The Old Man Hong Kong Clinched 1st Place In Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019 With 11 Singapore Bars On The List

In line with Singapore Cocktail Festival 2019, the annual Asia’s 50 Best Bars has been announced! These rankings are determined by 200 drink experts, which include renowned bartenders and consultants, as well as drinks writers and cocktail aficionados from all around Asia.

This year, The Old Man in Hong Kong has achieved first place, pushing Singapore’s Manhattan to second. Previously, Manhattan has held the number one ranking for the past two years.

The Old Man is an Ernest Hemingway-themed bar, which was ranked fifth last year. They opened in 2017, known for their innovative drinks which are all Hemingway-inspired. They also have a sister establishment in Singapore, located at Keong Saik Road.

Despite Manhattan clinching second place this year, Singapore has still done well with 11 bars on the list.

Native at Amoy Street climbed to number four, and Jigger & Pony earned the Highest Climber Award for climbing 33 stops to number nine.

Asia’s Best 50 Bars is now in its fourth year and has always been an exciting start to the Singapore Cocktail Festival. In June this year, Singapore would also be hosting the first ever World’s 50 Best Restaurants. That is definitely something we can look forward to. In the meantime, here is the complete list of Asia’s Best 50 Bars 2019.

1. The Old Man (Hong Kong) – Best Bar in China
2. Manhattan (Singapore) – Best Bar in Singapore
3. Indulge Experimental Bistro (Taipei) – Best Bar in Taiwan
4. Native (Singapore)
5. Atlas (Singapore)
6. Bar High Five (Tokyo) – Best Bar in Japan
7. Speak Low (Shanghai)
8. The Bamboo Bar at the Mandarin Oriental (Bangkok) – Best Bar in Thailand
9. Jigger & Pony (Singapore) – Highest Climber
10. Quinary (Hong Kong)
11. Tippling Club (Singapore)
12. Coa (Hong Kong) – Highest New Entry
13. The SG Club (Tokyo) – New Entry
14. Charles H (Seoul) – Best Bar in Korea
15. Gibson (Singapore)
16. Sober Company (Shanghai)
17. Bar Benfiddich (Tokyo)
18. The Wise King (Hong Kong) – New Entry
19. Le Chamber (Seoul)
20. Backstage Cocktail Bar (Bangkok)
21. 28 HongKong Street (Singapore)
22. Operation Dagger (Singapore)
23. Bar Trench (Tokyo)
24. Aha Saloon (Taipei) – New Entry
25. D.Bespoke (Singapore)
26. Vesper (Bangkok)
27. Coley (Kuala Lumpur) – Best Bar in Malaysia
28. Bar Orchard Ginza (Tokyo)
29. Alice Cheongdam (Seoul)
30. Union Trading Company (Shanghai)
31. Tropic City (Bangkok) – New Entry
32. The Pontiac (Hong Kong)
33. Lobster Bar & Grill (Hong Kong)
34. Rabbit Hole (Bangkok)
35. Hope & Sesame (Guangzhou) – New Entry
36. Stockton (Hong Kong)
37. Curator (Manila) – Best Bar in the Philippines
38. 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana (Hong Kong)
39. Union Brassiere, Bakery & Bar (Jakarta) – Best Bar in Indonesia
40. Bar Trigona (Kuala Lumpur) – New Entry
41. Employees Only (Singapore)
42. Smalls (Bangkok)
43. Bar Mood (Taipei) – New Entry
44. JungleBird (Kuala Lumpur)
45. Draft Land (Taipei)
46. The Other Room (Singapore)
47. OTO (Manila) – New Entry
48. Teens of Thailand (Bangkok)
49. Mixology Salon (Tokyo)
50. The Back Room (Manila) – New Entry

Dates & times: Singapore Cocktail Festival 2019 is held from 10 to 18 May 2019 | Festival Village; 10 to 12 May 2019, 4pm – 11pm

Prices: From S$35 for single day entry