Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024: Bar Leone claims top position and Best Bar in Hong Kong

For the ninth year running, countless bar luminaries from all over the world gathered to celebrate and witness the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 live ceremony on July 16. This year, the annual event returned to Hong Kong for the second year in a row, and was held in Rosewood Hong Kong. This year also marks the first of a three-year partnership between 50 Best with Hong Kong Tourism Board, meaning that Hongkongers can expect to catch more 50 Best events in town over the next two years. 

This year’s list comprises bars spanning 18 different cities across Asia, with 12 brand-new entries. Singapore leads with 11 venues, followed by South Korea and Japan tied with five venues on the list. 

All eyes are on Hong Kong’s very own Bar Leone topping the chart, a spot which was previously held by Coa for the last three years. Coa has now slid to fourth place. Bar Leone’s founder Lorenzo Antinori says of his bar’s win, “It’s an insane feeling. We opened the bar just over a year ago, and we’re [...] just 10 people that decided to pursue this dream. We didn’t expect it – there are some amazing bars [and] colleagues out there – and we’re just very grateful to be part of this community.”

Antinori concedes that the Hong Kong bar scene is very competitive, but embraces it nonetheless. “In Hong Kong there’s a lot of diversity – it’s a bar scene that has been evolving. In the last few years we’ve seen so many new concepts and many new bars opening with different identities. It’s a city that is very competitive, but at the same time, it gives you a lot.”

Hong Kong was represented by a total of nine venues on the list, which includes Bar Leone (#1), Coa (#4), Argo (#9), The Aubrey (#10), DarkSide (#17), The Savory Project (#19), Penicillin (#24), Quinary (#26), and Mostly Harmless (#45).

Along with the brand new list, the ceremony also awarded special honours which includes Dohyung ‘Demie’ Kim from Seoul’s Zest for the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender award, Virtù from Tokyo chosen for Mitcher’s Art of Hospitality Award, Taipei’s Nest by Pun bagging the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award, Yangdup Lama in New Delhi for Roku Industry Icon Award, Hong Kong’s The Savory Project winning the London Essence Best New Opening Award, and Fura from Singapore for Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award. 

The prestigious list for 2024 was curated by Asia’s 50 Best Bars 265-member academy – including industry leaders, writers, educators, journalists, bartenders, and bar owners. 

Before you begin to feel bittersweet after the big night’s over, there are still plenty of exhilarating bar shifts to catch in Hong Kong and Macau to wrap up the week of celebrations. Relive the highlights of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 ceremony on 50 Best Bars TV YouTube channel and 50 Best Bars Facebook page.

Here’s the full list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024

1. Bar Leone, Hong Kong (Best in Hong Kong)
2. Zest, Seoul, South Korea (Best in Korea) 
3. Jigger & Pony, Singapore (Best in Singapore)
4. Coa, Hong Kong 
5. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo, Japan (Best in Japan)
6. Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore 
7. BKK Social Club, Bangkok, Thailand (Best in Thailand)
8. Penrose, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Best in Malaysia)
9. Argo, Hong Kong
10. The Aubrey, Hong Kong 
11. Virtù, Tokyo, Japan
12. The Cocktail Club, Jakarta, Indonesia (Best in Indonesia)
13. Vesper, Bangkok, Thailand
14. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou, China (Best in Mainland China)
15. Sago House, Singapore
16. Nighthawk, Singapore
17. DarkSide, Hong Kong
18. Mahaniyom Cocktail Club, Bangkok, Thailand
19. The Savory Project, Hong Kong
20. Bar Cham, Seoul, South Korea 
21. Bar Us, Bangkok, Thailand (New entry)
22. The St. Regis Bar, Macau, China (New entry) (Best in Macau)
23. The SG Club, Tokyo, Japan
24. Penicillin, Hong Kong
25. Offtrack, Singapore (New entry)
26. Quinary, Hong Kong 
27. Pantja, Jakarta, Indonesia
28. Craftroom, Osaka, Japan (New entry)
29. Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya, Sri Lanka (Best in Sri Lanka)
30. Vender, Taichung, Taiwan (Best in Taiwan)
31. Native, Singapore
32. Origin Bar, Singapore (New entry)
33. The Curator, Manila, The Philippines (Best in The Philippines)
34. The Bellwood, Tokyo, Japan
35. Analogue Initiative, Singapore
36. Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
37. Bar Mood, Taipei, Taiwan (Re-entry)
38. Employees Only, Singapore
39. Barc, Kathmandu, Nepal (New entry) (Best in Nepal)
40. ZLB23, Bengalaru, India (New entry) (Best in India)
41. Reka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
42. Fura, Singapore (New entry)
43. CMYK, Changsha, China (New entry)
44. The Public House, Taipei, Taiwan
45. Mostly Harmless, Hong Kong
46. Alice, Seoul, South Korea
47. The Haflington, Hanoi, Vietnam (Best in Vietnam)
48. Le Chamber, Seoul, South Korea
49. Atlas, Singapore
50. Pine & Co, Seoul, South Korea (New entry)

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