Mo Bar, Singapore I Photo by Tatum Ancheta
Published on: April 8, 2025 I Updated April 16, 2025: Bars across Asia are hosting guest shifts and events this April. Some are one-night takeovers, others run for several days. From Manila to Tokyo, Hong Kong to Jakarta, here’s a list of what’s happening and where.
Manila
Nepal’s Barc heads to Back Room
When: April 10
Time: 7pm
Where: Back Room, BGC
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Barc from Kathmandu, Nepal (ranked No. 39 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024) is coming to Manila for one night only. Abhishek Tuladhar and Rajni Malla are taking over the bar at Shangri-La Hotel’s cocktail den, Back Room, bringing the energy of Kathmandu’s award-winning bar scene. Drinks will be limited and the shift starts at 7pm sharp.
Back Room is located at Shangri-La at the Fort, 30th Street, corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Manila’s The Curator Flies to Italy
When: April 10 and 13
Time: From evening onwards
Where: Locale Firenze (Florence) and Freni e Frizioni (Rome)
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Though this event is all the way in Italy, we thought you should know that David Ong of The Curator in Manila is heading to Italy for two guest shifts this April. On April 10, he’ll be at Locale Firenze (No. 36 at The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024) during Florence Cocktail Week, joining Tres Monos from Buenos Aires for a special Nightcap event. On April 13, he’ll be at Freni e Frizioni (No.33 The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023) in Rome for a Sunday night shift.
Locale Firenze is located at Via delle Seggiole, 12/R, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy and Freni e Frizioni is located at Via del Politeama, 4/6, 00153 Roma RM, Italy.
Shake and Scratch + Easter Shot Hunt at The Spirits Library
When: April 19–20, Saturday to Sunday
Where: The Spirits Library
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Poblacion’s The Spirits Library is open all Easter weekend with two fun events lined up. On Saturday, April 19, it’s all about vinyl with Shake and Scratch, a special all-record night featuring Peter Noordzij and Ean Mayor. Then on Sunday, April 20, it’s the Easter Shot Hunt. Find the hidden eggs scattered throughout the bar and win a surprise shot. Expect music, cocktails, and a playful atmosphere all weekend long.
The Spirits Library is located at 496 Enrique St., Poblacion, Makati. Follow @thespiritslibrary on Instagram for updates.
Peter Lin at Three Dots
When: April 23, Tuesday
Time: 8pm
Where: Three Dots
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Newly opened San Juan bar Three Dots is hosting its first international guest shift with Peter Lin, former World Class Taiwan champion and current Flor de Caña Asia Pacific ambassador. He’ll be behind the bar for one night, serving drinks using multi-awarded Flor de Caña rum from Nicaragua, known for being carbon neutral and Fair Trade certified.
Three Dots is located at Greenhills, San Juan City. Follow @threedotsmnl for updates.
Tokyo
Singapore’s Fura Visits Tokyo Confidential
When: April 15
Time: 8pm
Where: Tokyo Confidential
Fura in Singapore is known for its creative drinks and focus on sustainability. It ranked No. 42 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 and also won the Sustainability Award. On April 15, Fura’s co-owners Christina Rasmussen and Sasha Wijidessa will be behind the bar at Holly Graham’s cocktail bar, Tokyo Confidential. They’ll serve cocktails made with seasonal ingredients and bring snacks from their bar in Singapore.
Tokyo Confidential is located at 9/F, The V-City Azabu-Juban Place, 1-6-1 Azabujuban, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0045, Japan.
Singapore
Firangi Superstar X Asia Today
When: April 24
Time: 7pm to 10pm
Where: Firangi Superstar
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Bangkok bar Asia Today, known for its use of wild honey and local Thai ingredients, is doing a one-night takeover at Singapore’s Modern Indian restaurant, Firangi Superstar. Asia Today’s beverage director Attapon De Silva and senior team member Kwan will serve four cocktails using ingredients from northern Thailand. The drinks will be paired with honey-based snacks by Firangi Superstar’s executive chef Raj Kumar, made just for this event.
Firangi Superstar is located at 20 Craig Road, #01-03, Singapore. Visit firangisuperstar.com or for more details.
Michele Mariotti at MO Bar Singapore
When: April 29, Tuesday
Time: 8pm to 11pm
Where: MO Bar Singapore
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MO Bar, located in Mandarin Oriental Singapore, welcomes back its first bar manager, Michele Mariotti, who is currently the head of bars of The American Bar at The Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland. The bar was awarded Best Cocktail Menu 2023 by The World’s 50 Best Bars. Michele will be mixing behind the stick for a one-night shift featuring signature cocktails.
MO Bar is located at Level 3, Mandarin Oriental Singapore, 5 Raffles Ave, Marina Square.
Macau
A +44 Takeover in the +853
When: April 11–12, Friday to Saturday
Time: 9pm
Where: Wing Lei Bar
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Two of the UK’s top bars are heading to Macau for a back-to-back guest shift at Wynn Palace’s Wing Lei Bar! Cocktail bars Bar Glue (and Kiki Lounge will kick things off on April 11 with their signature drinks. Expect tropical flavors from Kiki Lounge and clean, classic cocktails from Bar Glue. On April 12, Jamie Lewis and Drew Fleming from Kiki Lounge will remix Wing Lei Bar’s menu with tiki-inspired takes designed just for the night.
Wing Lei Bar is located at Wynn Palace, Avenida da Nave Desportiva, Cotai, Macau.
Hong Kong
#AlibiGuestShift
When: April 2–24
Where: Alibi Wine Dine and Be Social
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Cordis hotel’s Alibi bar continues its streak of guest shifts this April with two standout events. On April 12, Jackie Ho, Disaronno’s brand ambassador for Greater China, will serve signature cocktails from 7pm to 11pm as part of Disaronno’s Godfather Week. On April 24, Hueson and Jason from Skye at The Park Lane Hong Kong will take over from 8pm to 11pm, bringing creative drinks and signature flair to the bar.
Alibi is located at 5/F, Cordis, Hong Kong, 555 Shanghai Street, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Sazerac Sunday at Mostly Harmless
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You probably heard by now that award-winning Hong Kong bar Mostly Harmless ditched alcohol for a bold new adventure. Adding to the no-alco movement, they are hosting a series of activities, including a weekly takeover every Sunday with a local bar to celebrate Hong Kong and explore how each bar approaches this non-alcoholic category. Their ongoing series, Sazerac Sunday, kicked off a no-alco menu on March 30 with guest bartenders from The Pontiac. Sundays have become a Mostly Harmless staple for fans and friends who stop by, so they’re making it official with an MH 0.042 twist. Each bar will showcase its approach and ideas for non-alcoholic beverages. The schedule for upcoming Sazerac Sunday Zero is as follows:
Bar Leone: Sunday, April 6
Penicillin: Sunday, April 13
Savory Project: Sunday, April 20
Tell Camelia: Sunday, April 27
Coa: Sunday, May 3
Mostly Harmless is located at 2/F, 110 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, and is open from 5pm to 12am, Tuesdays to Sundays.
Beijing’s Bar Long Fong Takes Over Penicillin
When: April 18
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Where: Penicillin HK
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Penicillin (No. 24 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024) is known as Hong Kong’s first low-waste bar. On April 18, it will host a two-hour guest shift with Bar Long Fong from Beijing. Founders Xu and Fan will serve cocktails made with top-quality Chinese ingredients using modern techniques. The shift highlights bold, well-crafted drinks and the shared values of both bars.Penicillin is located at L/G, Amber Lodge, 23 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong.
Avoca x The Grasshopper Bar
When: April 16, Wednesday
Time: 8pm to 11pm
Where: Avoca
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Mondrian Hong Kong’s flagship bar, Avoca, welcomes Manila’s The Grasshopper Bar for a one-night guest shift. Top Filipino bartenders, Abby Quilal-lan and Kenneth Bandivas, will bring their signature cocktails, featuring All That Glitters, Wild Cherry Negroni, and the classic Grasshopper. Sip on drinks all made with Filipino ingredients while enjoying Avoca’s dramatic skyline views.
Avoca is located at 38/F, Mondrian Hong Kong, 16 Hart Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui. Follow @avocahongkong for updates.
Lockdown x Stir + Support Takeover
When: April 18, Friday
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Where: Lockdown
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Lockdown is teaming up with Stir + Support, a platform spearheaded by bartenders Ewen Le-Bescont and Anthony Zamora, who support charities by stirring cocktails all over the world. In partnership with Olmeca Altos Tequila and More Good, the duo will take over Hollywood Road’s hidden bar for a special one-night guest shift onn April 18.
A portion of the night’s proceeds will be donated to local nonprofit More Good, which provides over 850 fresh, nutritious meals weekly to underserved communities in Hong Kong. Limited drinks only! Come early and sip for a cause.
Lockdown is located at 27 Hollywood Road, Central. Follow @lockdownhk and @stirandsupport for updates.
Dan Miranda – He Is Rizzin’
When: April 19, Saturday
Time: 7pm to 11pm
Where: The Pontiac
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The legendary ‘Traveling Bartender’ Dan Miranda brings his wild energy and sharp wit to Hong Kong’s buzzing dive bar, The Pontiac, for one night only. Expect cocktails, chaos, and comedic timing that’ll keep you laughing (and drinking) all night long. The bar says: *Bonus points for bunny ears, so come in your fun Easter updo!
The Pontiac is located at 13 Old Bailey St, Central, Hong Kong. Follow @wearethepontiac on Instagram for updates.
Argo Mega Friends
When: April 22
Time: 6pm
Where: Argo
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Argo is bringing back its Mega Friends series with a big night of guest shifts featuring three award-winning bars from around the world. Allegory (No. 23 on North America’s 50 Best Bars 2024 and winner of Best Cocktail Menu), Moebius (No. 38 on the World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 and also a Michelin-starred venue), and Selva (No. 34 on North America’s 50 Best Bars 2024) will each serve their signature drinks for one night only. Expect bold flavors, creative ideas, and a packed crowd.
Prior to the event, there will be an industry-only session from 3pm to 4pm, featuring a one-hour talk with representatives from these award-winning bars who will share insights, tips, and stories about the art and science of bar hospitality, moderated by our very own, DrinkCollectiv’s founder and editorial director, Tatum Ancheta. Bar and drink industry professionals can RSVP for the session by contacting [email protected]. See you on the 22nd!
Argo is located at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong.
Wing Lei Bar Takes Over Hong Kong
When: April 17–19, Thursday to Saturday
Where: Honky Tonks Tavern, Artifact Bar, Soho House Hong Kong
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Wynn Palace’s Wing Lei Bar is heading to Hong Kong over the Easter long weekend. Scottish bartender Mark Lloyd will bring 12 cocktails from their Signature Menu and showcase four each night at a different venue. The drinks are split into four groups—Classics, Alternatini, Sours, and Stirred—with one signature from each category featured per night.
Catch the team at:
– April 17 (Thursday): Honky Tonks Tavern, 7pm
– April 18 (Friday): Artifact Bar, 8pm
– April 19 (Saturday): Soho House Hong Kong, 8pm
Each night will spotlight Wing Lei Bar’s new drinks. Limited pours only, so come early!
Jakarta
Between the Sips Present: Bar.San
When: April 9
Where: Between The Sips
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Bar.San is heading to Jakarta for a special guest shift at Between the Sips. Head bartender Manlika Ponyothin and house manager Pawarisa Pattamasuwan will serve a short menu of cocktails created just for the night. The event is held in partnership with Don Julio and marks Bar.San’s first shift in Indonesia. Expect fresh flavors and fun pours!
Between the Sips is located at Jl. Gunawarman No. 30, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta.
Phnom Penh
Taste of Asia
When: April 11–12
Where: Sora
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Sora Skybar is hosting a two-night event featuring guest shifts from four well-known bars across Asia. On April 11, Offtrack from Singapore (No. 25 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024) teams up with The Han-Jia from Taiwan, a sleek and stylish bar with a strong focus on whisky. On April 12, the spotlight turns to Good Friends Club, a friendly local hangout in Penang with playful, local-inspired drinks, and Opium, a hidden cocktail bar in Bangkok. Each night offers a small menu of signature drinks from each bar.
Sora is located at Rosewood Phnom Penh, Vattanac Capital Tower, No. 66 Monivong Boulevard, Phnom Penh.
Ho Chi Minh
Darren Defretes Saigon Series
When: April 17, 18, and 20
Time: 8pm to 11pm
Guest Bartender: Darren Defretes (Puéro Jakarta)
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Darren Defretes, 2019 Giffard West Cup Indonesia Champion and co-founder of Italian-American bar Puéro Jakarta, is landing in Vietnam for three exclusive guest shifts. He kicks off at Ho Chi Minh, April 17 at Drinking & Healing and at The Cloud at Vinpearl Landmark 81 on April 18 and wraps it up on April 20 at Gallery Bespoke Cocktail Bar in Hanoi. Known for his tropical style and high-impact cocktails, Darren brings the flavor and flair of Jakarta’s bar scene straight to Saigon.
Follow @giffardasia and @darrendfretes on Instagram for more details
Kuala Lumpur
MO Bar Shenzhen Takeover at Frank’s Bar
When: April 19
Time: 8pm onwards
Where: Frank’s Bar
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Sinatra-inspired speakeasy-style bar, Frank’s Bar, is hosting Tiger Chang from MO Bar Shenzhen for aone-night-only affair with great cocktails and upbeat energy. Frank’s is a music-inspired cocktail bar tucked inside Avenue K, known for its slick interiors, jazz references, and a menu that leans into storytelling and bold flavors. Tiger will bring his signature creations from MO Bar’s newly launched Colors of China cocktail menu.
Frank’s Bar is located at Lot M-1, Mezzanine Level, Avenue K, 156 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Reserve at frankskl.com or learn more at cinnamon-group.com.
Kuala Lumpur Cocktail Week
When: April 22–27
Where: Multiple venues across Kuala Lumpur
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Kuala Lumpur Cocktail Week (KLCW) returns for its second edition from April 22 to 27. The week-long event will feature one-night guest shifts by 27 top bars from around the world, including Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico), Jigger & Pony (Singapore), Bar Leone (Hong Kong), BKK Social Club (Thailand), and Vender Bar (Taiwan). These bars will collaborate with local spots like Bar Trigona, JungleBird, and Soma. The main event, Festival Village, happens on April 26 at Sentul Depot and includes cocktails, music, food, and games. There will also be seminars and cocktail-pairing dinners throughout the week. Read more
For more info, visit klcw.my or follow @klcwofficial on Instagram.
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