The Old Man In Hong Kong Nabs The Top Spot At The Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019 Awards
The Old Man Hong Kong took home the prestigious title of Best Bar in Asia at the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019 Awards, dethroning Singapore’s Manhattan which held the number one spot for two consecutive years. It was announced last night (May 9) in an awards ceremony at the Capitol Theatre, which was attended by the region’s top bartenders and F&B personalities.
The brainchild of Agung Prabowo, James Tamang and Roman Ghale, The Old Man debuted at No. 5 last year and has quickly garnered praise for its inventive libations paying tribute to Ernest Hemingway’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1952 novel of the same name.
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Third place went to Taiwan’s Indulge Experimental Bistro, followed by Singapore’s Native (No. 4) and Atlas (No. 5). In total, there were 11 bars from Singapore that made it onto the list, while China had the most by claiming 12 spots.
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The biggest winners last night included The Bamboo Bar, which settled at No. 8 and was declared the best bar in Thailand, while Jigger & Pony took home the Highest Climber Award by jumping 33 spots to No. 9. Hong Kong’s Coa, at No. 12, was the highest new entry this year.
The list also had 12 new entries, including The Backroom (No. 50) and Oto (No. 47) from the Philippines; Draft Land (No. 45) and Bar Mood (No. 43) from Taiwan; and Bar Trigona (No. 40) from Malaysia, which also brought home the Ketel One Sustainable Award.
For individual accolades, Japanese cocktail maker Shingo Gokan was voted by his peers to take home the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender 2019 award.
While William Drew, director of content for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, wasn’t in attendance last night, he extended his heartfelt congratulations to all the winners, saying “the list reflects the incredible diversity and outstanding talent across the continent”.
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The complete list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019 Awards winners
1. The Old Man, Hong Kong, China (The Best Bar in Asia 2019)
2. Manhattan, Singapore, Singapore (The Best Bar in Singapore)
3. Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei, Taiwan (Best Bar in Taiwan)
4. Native, Singapore, Singapore
5. Atlas, Singapore, Singapore
6. High Five, Tokyo, Japan (The Best Bar in Japan)
7. Speak Low, Shanghai, China
8. The Bamboo Bar At Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, Thailand (The Best Bar in Thailand)
9. Jigger & Pony, Singapore, Singapore (Highest Climber Award)
10. Quinary, Hong Kong, China
11. Tippling Club, Singapore, Singapore
12. Coa, Hong Kong, China (Highest New Entry,)
13. The SG Club, Tokyo, Japan (New Entry)
14. Charles H, Seoul, South Korea (Best Bar in Korea)
15. Gibson, Singapore, Singapore
16. Sober Company, Shanghai, China
17. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo, Japan
18. The Wise King, Hong Kong, China (New Entry)
19. Le Chamber, Seoul, South Korea
20. Backstage Cocktail Bar, Bangkok, Thailand
21. 28 HongKong Street, Singapore, Singapore
22. Operation Dagger, Singapore, Singapore
23. Bar Trench, Tokyo, Japan
24. Aha Saloon, Taipei, Taiwan (New Entry)
25. D.Bespoke, Singapore, Singapore
26. Vesper, Bangkok, Thailand
27. Coley, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Best Bar in Malaysia)
28. Bar Orchard Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
29. Alice Cheongdam, Seoul, South Korea
30. Union Trading Company, Shanghai, China
31. Tropic City, Bangkok, Thailand (New Entry)
32. The Pontiac, Hong Kong, China
33. Lobster Bar & Grill, Hong Kong, China
34. Rabbit Hole, Bangkok, Thailand (New Entry)
35. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou, China (New Entry)
36. Stockton, Hong Kong, China
37. The Curator, Manila, Philippines (The Best Bar in the Philippines)
38. 8 1/2 Otto E Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong, China
39. Union Brasserie, Bakery & Bar, Jakarta, Indonesia (The Best Bar in Indonesia)
40. Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award New Entry)
41. Employees Only, Singapore, Singapore
42. Smalls, Bangkok, Thailand
43. Bar Mood, Taipei, Taiwan (New Entry)
44. Junglebird, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
45. Draft Land, Taipei, Taiwan (New Entry)
46. The Other Room, Singapore, Singapore
47. Oto, Manila, Philippines (New Entry)
48. Teens Of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand
49. Mixology Salon, Tokyo, Japan
50. The Back Room, Manila, Philippines (New Entry)
Images courtesy of Asia's 50 Best Bars 2019