James Tamang & Agung Prabowo (Co-Founders) of The Old Man, Hong Kong, China winner of The Best Bar in Asia and of The Best Bar in China with Mathieu Marchal, Asia, Oceania and Africa  Business Development Manager, Perrier
Cover James Tamang & Agung Prabowo (Co-Founders) of The Old Man, Hong Kong, China winner of The Best Bar in Asia and of The Best Bar in China with Mathieu Marchal, Asia, Oceania and Africa Business Development Manager, Perrier

Singapore’s Manhattan drops to number two, while Taiwan’s Indulge Experimental Bistro takes the third spot

The Old Man Hong Kong took home the prestigious title of Best Bar in Asia at the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019 Awards, dethroning Singapore’s Manhattan which held the number one spot for two consecutive years. It was announced last night (May 9) in an awards ceremony at the Capitol Theatre, which was attended by the region’s top bartenders and F&B personalities.

The brainchild of Agung Prabowo, James Tamang and Roman Ghale, The Old Man debuted at No. 5 last year and has quickly garnered praise for its inventive libations paying tribute to Ernest Hemingway’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1952 novel of the same name.   

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Tatler Asia
Above Manhattan, which is now at No. 2, also took home the Legend of the List accolade, sponsored by Michter’s

Third place went to Taiwan’s Indulge Experimental Bistro, followed by Singapore’s Native (No. 4) and Atlas (No. 5). In total, there were 11 bars from Singapore that made it onto the list, while China had the most by claiming 12 spots.

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The biggest winners last night included The Bamboo Bar, which settled at No. 8 and was declared the best bar in Thailand, while Jigger & Pony took home the Highest Climber Award by jumping 33 spots to No. 9. Hong Kong’s Coa, at No. 12, was the highest new entry this year.  

The list also had 12 new entries, including The Backroom (No. 50) and Oto (No. 47) from the Philippines; Draft Land (No. 45) and Bar Mood (No. 43) from Taiwan; and  Bar Trigona (No. 40) from Malaysia, which also brought home the Ketel One Sustainable Award.

For individual accolades, Japanese cocktail maker Shingo Gokan was voted by his peers to take home the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender 2019 award.

Tatler Asia
Above Jigger & Pony received the Highest Climber Award and landed at No. 9 on the list

While William Drew, director of content for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, wasn’t in attendance last night, he extended his heartfelt congratulations to all the winners, saying “the list reflects the incredible diversity and outstanding talent across the continent”. 

The complete list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019 Awards winners

1. The Old Man, Hong Kong, China (The Best Bar in Asia 2019)

2. Manhattan, Singapore, Singapore (The Best Bar in Singapore)

3. Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei, Taiwan (Best Bar in Taiwan)

4. Native, Singapore, Singapore

5. Atlas, Singapore, Singapore

6. High Five, Tokyo, Japan (The Best Bar in Japan)

7. Speak Low, Shanghai, China

8. The Bamboo Bar At Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, Thailand (The Best Bar in Thailand)

9. Jigger & Pony, Singapore, Singapore (Highest Climber Award)

10. Quinary, Hong Kong, China

11. Tippling Club, Singapore, Singapore

12. Coa, Hong Kong, China (Highest New Entry,)

13. The SG Club, Tokyo, Japan (New Entry)

14. Charles H, Seoul, South Korea (Best Bar in Korea)

15. Gibson, Singapore, Singapore

16. Sober Company, Shanghai, China

17. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo, Japan

18. The Wise King, Hong Kong, China (New Entry)

19. Le Chamber, Seoul, South Korea

20. Backstage Cocktail Bar, Bangkok, Thailand

21. 28 HongKong Street, Singapore, Singapore

22. Operation Dagger, Singapore, Singapore

23. Bar Trench, Tokyo, Japan

24. Aha Saloon, Taipei, Taiwan (New Entry)

25. D.Bespoke, Singapore, Singapore

26. Vesper, Bangkok, Thailand

27. Coley, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Best Bar in Malaysia)

28. Bar Orchard Ginza, Tokyo, Japan

29. Alice Cheongdam, Seoul, South Korea

30. Union Trading Company, Shanghai, China

31. Tropic City, Bangkok, Thailand (New Entry)

32. The Pontiac, Hong Kong, China

33. Lobster Bar & Grill, Hong Kong, China

34. Rabbit Hole, Bangkok, Thailand (New Entry)

35. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou, China (New Entry)

36. Stockton, Hong Kong, China

37. The Curator, Manila, Philippines (The Best Bar in the Philippines)

38. 8 1/2 Otto E Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong, China

39. Union Brasserie, Bakery & Bar, Jakarta, Indonesia (The Best Bar in Indonesia)

40. Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award New Entry)

41. Employees Only, Singapore, Singapore

42. Smalls, Bangkok, Thailand

43. Bar Mood, Taipei, Taiwan (New Entry)

44. Junglebird, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

45. Draft Land, Taipei, Taiwan (New Entry)

46. The Other Room, Singapore, Singapore 

47. Oto, Manila, Philippines (New Entry)

48. Teens Of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand

49. Mixology Salon, Tokyo, Japan

50. The Back Room, Manila, Philippines  (New Entry)

Images courtesy of Asia's 50 Best Bars 2019

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