Singapore’s incredible cocktail scene was ranked as Asia’s most exciting at the unveiling of the World’s 50 Best Bars in Madrid this week.
With four bars on the list, Singapore leads in Asia, with stalwart bars Jigger & Pony at No.5 and Atlas at No.43 joined by new entries Nutmeg & Clove (No.28) and Analogue Initiative (No.47).
In Hong Kong, new entry Bar Leone has stormed into the list at No.2, taking the title of The Best Bar in Asia as well as Disaronno Highest New Entry with neighbour Coa at No.18.
Joining the list for the first time at No.2, Hong Kong’s Bar Leone is awarded the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award. Founder Lorenzo Antinori’s Central bar is guided by its philosophy of cocktail popolari— ‘cocktails for the people’— combining speed, consistency and simplicity into a drinks program that has taken the world by storm.
Bangkok and Tokyo also claim two bars a piece, with Bangkok’s BKK Social Club rising to No.12 alongside new entry Bar Us at No.41, while Tokyo’s Bar Benfiddich (No.25) is joined by newcomer Virtú (No.42). In Seoul, Zest is at No.9 and wins this year’s Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award.
Dubai’s Mimi Kakushi holds its position at No.40 and was named The Best Bar in the Middle East & Africa.
There was further success for Singapore as Cat Bite Club in Singapore received the Campari One To Watch Award, an honor bestowed on a bar outside of the 1-50 ranking that the 50 Best team believes has what it takes to break into future editions of the list.
Zest in Seoul has won the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award, based on independent adjudication by the Sustainable Restaurant Association. Founders Demie Kim, Sean Woo, Jisu Park and Noah Kwon are paving the way to a more sustainable future behind the bar with a zero-waste approach that celebrates the finest local flavors alongside house-made innovations.
The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 features venues from an astonishing 28 cities, with Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy crowned The Best Bar in North America and The World’s Best Bar, sponsored by Perrier. This is the first time a bar from Mexico has claimed the No.1 spot in the list.
Tucked away in the Colonia Juárez neighbourhood of Mexico City, Handshake Speakeasy is one of the capital’s best-kept open secrets. Hidden behind a secret door in a dimly lit room stocked with an impressive array of vintage spirits, the bar’s interiors masterfully evoke the bygone age of the Hollywood speakeasy.
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to every bar on this year’s list, which once again highlights the incredible diversity of the global bar sector,” said Emma Sleight, Head of Content for The World’s 50 Best Bars. “We hope this year’s list continues to operate as a beacon for cocktail lovers the world over.”