These 5 Indian bars have made it to the top 50 in Asia

The bar, which also took the No. 1 ranking from Asia’s 50 Best Barslast year, highlights agave spirits; the name is drawn from a machete-like tool used to harvest agave. The Mexican-inspired space is dimly lit candles, with hand-drawn wall murals of goddesses and mythical creatures—as well as a real coa brought from Oaxaca.
Coa’s featured cocktails include La Paloma de Oaxaca, with tequila blanco, mezcal joven, lime, grapefruit soda, and worm salt; and the Ancho Highball, which also features tequila blanco, plus salted plum, ancho chile, and guava soda.

“We’ve been very fortunate that all the hard work from our team has been acknowledged and appreciated,” says founder Jay Khan, who opened the place in 2017, in an email. “Obviously it’s been very tough for everyone due to the adversity caused Covid.” He adds that last year’s No. 1 ranking “was like a dream for us. It really opened a lot of doors for us. We’ve had bigger opportunities since to promote and educate about traditional agave spirits.”

In another repeat of last year’s l, Singapore’s Jigger & Pony took the No. 2 spot, just as the city-state has begun to loosen many of its pandemic-related restrictions on the food and beverage industry. Jigger & Pony features cocktails like the Charlie Chaplin, with sloe gin, gin, apricot, and lime; and the Ru Spritz, which has cocchi rosa, melati, purple carrot, and soda.
“With longer operational hours and bigger group sizes allowed, we’ve definitely seen an improvement in the business,” says Giovanni Graziadei, Jigger & Pony’s principal bartender. “Travel has also brought back international guest shifts, which used to be a huge part of our bar.” He says other pandemic-related challenges, including staffing shortages and increased overhead costs, remain an issue. “Nonetheless, the relaxation of restrictions has brought a breath of fresh air for both us and customers,” Graziadei says.

The industry representatives who publish Asia’s 50 Best Bars gathered in person in Bangkok for the announcements. “It’s not been without its challenges” said content editor Mark Sansom, via video, about navigating during the pandemic. “But it’s reassuring to see that the bar community wants to get back together.”

He highlighted the presence of Indian bars on the l, led Goa’s Tesouro at No. 4 spot, and New Delhi’s Sidecar at 14.
Hong Kong’s Argo won the Highest New Entry award, at No. 3, while No. 5 Bar Benfiddich in Tokyo garnered the Remy Martin Legend of the L award. MO Bar in Singapore’s Mandarin Oriental hotel scored the Nikka Highest Climber award; it rose to No. 8 from 45 last year.
The format of the contest was changed due to pandemic restrictions. The 2022 ranking, taking into account pandemic-related travel limitations and dining restrictions, is meant to incorporate experiences across the voting period between June 2020 and January 2022. Voters were asked to vote for a maximum of five bars in their own country or special adminrative region (SAR), with the option to vote for a further two bars located outside of their country or SAR in Asia, for seven bars total.
Bars in places that are opening up, like Singapore, are optimic about the road ahead. It was another good year for the city-state, which had three spots in the top 10, including Manhattan at No. 9.

“It’s only going up from here,” said Juan Yi Jun, founder and head bartender at Singapore’s No Sleep Club, which came in at No. 15. “Many of our plans had to come to a halt during uncertain times, but now that we are looking at the country seriously opening up again, we are excited for many better things to come,” he says.
Asia’s 50 Best Bar rankings are based on the votes of members of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars Academy, a group of about 220 people selected for their expertise on Asia’s bar scene. It’s owned and operated William Reed Business Media, which is based in the U.K. and also creates the World’s 50 Best Bars and Restaurants ls.
Here are the best bars in Asia with their locations:
1. Coa – Hong Kong2. Jigger & Pony – Singapore3. Argo — Hong Kong4. Tesouro — Colva, India5. Bar Benfiddich — Tokyo6. Indulge Experimental Bro — Taipei7. Charles H — Seoul8. MO Bar — Singapore9. Manhattan — Singapore10. BKK Social Club — Bangkok11. Sober Company — Shanghai

12. Republic — Singapore13. Darkside — Hong Kong14. Sidecar — New Delhi15. No Sleep Club — Singapore16. Quinary — Hong Kong17. Tropic City — Bangkok18. Hope & Sesame — Guangzhou19. Vesper — Bangkok20. Lamp Bar — Nara, Japan21. The SG Club — Tokyo22. Penicillin — Hong Kong

23. Atlas — Singapore24. Aha Saloon — Taipei25. Bar Trench — Tokyo26. Hoots’ — New Delhi27. Tippling Club — Singapore28. Bar Cham — Seoul29. Bar Trigona — Kuala Lumpur30. Home — New Delhi31. Sago House — Singapore32. The Cocktail Club — Jakarta33. The Pontiac — Hong Kong34. The Wise King — Hong Kong35. Junglebird — Kuala Lumpur36. Nutmeg & Clove — Singapore

37. Analogue — Singapore38. The Aubrey — Hong Kong39. Le Chamber — Seoul40. Alice — Seoul41. Memento Mori — Tokyo42. Smoke & Bitters — Hiriketiya, Sri Lanka43. Asia Today — Bangkok44. Copitas — Bengaluru45. Union Trading Company — Shanghai46. The Bamboo Bar — Bangkok47. Bee’s Knees — Kyoto48. Zest — Seoul49. 28 HongKong Street — Singapore50. Speak Low — Shanghai
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