Sora I Photo courtesy of Rosewood Phnom Penh
Asia is abuzz with numerous events happening this July, and at the center of it all is the most anticipated Asia’s 50 Best Bars ceremony, taking place on July 15 for the first time in Macau. Two weeks before the festivities, the fifth edition of the list announces the extended list from 51 to 100.
Recommended stories:
Hope & Sesame’s Andrew Ho Wins Bartenders’ Bartender Award
Wynn to Host Exciting Week of Events in Macau
The list is voted by the Asia’s 50 Best Bars Academy, a diverse, well-travelled mix of industry pros, bartenders, bar owners, drinks journalists, and cocktail lovers, who pick the venues they believe deliver the best bar experiences across the region.
The 2025 list features bars from 23 destinations, with Singapore boasting six spots, including the new entry, Side Door at No. 53. There are 14 new entries from various parts of Asia, showcasing the growing diversity of the scene. Newer markets like Shenzhen in China, Phnom Penh in Cambodia, and Kaohsiung in Taiwan are making their debut which includes Obsidian Bar, a whisky and cigar bar from Shenzhen ranks at No. 51, Rosewood’s sky-high bar Sora in Phnom Penh lists at No. 65, and Maltail in Kaohsiung at No. 75. Meanwhile, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, and Tokyo all have four bars each, illustrating the city’s nightlife scenes.
Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Hanoi each logged three bars on the list. Hong Kong’s The Opposites makes its debut at No. 80, led by industry veterans Antonio Lai and Samuel Kwok, and is celebrating its first anniversary this month. Ezra Star’s non-alcoholic bar, Mostly Harmless, sits at No. 88 (down from No.45 in 2024), and Quinary at No. 91, a 13-year-old bar founded also by Antonio Lai, a pioneer in molecular mixology and a regular on the Asia’s 50 Best list, drops from its 26th position in 2024.
In Bangkok, Messenger Service is known for infusing their drinks with unconventional ingredients, and makes their debut at No. 90. Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar clocks in at No. 71. At the same time, Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel’s jazz bar Firefly ranks at No.82. Hanoi lists Workshop14 at No. 83, The Hudson Rooms at No. 86, and The Haflington at No. 87.
Other cities, such as Goa, Jakarta, and Osaka, feature two bars each. In contrast, cities like Tainan, New Delhi, Mumbai, Penang, Manila, Kyoto, and Hiriketiya each have one representative, showcasing the region’s diverse drinking scene.
See the full list below:
Be sure to catch the 2025 list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, which will be announced at the awards ceremony on July 15 and will be streamed live on the 50 Best YouTube channel starting at 8pm (HKT and MNL time).
Follow DrinkCollectiv on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for more drink news and all the latest sips and tips!
