Cover Hope & Sesame, tucked behind a traditional Cantonese storefront in Guangzhou’s historic Dongshankou district, is crowned The Best Bar in Asia 2026
Hope & Sesame, tucked behind a traditional Cantonese storefront in Guangzhou’s historic Dongshankou district, is crowned The Best Bar in Asia 2026
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Guangzhou takes the top bar spot, but with Bangkok fielding eight entries and 14 newcomers storming the list, Asia’s cocktail map has never been more diverse
The numbers from this year’s Asia’s 50 Best Bars list tell a story that goes beyond who sits at No 1. Guangzhou’s Hope & Sesame has taken the crown, and deservedly so, but look at the regional breakdown and a clearer picture emerges: Bangkok has cemented its status as the region’s most densely packed drinking destination, mainland China has achieved its highest ever tally, and secondary cities from Tainan to Makati are increasingly holding their own.
Hope & Sesame, tucked behind a traditional Cantonese storefront in Guangzhou’s historic Dongshankou district, has been a mainstay on the list for seven years. Founders Bastien Ciocca and Andrew Ho have built a menu that draws on Cantonese culinary traditions and the broader Chinese diaspora, reimagining familiar flavours through a modern lens. Seasonal menus shift between cultural narratives and nostalgic tastes, but the through-line remains consistent: this is a bar that understands its roots and works within them.
See also: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong shine on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 extended list
Above A signature cocktail from Hope & Sesame, where Cantonese culinary traditions meet modern mixology
Above Another inventive creation from Hope & Sesame’s menu, reimagining familiar flavours through a contemporary lens
A signature cocktail from Hope & Sesame, where Cantonese culinary traditions meet modern mixology
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Bangkok fields eight entries this year, the highest concentration of any city on the list. Dry Wave Cocktail Studio continues its ascent to No 4, claiming Best Bar in Thailand. Bar Us retains No 6 while picking up the Sustainable Bar Award. Lennon’s debuts at No 7, taking Highest New Entry for its retro speakeasy atop the Rosewood hotel. Bar Sathorn jumps 31 places to No 17, earning Highest Climber. BKK Social Club (No 20), Opium (No 25), GOD (No 31) and Aqua Bar (No 48) round out a showing that leaves little doubt: Bangkok is the region’s most densely-represented cocktail capital.
Hong Kong holds steady with seven entries. Bar Leone slips from last year’s No 1 to No 3, but retains Best Bar in Hong Kong. Coa, the agave specialist that once topped the list, is now designated a Legend of the List. Shelley Tai’s Mius debuts at No 36 while taking both Bartenders’ Bartender and Best Bar Design. Kinsman, though outside the main ranking, picks up Best Cocktail Menu for its Cantonese-inspired drinks programme.
Mainland China achieves its highest ever tally with seven entries. MO Bar Shenzhen rises to No 5, Obsidian Bar debuts at No 10, and Pony Up enters at No 19. Ralph’s Bar in Chengdu and Tiao in Beijing join the list for the first time, while CMYK in Changsha holds steady at No 27. Shenzhen now boasts two bars in the top 10.
Above Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, a Bangkok favourite, takes the No 4 spot and is named The Best Bar in Thailand 2026
Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, a Bangkok favourite, takes the No 4 spot and is named The Best Bar in Thailand 2026
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Singapore contributes four entries, led by Jigger & Pony at No 9, which takes Best Bar in Singapore. Its co-founder, Indra Kantono, receives the Industry Icon Award. Nutmeg & Clove (No 12), Offtrack (No 16) and Origin Bar (No 43) round out Singapore’s presence.
Jakarta emerges as a rising force with four entries. Modernhaus at No 11 takes Best Bar in Indonesia. Cosmo Pony (No 15), Carrots (No 21) and The Golden Tooth (No 40) join it, while Hats Bar picks up the One To Watch Award.
Seoul sustains its positioning with four entries, led by Zest at No 2, which takes Best Bar in Korea for the third consecutive year. Alice (No 13), Bar Cham (No 33) and M+MS round out the showing. Japan contributes three, with Punch Room Tokyo at No 23 taking Best Bar in Japan, joined by Virtù (No 26) and Bar Libre.
Vietnam arrives with two Hanoi entries: Workshop14 at No 34, which also takes Best New Opening, and The Hudson Rooms at No 46.
Taiwan continues its steady performance with three bars, led by Vender in Taichung at No 14, which claims Best Bar in Taiwan for the second year running.
India fields three, with Boilermaker in Goa at No 8 taking Best Bar in India, while Bengaluru’s Soka and Bar Spirit Forward signal the southern city’s growing presence.
Malaysia retains two spots, with Three X Co at No 32 and Bar Trigona at No 38.
Above Bar Leone, inspired by the classic bars of Rome, slips to No 3 but retains The Best Bar in Hong Kong 2026
Bar Leone, inspired by the classic bars of Rome, slips to No 3 but retains The Best Bar in Hong Kong 2026
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Beyond the established capitals, the list signals expansion into emerging cities. Makati’s Problem Child debuts at No 44, taking Best Bar in the Philippines. Hiriketiya’s Smoke & Bitters lands at No 29, claiming Best Bar in Sri Lanka alongside the Art of Hospitality Award. Macau’s St Regis Bar returns at No 45.
What emerges is a cocktail landscape that now spans 22 cities across the region. Bangkok commands the volume, mainland China commands the summit, and secondary cities from Tainan to Makati are increasingly part of the conversation. The 14 new entries reflect a wider, more distributed cocktail culture.
Above MO Bar Shenzhen, perched atop the Mandarin Oriental with sweeping city views, rises to No 5 with its liquid tribute to Chinese cultural heritage
MO Bar Shenzhen, perched atop the Mandarin Oriental with sweeping city views, rises to No 5 with its liquid tribute to Chinese cultural heritage
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The full Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 list
50. Tiao, Beijing (New entry)
49. Penicillin, Hong Kong
48. Aqua Bar, Bangkok (New entry)
47. Montana, Hong Kong (New entry)
46. The Hudson Rooms, Hanoi (New entry)
45. The St Regis Bar, Macau (Best Bar in Macau)
44. Problem Child, Makati (New entry; Best Bar in the Philippines)
43. Origin Bar, Singapore
42. M+MS, Seoul (New entry)
41. The Han-Jia, Tainan (New entry)
40. The Golden Tooth, Jakarta (New entry)
39. Bar Libre, Tokyo
38. Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur
37. Argo, Hong Kong
36. Mius, Hong Kong (New entry; Best Bar Design)
35. To Infinity & Beyond, Taipei
34. Workshop14, Hanoi (New entry; Best New Opening; Best Bar in Vietnam)
33. Bar Cham, Seoul
32. Three X Co, Kuala Lumpur (Best Bar in Malaysia)
31. GOD (Genius on Drugs), Bangkok
30. Bar Spirit Forward, Bengaluru
29. Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya (Art of Hospitality; Best Bar in Sri Lanka)
28. Ralph’s Bar, Chengdu (New entry)
27. CMYK, Changsha
26. Virtù, Tokyo
25. Opium, Bangkok
24. Coa, Hong Kong (Legend of the List)
23. Punch Room, Tokyo (Best Bar in Japan)
22. Gokan, Hong Kong
21. Carrots, Jakarta
20. BKK Social Club, Bangkok
19. Pony Up, Shanghai (New entry)
18. Soka, Bengaluru
17. Bar Sathorn, Bangkok (Highest Climber)
16. Offtrack, Singapore
15. Cosmo Pony, Jakarta
14. Vender, Taichung (Best Bar in Taiwan)
13. Alice, Seoul
12. Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore
11. Modernhaus, Jakarta (Best Bar in Indonesia)
10. Obsidian Bar, Shenzhen (New Entry)
9. Jigger & Pony, Singapore (Best Bar in Singapore)
8. Boilermaker, Goa (Best Bar in India)
7. Lennon’s, Bangkok (Highest New Entry)
6. Bar Us, Bangkok (Sustainable Bar Award)
5. MO Bar Shenzhen, Shenzhen
4. Dry Wave Cocktail Bar, Bangkok (Best Bar in Thailand)
3. Bar Leone, Hong Kong (Best Bar in Hong Kong)
2. Zest, Seoul (Best Bar in Korea)
1. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou (Best Bar in Mainland China; Best Bar in Asia)
A storyteller by day and a first-class food devourer by night, Fontaine is the Regional Dining Editor at Tatler Asia, overseeing dining content across all regions and shaping the brand’s editorial voice on food, chefs and culinary culture.
She is also Content Lead for Tatler Best and Co-jury Head for Tatler Best Hong Kong and Macau, guiding the awards’ editorial direction and evaluation process. With over a decade in the lifestyle and media industry spanning London and Hong Kong, she brings a cross-regional perspective to the table.
Follow her on Instagram at @fontimes.
