3 Jigger & Pony, Singapore (Best Bar in Singapore) 4 Bar Us, Bangkok (Best Bar in thailand) 5 Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, Bangkok (new entry, Highest New Entry) 6 Bar Cham, Seoul 7 Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou (Best Bar in mainland China) 8 Lair, New Delhi (Best Bar in India, new entry) 9 Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo (Best Bar in Japan) 10 Penrose, Kuala Lumpur (Best Bar in Malaysia) 11 Argo, Hong Kong 12 Modernhaus, Jakarta (new entry, Best Bar in Indonesia) 13 Alice, Seoul (Highest Climber Award) 14 Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya (Best Bar in Sri Lanka) 15 Three x Co, Kuala Lumpur (re-entry) 16 CMYK, Changsha 17 Coa, Hong Kong 18 Virtù, Tokyo 19 BKK Social Club, Bangkok 20 Vender, Taichung (Best Bar in Taiwan) 21 Mo Bar, Shenzhen (new entry) 22 The St. Regis Bar, Jakarta (new entry) 23 Offtrack, Singapore 24 Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore 25 Yakoboku, Kumamoto (new entry) 26 G.O.D, Bangkok (new entry) 27 Penicillin, Hong Kong 28 Soka, Bengaluru (new entry) 29 Vesper, Bangkok 30 Boilermaker, Goa (new entry) 31 ZLB23, Bengaluru 32 The Savory Project, Hong Kong 33 Gokan, Hong Kong (new entry) 34 Carrots Bar, Jakarta (new entry) 35 Barc, Kathmandu (Best Bar in Nepal) 36 Punch Room Tokyo, Tokyo (new entry) 37 Bar Spirit Forward, Bengaluru (new entry) 38 Cosmo Pony, Jakarta (new entry) 39 Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur 40 The Public House, Taipei 41 To Infinity & Beyond, Taipei (new entry) 42 Moonrock, Tainan (new entry) 43 Opium, Bangkok (new entry) 44 Cat Bite Club, Singapore (new entry) 45 Native, Singapore 46 Lamp Bar, Nara (re-entry) 47 Reka, Kuala Lumpur 48 Bar Sathorn, Bangkok (new entry) 49 Bar Libre, Tokyo (new entry) 50 Le Chamber, Seoul Before you begin to feel bittersweet after the big night's over, there are still plenty of exhilarating bar shifts to catch in Hong Kong and Macau to wrap up the week of celebrations. Rewatch the Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 ceremony on their YouTube channel and Facebook page.
South China Morning Post
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend July 11-13, from Superman to K-pop
If all this hot and soggy weather has thrown a spanner in your outdoor plans this weekend, do not despair – there is a heap of indoor events occurring to tide you over. Cinephiles can catch the latest Superman film, while K-pop fans can enjoy a unique festival that turns live concert experiences into immersive cinematic screenings. If K-fashion is more your thing, head to Times Square in Causeway Bay for a pop-up that celebrates hip brands from South Korea. Bars citywide are also hosting a range of events – think special menus and guest bartender shifts – in the lead-up to the July 15 announcement of the 2025 Asia's 50 Best Bars list. 1. Hybe Cine Fest in Asia Are you ready to give in to the K-pop Hybe and spend an entire weekend celebrating Korean music?
