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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Asia's 50 Best Bars

    The Best Bar in Asia Is Coa in Hong Kong. Once Again

    Singapore and India also have drinking spots ranking high on the list from Asia’s 50 Best Bars.



    Coa, Asia’s best bar, is in a Mexican-inspired space. Source: Coa
    By Joanna Ossinger (Bloomberg)

    April 28, 2022, 8:43 PM GMT+7

    Coa in Hong Kong is once again Asia’s best bar.

    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 by 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 by 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 list, 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 Ruby Spritz, which has cocchi rosa, melati, purple carrot, and soda.

    A cocktail from Jigger & Pony in Singapore, No. 2 on the list.
    Source: Jigger & Pony

    “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.”

    Hiroyasu Kayama, founder of Tokyo’s Bar Benfiddich, ranked No. 5.
    Source: Bar Benfiddich

    He highlighted the presence of Indian bars on the list, led by 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 List 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 administrative 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 optimistic 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.

    The female-led No Sleep Club in Singapore.
    Source: No Sleep Club

    “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 by William Reed Business Media, which is based in the U.K. and also creates the World’s 50 Best Bars and Restaurants lists.

    Here are the best bars in Asia with their locations:
    1. Coa – Hong Kong
    2. Jigger & Pony – Singapore
    3. Argo — Hong Kong
    4. Tesouro — Colva, India
    5. Bar Benfiddich — Tokyo
    6. Indulge Experimental Bistro — Taipei
    7. Charles H — Seoul
    8. MO Bar — Singapore
    9. Manhattan — Singapore
    10. BKK Social Club — Bangkok
    11. Sober Company — Shanghai

    Sidecar in New Delhi, No. 13.
    Source: Sidecar

    12. Republic — Singapore
    13. Darkside — Hong Kong
    14. Sidecar — New Delhi
    15. No Sleep Club — Singapore
    16. Quinary — Hong Kong
    17. Tropic City — Bangkok
    18. Hope & Sesame — Guangzhou
    19. Vesper — Bangkok
    20. Lamp Bar — Nara, Japan
    21. The SG Club — Tokyo
    22. Penicillin — Hong Kong

    Atlas in Singapore, No. 23.
    Source: Atlas

    23. Atlas — Singapore
    24. Aha Saloon — Taipei
    25. Bar Trench — Tokyo
    26. Hoots’ — New Delhi
    27. Tippling Club — Singapore
    28. Bar Cham — Seoul
    29. Bar Trigona — Kuala Lumpur
    30. Home — New Delhi
    31. Sago House — Singapore
    32. The Cocktail Club — Jakarta
    33. The Pontiac — Hong Kong
    34. The Wise King — Hong Kong
    35. Junglebird — Kuala Lumpur
    36. Nutmeg & Clove — Singapore

    No. 35 Junglebird, in Kuala Lumpur, was founded by (from left) Divyesh Chauhan, Lolita Goh, and Joshua Ivanovic.
    Source: Junglebird

    37. Analogue — Singapore
    38. The Aubrey — Hong Kong
    39. Le Chamber — Seoul
    40. Alice — Seoul
    41. Memento Mori — Tokyo
    42. Smoke & Bitters — Hiriketiya, Sri Lanka
    43. Asia Today — Bangkok
    44. Copitas — Bengaluru
    45. Union Trading Company — Shanghai
    46. The Bamboo Bar — Bangkok
    47. Bee’s Knees — Kyoto
    48. Zest — Seoul
    49. 28 HongKong Street — Singapore
    50. Speak Low — Shanghai






    Majestically enthroned amid the vulgar herd

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat
    malmomike77's Avatar
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    ^ was it a year ago we were debating what made a good bar, how time flies.

  3. #3
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    taxexile's Avatar
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    Cant see Gullivers on that list.

    Surely shome mishtake.

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat Backspin's Avatar
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    Is that Bed supper club bullshit still a thing


    What was the other one .. Q Bar?

    I preferred the hookah bar around the corner from Gullivers and up the stairs
    Last edited by Backspin; 29-04-2022 at 01:35 PM.

  5. #5
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Christ, you're going back 20 years to when those places were in vogue.

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat Backspin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cyrille View Post
    Christ, you're going back 20 years to when those places were in vogue.
    Not 20. More like 10. Sounds like Bed supper club closed in 2013. The space ship is gone.

    Looks like QBar had a fire in 2012 and closed.
    Last edited by Backspin; 29-04-2022 at 10:35 PM.

  7. #7
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    So, 10 years after they were fashionable they closed.

    They didn't go from being the coolest spots in town to being closed overnight, you daft twat.

  8. #8
    Thailand Expat Backspin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cyrille View Post
    So, 10 years after they were fashionable they closed.

    They didn't go from being the coolest spots in town to being closed overnight, you daft twat.
    You horses nuts. Q-Bar opened in 1999. It takes time to develop a reputation. So saying 20 years is more daft. Plus in this business , they usually tail off quickly after their peak as something new comes up. The peak was 2007-2009.

    Both places didn't necessarily close because they became uncool. Q's lease was raised by 600% after being cheap for years. It was getting hard to make money. So the founder sold it. He probably sold at the peak. Then there was a fire and the new owner probably couldn't make ends meet to get it going again.

    Bed opened in 2002

    Bedtime Lullaby: Saying Goodbye to Bed Supperclub | Coconuts


    August 31, 2013 marks the end of Bed’s lease in the Sukhumvit 11 location. Batra said that management did have the choice to carry on, and even toyed with the idea of making costly renovations earlier this year. But ultimately, the decision to close – although a difficult one to make – came from the changing landscape of Sukhumvit 11, which Batra said has lately become “cheapened.”

    “The reason we want to change is because Soi 11, for all of us, has become overcrowded,” he explained. “A lot of other venues have sprung up and made it more competitive. Being a premium brand in an overcrowded, lower to mid-range environment has made it hard for us to operate.

    “Levels and Bash came on the scene and that’s how it started getting a bit more crowded. We have gotten some of the crowd from there … but it’s not really the crowd we want.”

    PUTTING THE RUMORS TO BED

    For Batra, closing up shop is more simply about making a change.

    “I’ve seen this structure for 11 years now,” he laughed. “So we plan to do a much better job on the next one.”

    He insists that Bed Supperclub isn’t shutting down in a definite sense of the word, but rather the club is looking for a new location to support the upscale restaurant and nightclub concept that’s become so successful"

    Anyway , these places were too douchey for my liking but I did go a few times.
    Last edited by Backspin; 29-04-2022 at 11:33 PM.

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat
    BLD's Avatar
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    No mention of Lolitas in bangkok

  10. #10
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Backspin View Post
    Anyway , these places were too douchey for my liking but I did go a few times.
    ...just to see who else was a douchette, no doubt...

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat Backspin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BLD View Post
    No mention of Lolitas in bangkok
    I googled it

    Bangkok's first class BJ bar with modern, clean private areas offering the best service experience and regular prices for Bangkok

  12. #12
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    Headworx's Avatar
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    Is Lolita's in Bangkok still open? I believe the owner (Shane) passed away some time ago. Mendip?

  13. #13
    Thailand Expat
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    They might of lost there rating on account of to many complaints of the customers thongs( slippers for non aussies) sticking to the carpet?

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BLD View Post
    customers' thongs
    ...probably better suited to the waitstaff...

  15. #15
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tomcat View Post

    Atlas in Singapore, No. 23.
    Source: Atlas
    For me ... WOW

    Fuck, I wish I was rich.

  16. #16
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tomcat View Post
    Here are the best bars in Asia with their locations:

    10. BKK Social Club — Bangkok

    Asia's 50 Best Bars-bpy_105_original-jpg

    Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts | Luxury Hotels | Four Seasons | BKK Social Club



    17. Tropic City — Bangkok

    Tropic City | Award-Winning Tropical Cocktail Bar | Best Bar In Bangkok,Thailand



    19. Vesper — Bangkok

    Vesper | Cocktail bar | Bangkok

    Vesper -




    43. Asia Today — Bangkok

    Asia Today -



    46. The Bamboo Bar — Bangkok

    Asia's 50 Best Bars-bamboo-bar-a50bb22-3-png

    https://www.mandarinoriental.com/ban...ogle&src=local
    Highlighting the Bangkok Bars

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    ...^visit the Bamboo Bar every Christmas season...always exceptional...

  18. #18
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tomcat View Post
    ...^visit the Bamboo Bar every Christmas season...always exceptional...
    Walking (staggering) distance?

  19. #19
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by David48atTD View Post
    Walking (staggering) distance?
    ...a boat ride from the Saphan Taksin pier...

  20. #20
    Thailand Expat VocalNeal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Headworx View Post
    Is Lolita's in Bangkok still open? I believe the owner (Shane) passed away some time ago. Mendip?
    Don't know but Shane is definitely no longer with us.

  21. #21
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    ^ Was he the guy that had a pet Kamen crocodile in a tank in the bar that bit him one feeding session?

    Anyway I am going to claim the longest seated bar in Pattaya at just under 20 metres.

  22. #22
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by Loy Toy View Post
    Was he the guy that had a pet Kamen crocodile in a tank in the bar that bit him one feeding session?
    Indeed it was, but that was in the Pattaya branch of Lolita's. The Croc's name was Charlie, current whereabouts unknown

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Headworx View Post
    Is Lolita's in Bangkok still open? I believe the owner (Shane) passed away some time ago. Mendip?
    Christ last time i saw him was in Jools in 2009 coked off his noggin.

  24. #24
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    ^ I absolutely refute that allegation.

  25. #25
    Thailand Expat
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    Oh sorry, must have been someone else I had to remind to wipe the charlie off their top lip after visiting the toilets upstairs

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