Well, if it was hard enough before, it’s going to be near impossible now to get a table at Coa, which was named Asia’s Best Bar for an unprecedented third year in a row.
Asia’s 50 Best Bars, an annual tally of the hottest drinking spots studded around the region, released its 2023 results late last night, and Hong Kong’s very own took top honours “three-peatedly” as the cheeky hashtag trended on social media.
Bar industry representatives turned out in full force from 17 cities across the region, as the ceremony to announce the list of 50 Best Bars in Asia was held in Hong Kong for the first time in years, hosted in collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
“We are overjoyed to be in Hong Kong to celebrate Asia’s vibrant bar community for 50 Best’s first-ever event in this brilliant city for eating and drinking,” says Mark Sansom, content director for Asia’s 50 Best Bars. “Asia’s bars continue to push the envelope when it comes to fabulous drinking experiences and that is evident from the talent and creativity on display at the bars on this year’s list from 17 cities across the continent. Congratulations yet again to Jay Khan and the team at Coa for holding onto its top position—the first bar in Asia to take the No.1 spot for three years in a row.”
In a small-town teeming with nearly 1,400 licenced bars, Coa stood out by specialising in mezcal, armed with a vast collection of over 200 bottles of tequila, and other handcrafted Mexican spirits like raicilla, bacanora, sotol, and charanda. With a warm vibe with limited seating and a perennial queue outside its opens-at-six doors, popularity didn’t wane, no matter where its standing has been in local and international press. Last night, even the most cynical critic had to admit, a winning trifecta is a remarkable achievement for the crew behind the curtained seams.
Among the many contenders, Hong Kong’s bold watering holes cropped up often on the coveted list, including Argo (8), Darkside (9), The Aubrey (17), Penicillin (26), Quinary (31), Mostly Harmless (33), and The Old Man (47).
Jigger & Pony (2) did not manage to take the top spot, but it was crowned the Rémy Martin Legend of the List, besides being voted the Best Bar in Singapore. Other highlights included Analogue Initiative (15), which took the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award, while Night Hawk received the Campari One To Watch Award. It was a big night for Singapore overall as it led with 11 bars on the list.
BKK Social Club took home third spot overall as well as Best Bar in Thailand, while Tokyo’s Bar Benfiddich places fourth, and Zest (5) in Seoul was crowned the Best Bar in Korea and honoured with the Nikka Highest Climber Award.
Other highlights of the soirée include Hiroyasu Kayama of Bar Benfiddich crowned as the Roku Industry Icon and Tokyo’s Virtù winning the Disaronno Highest New Entry. Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar (Bangkok) was named the London Essence Best New Opening and The Cocktail Club (Jakarta) took home the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award.
For those inquiring about the all-important and mysterious voting structure, it’s about as anonymous as the Oscars, with only those within the industry whose nod of approval counts. As per the official statement, voters include “an influential and anonymous group of 260 industry leaders that include bartenders, bar owners, drinks writers, and cocktail aficionados. All voters are based in Asia.
A special mention to the team at the Grand Ballroom at Rosewood Hong Kong, who must have felt immense pressure to serve nothing but the very best tipples to a coalition of the finest barkeeps and industry veterans gathered for the night of judgement and critique. Imagine tipping a tray at an event of this magnitude!
All images courtesy of Asia’s 50 Best Bars.
