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Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026 list, sponsored by Perrier, was unveiled at Wynn Palace, Macau on July 28, and India has three names on it this year: two from Bengaluru and one from Goa. Before you jump to question why Delhi or Mumbai didn't make the list, I'd say use it as an excuse to add to your bar-hopping list as summers pipe down in India, and make a trip out of it. It's always the right time for a fresh cocktail.
Boilermaker, Goa | No 8
Boilermaker is the highest-ranked Indian bar on the list this year, landing at No 8, and as a die-hard dive bar fan who seeks them out in every city they visit, I’ve got to say this one brings a smile. You might have pictured something like the Boiler Room, but this is part beach shack, part dive bar, part craft beer haunt: quite the combination. The citation shouts out its Indian IPAs, mini cocktails and comfort food menu – and the fact that it embodies a carefree spirit special to Goa.
Timings: Mon-Sun. 6pm-12.30am.
Address: Church Vaddi, Siolim, Goa 403517. Opposite Vailanka Wine Store.
Soka, Bengaluru | No 18
Soka climbs into the top 20 this year, with the list praising its communal table and moody, perhaps cavernous, lighting. (Step aside, Delhi.) The Pi Pi Martini, made with Indian gin and jujube-pickled brine, gets a special mention, alongside the bar's small plates menu. For the last two years, they’ve also ranked third and second on the 30 Best Bars India list.
Timings: Mon-Sun. 5pm-1am.
Address: No. 210, A Cross, 1st Main Road, 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038.
Bar Spirit Forward, Bengaluru | No 30
Bar Spirit Forward makes the list too, its dark-academia interiors of wood and gilded shelves undercut by what the judges call an unapologetically fun room. The bar's take on the classics stands out, particularly The Old Cuban: rum, mint, citrus and prosecco, sort of like a mojito and a French 75 meeting halfway. We’d also recommend the Vesper Martini and the Southern Star – and we’re told the bar counter seat is the most coveted. Earlier this year, in fact, they were deemed India’s Best Bar at the 30 Best Bars India awards in January.
Timings: Tues-Sun. 5pm-1am. Mondays closed.
Address: Ground Floor, Hotel Southern Star, 40/2, Lavelle Road, Shanthala Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001.
Hope & Sesame in Guangzhou took the top spot overall, marking its tenth anniversary by becoming the first bar in mainland China to be named Best Bar in Asia.