Four Malaysian bars named on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 51-100 list of 2024

One of the most prestigious rankings in the cocktail industry, the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 51-100 list has been announced for 2024. This revelation arrives just a week before the organisation’s live awards ceremony in Hong Kong. The list sees bars spanning 19 different cities and includes an impressive 15 new entries. Over 265 members of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars Academy placed their votes anonymously, based on what they believe to be their “best bar experiences”. This year marks the fourth year the 51-100 list has been released, broadening the celebration of cocktail bars across Asia. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by JungleBird Kuala Lumpur (@junglebirdkl)

Malaysia is represented by four of our leading bars in both Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Backdoor Bodega from the north is the highest ranked Malaysian bar on the list, re-entering the list at No. 52 after missing out on a ranking in 2023. Industry veteran Three X Co comes in at No. 56 and fellow Bangsar watering hole Coley ranks at No. 70. At No. 80 is Bukit Damansara’s Junglebird, known for its rum-based creations. 

Leading the pack with eight bars is our neighbour across the causeway, with The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore’s Republic at No. 57. Following its footsteps are No Sleep Club (No. 60), Stay Gold Flamingo (No. 63), The Elephant Room (No. 65), and Manhattan (No. 69). New entrant Cat Bite Club also graces the list at No. 77, while 28 HongKong Street and Last Word come in at No. 78 and No. 93 respectively. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tokyo Confidential (@tokyoconfidentialbar)

Bangkok also showed up with six bars on the list, including Tropic City (No. 62) and new entrant Dry Wave Cocktail Studio (No. 98). Japan’s capital Tokyo creeps closely behind the Thai city with five appearances. Its lineup includes debutants Tokyo Confidential (No. 53), Folklore (No.74), and Bulgari Ginza Bar at No. 86. Meanwhile, host city Hong Kong is represented by four bars: Mizunara: The Library (No. 66), Honky Tonks Tavern (No. 67), The Old Man (No. 71), and Tell Camellia (No. 97).

Other cities claiming spots on the list include Japan’s Nara and Kumamoto. The former sees its very own Lamp Bar (No.55) and The Sailing Bar (No.85) named. On the other hand, Yakoboku is the latter’s sole representative at No. 64. Muntinlupa City in the Philippines makes its debut on the 51-100 list with Southbank Cafe + Lounge ranked at No. 82. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Southbank Cafe+Lounge (@southbankcafelounge)

This year’s list also sees major climbers with some bars hopping upwards of twenty spots. Hong Kong’s Honky Tonks Tavern jumped thirty-one places to its current ranking, whereas Ho Chi Minh City’s Stir got a twenty-four spot boost to land at No. 58. 

Here is the full Asia’s 50 Best Bars 51-100 list for 2024:

* An asterisk denotes new entries

51. Soko, Seoul
52. Backdoor Bodega, Penang
53. Tokyo Confidential, Tokyo *
54. Epic, Shanghai
55. Lamp Bar, Nara
56. Three X C,o Kuala Lumpur
57. Republic, Singapore
58. Stir, Ho Chi Minh City
59. The Bombay Canteen, Mumbai
60. No Sleep Club, Singapore
61. To Infinity & Beyond, Taipei
62. Tropic City, Bangkok
63. Stay Gold Flamingo, Singapore
64. Yakoboku, Kumamoto
65. The Elephant Room, Singapore
66. Mizunara: The Library, Hong Kong
67. Honky Tonks Taver,n Hong Kong
68. Lair, New Delhi *
69. Manhattan, Singapore
70. Coley, Kuala Lumpur
71. The Old Man, Hong Kong
72. Under Lab, Taipei *
73. Opium, Bangkok
74. Folklore, Tokyo *
75. Bee’s Knees, Kyoto
76. Gold Bar, Tokyo
77. Cat Bite Club, Singapore *
78. 28 HongKong Street, Singapore
79. The Han-jia, Tainan *
80. Junglebird, Kuala Lumpur
81. The Hudson Rooms, Hanoi *
82. Southbank Cafe + Lounge, Muntinlupa City *
83. Firefly, Bangkok *
84. Sidecar, New Delhi
85. The Sailing Bar, Nara
86. Bulgari Ginza Bar, Tokyo *
87. High Five, Tokyo
88. The St. Regis Bar (Jakarta), Jakarta *
89. Gong Gan, Seoul *
90. Asia Today, Bangkok
91. The Bamboo Bar, Bangkok
92. Sober Company, Shanghai
93. Last Word, Singapore
94. Wu (Nothingness), Taipei *
95. Charles H, Seoul
96. Home, New Delhi
97. Tell Camellia, Hong Kong
98. Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, Bangkok *
99. Drinking & Healing, Ho Chi Minh City *
100. Moonrock, Tainan

For more food and drink coverage, click here.