The annual bar ranking, announced via an online ceremony on 5 November, placed Jay Khan’s agave spirits bar at #8 on the list
While the World’s 50 Best Restaurants ranking was cancelled for 2020, the sister list for World’s 50 Best Bars has gone ahead. Last night (5 November 2020), the 12th edition of the annual ranking was announced via an online ceremony.
Traditionally, Hong Kong has performed well on the Asia edition, with eight bars placing on the 50-strong list in 2020—The Old Man and COA placing #2 and #3 respectively—but has always had a modest showing on the world ranking. In 2019, again only The Old Man and COA placed within the top 50 of the world, at #9 and #49 respectively.
After winning this year’s Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2020, however, COA’s Jay Khan is on the rise—his agave spirits bar shot up to #8 this year, taking home the Nikka Highest Climber Award for gaining 41 places above their previous ranking. The Old Man remains the only other Hong Kong bar on the list, though it dropped six places this year to #15. The bar's co-founders, Agung Prabowo and Roman Ghale, recently left to open two new projects—Penicillin and Dead&.
See also: Jay Khan Talks Winning Bartender Of The Year And His Must Have Items For An Impressive Home Bar
As for the #1 bar in the world, that honour goes to The Connaught Bar in London—an institution known for its classic approach and signature bespoke Dry Martinis. However, due to the pandemic and London’s recent lockdown measures, The Connaught hotel and all of its bars and restaurants—including The Connaught Bar—will be closed until 1 December earliest.
Given the difficult time both restaurants and bars have had in 2020 due to the pandemic, it seems odd that only the bar ranking continued to be announced whereas the World’s 50 Best Restaurants have been postponed to 2021 earliest. The organisation cites the extensive consultations they had with the industry and the widespread support for the list as a reason for continuing with the ranking. It is, one way, of keeping the industry’s spirits high.
However both COA and The Old Man will be participating in the next Tatler Dining initiative, The Hong Kong Cocktail, which will be launched on 11 November. Involving 20 of the best bars in the city, it’s an exciting new campaign that sees four teams of mixologists collaborating to come up with Hong Kong’s national cocktail—and you’ll get to taste and vote for the defining drink to represent the city. Stay tuned for more.