Are your favourite hideouts included?
The list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2018 is finally out. There’s been a few reshuffles in the ranks, and several new additions to boot. This time, two Malaysian establishments have made the list, compared to just one last year. Are your favourite hideouts included? Read on to find out more on the top 10 and see the full list.
#10 Lobster Bar & Grill, Hong Kong
Coming in at tenth place is Shangri-La Hong Kong’s world-renowned dining spot, a must-visit among the world’s best bartenders. Famed for its creative cocktails and fine seafood creations, the bar-and-grill-in-one lures both food and cocktail enthusiasts alike. Pop by to try The Smoke Cloud, a sensational mix of bourbon, port, raspberry, grapefruit and egg white, finished with – voila – a puff of smoke. W shangri-la.com
#9 The Bamboo Bar at M.O., Bangkok
A favourite among jazz lovers, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok’s bar has long been at the forefront of music-inspired cocktails around the region. Come for the signatures like Thaijito and Riffin' The Scotch, then stay for the music in its exotic, club-like space decked with bamboo and tiger print furniture. W mandarinoriental.com
#8 Native, Singapore
While many Singaporean bars draw inspiration from American speakeasies (including some on this list), Native – as its name suggests – uses ingredients foraged from the local and regional landscape. Voted the Altos Bartenders' Bartender 2018, the bar prides itself in original drinks such as Antz – a mix of Thai rum, aged sugarcane, tapioca and soursop topped with ants (yes, you read that right) on a frozen basil leaf. W tribenative.com
#7 Tippling Club, Singapore
It has been 10 years since Chef Ryan Clift opened the boundary-pushing gastro-cocktail Tippling Club in Singapore and there’s no signs of stopping. Now helmed by Joe Schofield in a new location, the bar recently introduced 'the world's first edible menu', featuring 12 cocktails represented by a specially scented gummy bear. W tipplingclub.com
#6 High Five, Tokyo
This low-lit bar is where the whisky buffs of Tokyo are at to savour its 200-strong whisky list. Now boasting a larger premise thanks to the drive of owner Hidetsugu Ueno, its popularity has only risen with favourites such as White Lady and Ceremony. W barhighfive.com (Related: 5 whisky bars in KL for a solid peg)
#5 The Old Man, Hong Kong
The most intriguing aspect of this establishment has to be the individual behind its name: The Old Man referred to here is none other than Ernest Hemingway. The Pulitzer Prize-winning writer’s favourite ingredients and combinations are the inspiration behind a menu of nine experimental cocktails, from butter-fat-washed gin to beeswax-infused bourbon. Now, that’s a conversation starter in itself. W theoldmanhk.com
#4 Atlas, Singapore
With over 250 Champagnes and 1,000 gins available, it’s no wonder that champagne and gin aficionados often flock to this magnificent ‘30s-inspired bar. Located in Singapore’s famous Bugis neighbourhood, the grand Art Deco lobby makes a majestic welcome for tourists and locals alike. Among the recommended libations include Cecil Beaton, made with rare Australian spiced dry gin, hibiscus water, Earl Grey tea and milk; and Atlas Martini, a blend of orange bitters and Champagne vinegar. W atlas.sg (You may also like: 5 must-visit bars in the Klang Valley for all things gin)
#3 Speak Low, Shanghai
It may have dropped a spot from last year, but Speak Low boasts one of the most consistent performances over the history of the list, earning it the 2018 Heering Legend of the List award. Not to be missed here is the cocktail named after the establishment, featuring Bacardi Superior, Bacardi 8, Pedro Ximenez sherry and matcha. F @5senses.china
#2 Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei
Overtaking Speak Low for second place (from no. 5 last year) is Aki Wang’s Indulge bistro/bar. Championing Taipei's dynamic cocktail scene with its Taiwanese ingredients and flavours, the bar presents a few winning signatures including Spring Awakening, 1795 Old Fashioned and Ruby Black. W indulgebistrotaipei.blogspot.my
#1 Manhattan, Singapore
And the no. 1 spot goes to…Manhattan, Singapore again. The two-time chart topper (also named top 10 in World’s 50 Best Bars 2017) owes it to head bartender Philip Bischoff’s signature Manhattan concoction, an unparalleled blend using Michter's US1 Straight Rye whisky. That’s not it, of course – other drinks inspired by American history including colonial-style punches and bourbon sours (Solera-aged Negroni and Mad Dog, to name a few) are also worth coming back for, on top of the posh New York-esque interior furnishings. W regenthotels.com
(swipe left to see more)
#11 Stockton, Hong Kong
#12 28 HongKong Street, Singapore
#13 Backstage Cocktail Bar, Bangkok
#14 Sober Company, Shanghai
#15 Quinary, Hong Kong
#16 Bar Trench, Tokyo
#17 Le Chamber, Seoul
#18 Zuma, Hong Kong
#19 Operation Dagger, Singapore
#20 Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
#21 Charles H, Seoul
#22 Gibson, Singapore
#23 Employees Only Singapore, Singapore
#24 8 1/2 Otto E Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong
#25 The Curator, Manila
#26 Alice Cheongdam, Seoul
#27 Vesper, Bangkok
#28 Union Trading Company, Shanghai
#29 Smalls, Bangkok
#30 Janes & Hooch, Beijing
#31 The Pontiac, Hong Kong
#32 D. Bespoke, Singapore
#33 Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore
#34 Gen Yamamoto, Tokyo
#35 TCRC, Tainan
#36 Potato Head Beach Club, Bali
#37 Bar Orchard Ginza, Tokyo
#38 Junglebird, Kuala Lumpur
#39 Loewy, Jakarta
#40 Mixology Salon, Tokyo
#41 Union Brasserie, Bakery & Bar, Jakarta
#42 Jigger & Pony, Singapore
#43 Star Bar, Tokyo
#44 Teens of Thailand, Bangkok
#45 Lamp Bar, Nara
#46 Coley, Kuala Lumpur
#47 Keepers, Seoul
#48 The Ritz Carlton Bar & Lounge, Macau
#49 Ku Bar, Bangkok
#50 The Other Room, Singapore
For more information, log on to the World’s 50 Best Bars website here.
Images: Courtesy of respective establishments