The 50 best bars in Asia have been announced on July 16 2024 and we’ve asked the dining experts at Westpac Group to spotlight 5 of these.
The sister list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, Asia’s 50 Best Bars spotlights the region’s most forward-thinking talents in the drinks industry and this cocktail renaissance has swept through the world of mixology. Bars are now focusing on unexpecting ingredients, techniques, and creative precision for a sipping experience that rivals dining at a fine restaurant. With many of our members being both food and drinks connoisseurs, our dining experts share their insider insights on some of the bars that made it to this year’s top 50.
Among the highlights this year, new destinations received long-awaited recognition. Craftroom became Osaka’s first-ever representative on the list, landing in 28th place, while CMYK, in 43rd, was the first bar from Changsha in China to be recognised. Other often unchartered destinations featured in the list include Kuala Lumpur, Guangzhou, Bengaluru, and Kathmandu.
Thanks to the dining experts at Westpac Concierge we’ve got the lowdown on all the best bars in Asia so we’ve asked them to share their insider insights on five of the bars that made it to this year’s top 50. If you’re a Westpac cardholder, you might be eligible for these experts’ complimentary and thoughtful assistance. Going way beyond helping with your reservations at the best bars in Asia, they can also help if you’re traveling. From booking flights tickets and hotel rooms to recommending restaurants and bars, they’re here to with every step of your trip. Check if you’re eligible now!
The lowdown on five of the best bars in Asia, where to sip on tantalising cocktails
Bar Leone
11-15 Bridges Street, Central, Hong Kong
The Best Bar in Asia 2024
Opened in May 2023 by Roman bartender and industry veteran Lorenzo Antinori, Bar Leone has made a roaring debut, clinching the top spot on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. If you’ve had the pleasure of sipping one of Antinori’s creations at acclaimed bars like Argo at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong or Charles H in Seoul, this achievement won’t surprise you.
Departing from the glitz of five-star hotel bars, Antinori’s first solo venture is an ode to traditional Roman bars. In an authentic, purposely nostalgic setting adorned with football team AS Roma memorabilia and vintage posters, Antinori celebrates cocktail popolari culture. Italian classic aperitivo takes centre stage, elegantly twisted yet true to their essence, paired with bites worthy of licking your fingers. It’s Roman hospitality at its best, infused with the vibrant energy of Hong Kong.
Going green: By embracing a minimalist approach and sourcing ingredient locally, Bar Leone generates minimal waste and prides itself on maintaining a low carbon footprint.
Zest, Seoul
B1 26 KR 55 Dosan-daero 55-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
The Seoul bar that continues its meteoric rise
Founded by Busan-born Dohyung `Demie’ Kim, who has claimed the Bartender Award for the second year in a row, Zest is an ode to local and sustainable practices. The bar pairs its commitment to greener operations with playful experimentation, perfectly proving that green is the new cool. Ingredients are sourced from around South Korea and leftovers are upcycled into drinks components. For instance, hallabongs (oranges from Jeju Island) are used to the zest: their juice in the Jeju Garibaldi cocktail, their peels distilled into house-made gin, and their pulp turned into cordial. The bar’s minimalist style, resembling a modernist lab more than a bar, complements its ethos of innovative experiences.
Going green: The sustainable initiatives extend beyond the cocktail program, featuring bar aprons made from recyclable materials and house-made carbonated drinks to combat aluminium waste. In a country known for demanding work hours and hierarchical structures, Zest also champions flexible schedules and fair wages.
Fura, Singapore
74A Amoy St, Singapore 069893
Singapore’s future forward sustainable bar
The recipient of this year’s Sustainable Bar Award, Fura made a striking entrance into Singapore’s competitive bar scene in late 2023. Named after the Swedish word for pine, the 40-seat gastrobar places nature and eco-consciousness at its core. The cocktails menu spotlights ingredients that address ecosystem imbalances, such as the Jellyfish Martini with incorporates the invasive marine species jellyfish, fish leaf, and kombu oil. The menu’s Ugly Delicious section creatively transforms overlooked and ripped fruits and vegetables into wines and kombuchas, fermenting them instead of letting them go to waste. Reflecting its future-forward vision, Fura’s minimalist design highlights unconventional materials like recycled glass, sconces made from offcuts, and earth-friendly wood.
Going green: Complementing the drinks, the plant-led food menu features innovative items like protein-rich insects and black garlic ‘caviar’.
Virtù, Tokyo
1 Chome-2-1 Ōtemachi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0004
The bar pioneering a fresh style of service in Tokyo
In a city where the most coveted restaurants and bars are booked out months in advance, securing a reservation can be daunting, especially without speaking the language. Departing from this approach, Virtù doesn’t take bookings, instead instead the team provides a personalised experience, striking up conversations to glean precious information and ensuring guests never have to wave for attention. Impressively, the staff speaks nine languages, enhancing their ability to serve you in your native tongue. This unique service style, paired with an art deco-inspired interior and a drink list featuring lesser-known Japanese spirits and rare cognacs, has earned Virtù the 11th spot on this year’s list and the Art of Hospitality award.
Going green: Found in Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi, Virtù adheres to the property’s commitment to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) efforts, including waste reduction, elimination of single-use plastics, and support of small, local suppliers.
Reka, Kuala Lumpur
67M, Jln Setia Bakti, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
A new entry contributing to a wider representation of destinations on the list
The name Reka, meaning creation in Malay, captures the essence of this flavour lab opened in 2021 and debuting on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list this year. In a futuristic design where low ceilings and neon lights set the tone, co-owner and bartender Joel Poon crafts seasonal cocktails using Malaysian ingredients, enhanced by advanced techniques and lab-grade machinery. The focus is on Malaysian ingredients and Reka’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its use of repurposed ingredients. The current Domino Effect menu functions like a cascading chain reaction, where ingredients in one drink are reused in the next. For example, the Mari Berangan cocktail uses local Berangan bananas, while their peels garnish the following drink, Gentian Glory.
Going green: Sustainability extends beyond the cocktails, with energy-efficient design elements like LED lighting and added insulation. Reka also transforms leftovers into fermentations, avoids single-use plastics, and encourages its suppliers to use reusable containers.
