Three cheers to all the amazing people in Bangkok’s bar industry! After the high of Bangkok's very own Bar Award, countless launches of new cocktail dens and foreign mixologist takeovers, the city's five cocktail bars have managed to secure the spot in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2017 list.
Picking up the top spot among the rest of Bangkok’s bars and securing the lucky number 13 is Mandarin Oriental’s very own Bamboo Bar, climbing 21 spots from last year.
Broadway-themed watering hole Backstage Cocktail Bar makes a new entry, coming in astoundingly at number 18.
Also in the list are Asok’s speakeasy Q&A Bar, Silom’s swanky restobar Vesper, and Charoenkrung’s fuss-free gin den Teens of Thailand, seeing dramatic drop from last year and are placed at number 26, 40 and 46, respectively. Sadly missing out from the list are Maggie Choo’s and Hyde and Seek.Dominating the list and claiming the crown is Regent Hotel’s Manhattan Bar in Singapore, which is known for an elegant 19-Century New York City vibe.
The award is the second regional edition of Drink Magazine’s The World’s 50 Best Bars — the magazine’s annual bar competition. The list is ranked by a panel of honorary judges consisting of Asia’s bartenders, bar consultants, brand ambassadors, drinks media as well as well-travelled drinkers who select seven of the deserving bars — three of which must be located outside of their current country of work.
Here is the list the top 10 of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2017
- Manhattan Bar (Singapore)
- Speaklow (Shanghai)
- Bar High Five (Tokyo)
- 28 Hong Kong Street (Singapore)
- Indulge Bistro (Taiwan)
- Operation Dagger (Singapore)
- Quinary (Hong Kong)
- Stockton HK (Hong Kong)
- The Union Trading Company (Shanghai)
- Lobster Bar (Singapore)