The best speakeasies in Asia, as featured in the Tatler Best Asia 100 list 2024

At Alice Cheongdam, guests are invited to step into a whimsical escape from the everyday, inspired by Alice in Wonderland. It offers a playful yet refined cocktail experience, where head bartender Mason Park crafts minimalist cocktails in a cosy, storybook setting. The cocktail menu, filled with imaginative illustrations, takes guests on a journey through “strange countries”, each drink telling its own unique story. While the cocktail style leans towards minimalism, Park’s use of diverse garnishes adds layers of experience and flavour to every sip. The bar’s charm extends beyond its drinks, with staff whose personalities make each visit both memorable and unique. Don’t just order a drink—explore the menu, uncovering the stories behind each cocktail and enjoying the delightful surprises hidden within the illustrations.

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To step into The Back Room is to travel back in time, reliving the glitz and glamour of the Roaring Twenties. Hidden within Shangri-La The Fort, Manila, the opulent drinking den is tastefully dressed in lavish decor, while its staff don attire straight out of the Prohibition era to complete the speakeasy vibe. Volkan Ibil, who helms the hotel’s beverage programme, supplements the experience with thematic cocktails like Embargo and Capone & Co, each as playful as they are delicious. Just when you think you’ve uncovered all there is to see, peek into the gin laboratory to discover an impressive array of distillates, including the bar’s very own gin, The Bee’s Knees. After a more immersive experience? Ask about gin lab classes.

Bar Benfiddich is a place where the rules of cocktail making are torn apart and reimagined in the careful hands of Hiroyasu Kayama. This 17-seat hideaway feels almost clandestine, tucked away from the neon-lit chaos of Tokyo’s streets. Inside, you’re transported into Kayama’s world, where cocktails are imbued with a sense of place and story, drawing on his roots as a farmer.

Many of the ingredients in Kayama’s cocktails come from his own farm, just outside the city. Wormwood, juniper, fennel and other botanicals grown on his land are distilled into house-made spirits, including absinthe. But the owner-bartender’s creativity doesn’t end with distillation. He experiments with ageing spirits in unconventional ways, constantly searching for new techniques to unlock deeper, more complex flavours. One of the defining characteristics of Bar Benfiddich is its absence of a traditional menu. Kayama forgoes it in favour of conversation, engaging with each guest to create something personal. In his hands, classic cocktails are transformed by subtle yet daring touches: a negroni, perhaps, but one made with vintage vermouth or bitters created in-house from a dozen carefully selected herbs.

The experience is immersive. Kayama moves with deliberate precision, crafting each drink as if it were a ritual. His bartending is an exercise in balance, not just of ingredients but also of the atmosphere he creates—a calm, almost meditative space where guests are invited to slow down and savour each sip. The finishing touch: drinks arrive in glassware that is as intriguing as its contents—antique pieces or custom-made vessels designed to heighten the sensory experience.

Tatler Tip

Try the wood liqour, made extracting alcohol from typically disposed wood chips—an official initiative with the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute of Japan.

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“Simple but with style” is the concept at Bar Us, which gives off a restaurant vibe thanks to creative cocktail potions made with ingredients such as herbs, fish sauce, roasted rice and flowers. Continuing the culinary theme, the cutting-edge menu is divided into Starters, Mains and Afters, as well as All Night. Guests are encouraged to start the night with a refreshing, palate-cleansing beverage, then work their way through some more intense options, experimenting with savoury drinks along the way, and end the night with clean, aromatic flavours.

Agave and rice spirits take centre stage at this speakeasy, where you can savour cocktails celebrating the craftsmanship and tradition of these Mexican and Asian beverages. Founded by Gabriel Lowe and Jesse Vida, the club is easy to miss, its presence indicated by a glowing red sign with a mischievous Cheshire cat’s grin. The Cat Bite Margarita—perhaps the best margarita in Singapore—is an epic celebration of agave made with Código 1530 blanco tequila, Siete Misterios espadín mezcal, Cointreau, a fresh citrus blend, sherry and agave nectar. It is the perfect balance of floral, citrus and tangy flavours to wake the appetite. Or go with the Soju Sprint, a tribute to rice spirits made with Tokki soju, peach, honey, mint, a fresh citrus blend, sherry, absinthe and soda

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Inside the Four Seasons Seoul in the heart of the city, Charles H offers a modern twist on Prohibition-era speakeasies, where discerning cocktail enthusiasts can indulge in both classic and contemporary drinks crafted by head bartender Odd Strandbakken. Charles H transports guests to a bygone era with rich design elements inspired by traditional Korean metalwork, while Strandbakken’s global travels and deep knowledge of local produce inform his innovative cocktail creations, resulting in drinks that marry traditional techniques with modern culinary advances. The bar’s dedication to craft is evident in every detail, from the hand-picked bottle selection to the secret ingredients like Cuban cherry amaro and house-made hot sauces. The bar team might even preview new cocktails still in development.

Playfulness is at the core of Coley. Malaysian humour weaves its way on to the menu in the form of cocktail names and anecdotes about this spot in Kuala Lumpur’s Bangsar district. One of the city’s most beloved bars, Coley has undergone several revamps but has stayed true to one of its signatures—the Gin & Coconut, a drink that has been on the menu since 2016. Alongside this mainstay, guests can expect a tribute to the Hanky Panky—the Dragon Eye—made with Rémy Martin 1738, longan and monkfruit; spiked slushies; whisky flights; and an impressive food programme.

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Part of the fun of renowned Taichung speakeasy Goût Bar is finding it. Guests first enter the restuarant Goût Night on the ground floor before ascending to the first floor, where they must find a hidden switch on an old bookshelf to reveal the bar tucked behind it. Goût Bar provides a warm, personable experience, led by the talented Elvis Chang. While the bar exudes a laid-back British vibe, the service is distinctly Japanese, combining professionalism with a welcoming atmosphere. The bar offers no menu, focusing instead on crafting both classic and custom creations. Beyond its exceptional drinks, Goût Bar offers small but thoughtful touches, like warming soups upon arrival and delicious smoked nuts for snacking. With only 20 seats, the cosy yet refined environment allows for casual conversation with the bartenders.

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Guangzhou cocktail bar Hope & Sesame has seamlessly integrated itself into a traditional street, hidden behind an unassuming cha chaan teng, or casual Cantonese café. Since opening in 2016 as southern China’s first speakeasy, it has revolutionised the local bar scene, introducing cutting-edge techniques such as centrifugal clarification, sous vide infusion and rotary distillation to craft its inventive cocktails. The wine list, which changes every six months, is as thoughtfully curated as the drinks menu, which takes the form of a five-course experience—each drink representing an amuse-bouche, appetiser, main course, dessert and coffee. Its discreet yet inviting atmosphere, combined with its Jazz Space, offers the perfect setting to unwind.

Hidden behind a secret bookshelf door, Le Chamber is a speakeasy in Seoul that blends the mystique of the Prohibition era with the elegance of Korean-inspired cocktails to offer an immersive experience. It’s led by acclaimed bartender Louis Eom, who was the 2010 Diageo World Class runner-up, and has been a beacon of creativity and sophistication for over a decade. The bar’s concept adds a touch of fantasy from the moment you step inside by uncovering the hidden entrance. Le Chamber offers a menu rich in both local and exotic ingredients. Signature cocktails like the Ginseng Martini encapsulate the essence of Korea, while aroma graphs guide guests to drinks tailored to their tastes. The ambience, from the intimate lighting to the curated music, ensures that every visit leaves a lasting impression.

Mizunara: The Library feels like a slice of Ginza hidden in the heart of Wan Chai. This sophisticated whisky and cocktail bar is a quiet retreat, with dark wood interiors, leather seating and an unexpected Zen garden—a nod to calm in a frenetic city. Head barman Masahiko Endo curates an extensive whisky collection, offering a mix of Japanese, Scottish and other global expressions. Endo’s craft doesn’t stop at whisky—his cocktails are an exercise in precision, with each drink constructed using hand-cut ice. While the drinks are firmly rooted in tradition, there’s a constant thread of quiet innovation. Though you’re not allowed to take your libations into the garden, its presence creates an atmosphere of reflection.

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A hidden gem, Night Rooster invites you to step into a world of folklore and flavour, where each cocktail tells a story and each bite is an unexpected discovery. A cosy, shadow-filled lounge, the bar feels like a journey into a world of mythical tales and curious artefacts. Designed with creative flair by the talented Raka Ambarawan, the menu celebrates the use of local ingredients, from dehydrated jackfruit to tobacco leaves. The imaginative food offerings, including oxtail croquettes and rabbit sausage, make this a perfect spot for those craving something beyond the ordinary. Visit on a Saturday for Skewed Tastes, where the menu offers grilled delights cooked over an open fire, perfect for pairing with the seasonal cocktails.

Opium gets its name from its location atop that century-old building that houses Restaurant Potong, situated in what was once the location of most of Bangkok’s opium dens, in the city’s Chinatown. Cocktail lovers flock to the nostalgic, moody rooftop space and indulge in a menu featuring more than 100 drinks, divided into six categories under the concept of Liquid Surreality. The bar is the creation of Arnon Hoontrakul, who owns restaurants, bars and coffee shops across Thailand and France.

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PCO, short for Pass Code Only, offers an experience that feels both clandestine and luxurious, with the hidden entrance and intimate setting adding to the allure. After stepping through an inconspicuous phone booth, you’ll be transported by a speakeasy-style space with design elements that echo the early 1900s, with vintage telephones and a curated collection of old books adding to the bar’s nostalgic, immersive atmosphere. Always ask the bartender about the secret off-menu options—PCO’s mixologists are known for their custom creations.

Penicillin has carved out a distinctive place in Hong Kong’s cocktail scene with its groundbreaking commitment to sustainable mixology. Known for its closed-loop production methods and passion for reducing waste, this bar is as much about conscious drinking as it is about inventive cocktails. Led by a team eager to educate, Penicillin invites guests to explore its unique drinks while reflecting on the environmental footprint of each cocktail. The signature One Penicillin, One Tree cocktail, which adapts seasonally, ensures a climate-positive drinking experience. For those unsure where to start, the Hot, Flat and Crowded, with its delicious mango-custard gin base, is a new favourite. Friendly staff are always on hand to guide you through the menu.

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Pine & Co is a hidden gem that takes you on a journey through a cocktail experience centred around classic flavours, infused with cultural and musical inspirations. The journey begins as guests navigate through an old alleyway and pass through a series of four doors. A traditional Korean gate leads to a bar that feels like a modern living room, blending comfort with a touch of sophistication, while the ambience shifts with the lighting and music. Beyond the physical space, the bar offers an adventure in the metaverse, where guests can play cocktail-related games, explore the bar in virtual reality and receive personalised menu recommendations.