The list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022 has been announced at an in-person awards ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand.
The ceremony revealed the countdown that features bars from 16 cities across Asia, culminating in Coa, Hong Kong, being named as The Best Bar in Asia.
The seventh edition of the annual awards was a chance for Asia’s bar community to come together after a hiatus in live events, as the region emerges from the pandemic’s many challenges and international travel resumes once more.
The Asia’s 50 Best Bars list and surrounding programme aims to recognise the immense talent, resilience and constant innovation evident across Asia’s bar landscape.
Coa in Hong Kong secured the number one spot for the second year in a row, named The Best Bar in Asia and also The Best Bar in Hong Kong. It is the second bar to achieve this back-to-back feat, after Manhattan, Singapore, in 2017 and 2018.
Launched in 2017 by bartender-owner Jay Khan, Coa continues its mission to bring agave spirits to the forefront of Asia’s cocktail scene.
The bar offers an extensive menu of handcrafted Mexican spirits that include tequila and mezcal, and rarer expressions such as raicilla, bacanora, sotol and charanda.
A veteran of the industry, Khan has more than 13 years’ experience and was voted Bartenders’ Bartender at Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2020.
Coa first debuted on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list in 2019, winning the Highest New Entry Award at number 12.
At number two was Jigger & Pony, Singapore, winning The Best Bar in Singapore for the second year in a row.
Coming in at number three is Argo in Hong Kong, a new entrant to the list and winner of the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award.
The number four spot belongs to another new entrant, Tesouro from Goa, which wins the London Essence Best New Opening and The Best Bar in India.
Tokyo’s Bar Benfiddich comes in at number five, moving up four places from last year’s number none and also took out the Legend of the List Award and The Best Bar in Japan.
Mark Sansom, Content Director for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, says: “We could not be happier that Asia’s 50 Best Bars returns to a live event format this year and that the community can experience much-needed connection and conviviality once again.
“Asia’s bars have shown remarkable resilience and growth in spite of the challenges of the past two years, and we continue to be proud to celebrate the talent and creativity on display in bars all across Asia.
“Congratulations to Jay Khan and the team at Coa for holding onto their top position after another tumultuous year for Hong Kong. Coa’s winning cocktail of an Agave-spirits-forward menu, expertly-crafted menu and a complete understanding of the guest experience has again proven to strike a winning chord with our voting Academy.”
See the full list below:
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