Cover The Manhattan team

The hotel bar has been given the inaugural title for its refined hospitality and inspired concoctions

Since Manhattan opened its doors in 2014, it has been the go-to hotel bar for stellar hospitality and creative tipples inspired by the golden age of cocktails in Manhattan. It didn’t go unnoticed in the bar community as it garnered accolade after accolade including the No. 2 spot at the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019 list, and the top spot at the awarding body’s 2018 and 2017 ranking.

This year, ahead of the announcement of the 2020 list via a digital ceremony on May 14, the awarding body has revealed that Manhattan earned the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award 2020. The winner was chosen by the 230-strong Academy, who nominated an establishment that provided the best hospitality in the past 18 months.

“We are pleased to recognise Manhattan’s continuous dedication to hospitality and ever-increasing efforts to offer perfect service,” said Mark Sansom, the content director for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, in a statement. In addition, the award showed due recognition to an important component in any bar experience.

Tatler Asia
Above The bar's concept was inspired by the golden age of cocktails and fine drinking in Manhattan
Tatler Asia
Above Manhattan's signature negroni

Bar manager David Nguyen-Luu, who joined the team last year, shared that “being recognised by our peers is an absolute honour for us, and a huge testament to our ethos”. Assistant bar manager Gabriel Carlos agreed, saying that the recognition is a “representation of what the team has been doing for the past six years”.

Nguyen-Luu stated that they always aim to make guests feel at home. It’s also important that they understand what the Manhattan concept is all about, so the team takes the time to run the through the menu, cocktail selection and bar bites.

In order to achieve the best possible service, the team undergoes a comprehensive bi-weekly product and service training programme, as well as online hospitality education programmes on a weekly basis. That said, Sansom affirmed that “the team’s unwavering commitment to maximising the guest experience truly makes them a worthy recipient of the inaugural award”. 

(Related: These Asian Bars are Pioneering the Next Wave of the Craft Cocktail Revolution)

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