The 2023 edition of Asia's 50 Best Bars held its awarding ceremony at Rosewood Hotel in Hong Kong on Tuesday night, July 18. In partnership with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the event marked the first full-scale gathering of the bar community since 2019, hosting an impressive roster of participants from 17 cities across the region.
“We are overjoyed to be in Hong Kong to celebrate Asia’s vibrant bar community for 50 Best’s first-ever event in this brilliant city for eating and drinking,” shared Mark Sansom, content director at Asia's 50 Best Bars. “Asia’s bars continue to push the envelope when it comes to fabulous drinking experiences and that is evident from the talent and creativity on display at the bars on this year’s list from 17 cities across the continent.”
Asia’s 50 Best Bars’ Content Director Mark Sansom (Photo by Rey Ilagan/Manila Bulletin)
Dane Cheng, executive director at Hong Kong Tourism Board, welcomed the guests to the awarding event saying, “There has been a lot of love and effort put into this ceremony, as well as hard work by the bar owners, bartenders, and friends. I would also like to express my gratitude to Asia’s 50 Best Bars team for organizing this event, and I hope you will consider bringing it to Hong Kong again.”
The Curator’s Bernice Tiu and David Ong receiving their award at Rosewood Hotel in Hong Kong (Photo by Rey Ilagan/Manila Bulletin)
Filipino pride
The Curator, a hostelry located in Makati City, ranked no. 34 on the list and was proudly recognized as The Best Bar in the Philippines. David Ong and Bernice Tiu, founders of The Curator, accepted the prestigious award at Rosewood Hotel in Hong Kong. Re-entering the list this year, The Curator has previously won the best bar award in 2021 and 2019.
The Curator's charm lies in its understated ambiance and devotion to Filipino spirits. Revered by Asia's 50 Best Bars, this hidden gem continuously delights its patrons with a diverse array of global bartender takeovers and a thoughtfully curated cocktail menu.
The Curator bar in Makati (Photo courtesy of Asia’s 50 Best Bars)
Best of the best
Coa in Hong Kong retained its title as The Best Bar in Asia, an award sponsored by Perrier, achieving a remarkable feat of holding the number one spot for three consecutive years. The bar was also crowned The Best Bar in Hong Kong.
Coa winning The Best Bar in Asia and The Best Bar in Hong Kong awards. (Photo courtesy of Asia’s 50 Best Bars)
Established in 2017 by bartender-owner Jay Khan, Coa derived its name from the machete-like tool for harvesting agave. A seasoned professional with more than 15 years of expertise, Jay received the title of Bartenders' Bartender at Asia's 50 Best Bars 2020.
"Before I became a bar owner, I was a bartender myself, and I've experienced a lot in my career," Jay said during the press conference held after the awarding event. "Our emphasis is actually not really on how much sales we can make in a day, but more about whether the staff can actually do what we're asking them to do. We give them equal attention as much as we give attention to our business.
What's the formula to Coa's success? Jay answered, "Happy staff, happy guests. It's all about keeping the staff happy. It's an easy formula, and that's what we do."
With this, Ajit Gurung, Coa's head of operations, agreed that there's more to being on the list, and the focus must be on the people. "One of the biggest compliments we've received was from all the guests who come; they always say our team looks happy working. I think a bar owner can have the team laugh and smile when you come to the bar rather than just focus on your service, service, service. It's the way they present themselves. And that's a dream," Ajit said.
Dane Cheng, executive director at Hong Kong Tourism Board, giving a warm welcome to guests. (Photo by Rey Ilagan/Manila Bulletin)
On the rise
Jigger & Pony continued to reign as the undisputed top spot in Singapore, securing its position as The Best Bar in the city for the third consecutive year and receiving the prestigious Rémy Martin Legend of the List accolade.
Rising to the occasion, BKK Social Club emerged as Thailand's finest, impressively climbing seven spots to claim no. 3 on the list. Meanwhile, Tokyo's Bar Benfiddich demonstrated its prowess by claiming the title of The Best Bar in Japan at no. 4.
For the Philippines, Prohibition-inspired speakeasy The Back Room at Shangri-La The Fort grabbed the no. 74 spot. However, it was Seoul's Zest that astounds all, soaring an astonishing 43 spots to secure the fifth position and garnering both the Nikka Highest Climber Award and the best bar in Korea recognition.
For updates and news about Asia’s 50 Best Bars and Hong Kong Tourism Board, please visit their websites at https://www.worlds50bestbars.com/asia/ and https://www.discoverhongkong.com.
