[category]
[title]
Yes, it is that time of the year again, when all the best bars and bartenders in the region are whipped into an excited frenzy of guest shifts and parties, culminating in the live awards ceremony of the season. After the success of the 2025 edition, Asia’s 50 Best Bars returns this year to Wynn in Macau. From July 24 to 29, Wynn Resorts Macau will be hosting up to 50 global visionaries from the mixology and culinary worlds.
If you’re not on the invite list, you won’t be able to attend the actual awards ceremony, but feel no FOMO, because there are plenty of other activities to keep you happily tipsy over the five days. Here’s the rundown and everything you need to know about the bar guest shifts, exclusive takeovers, and more.
Friday, July 24
Wing Lei Bar showcase
As Wynn Palace’s flagship bar, you can expect most of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars drinks-related events to be centred around Wing Lei Bar. Mark Lloyd, the director of bars at Wynn Resorts, will host an introduction to the bar’s new menu named Unity 2.0. These 12 cocktails are all inspired by Lloyd’s personal anecdotes during a year on the road with Wing Lei Bar, so they’re bound to be surprising.
Where: Wing Lei Bar
When: 4pm-6pm
Chef Tam’s Seasons x Michter’s Bourbon Pairing Dinner
Chef Tam’s Seasons, which has been ranked No. 7 on Asia’s Best Restaurants 2026, is presenting a six-course menu where dishes will be paired with special expressions from Michter’s Distillery.
Where: Chef Tam’s Seasons
When: 7pm-9pm
Asia Checks In, Let’s Shake Up
Avoca from Hong Kong’s own Mondrian hotel, ZLB23 from Bangalore, Bar Sathorn from Bangkok, and Stay Gold from Singapore will take over Wing Lei Bar in a high-octane showcase of Asia’s diverse cocktail cultures. The perfect start to a full weekend of drinking ahead.
Where: Wing Lei Bar
When: 8pm-late
Saturday, July 25
The Road Less Traveled
This is a great opportunity to try bars that are rather difficult for most punters to sample because they are located in far-flung global corners that are beyond the conventional bar circuit. Nomad Lab from Ulaanbaatar, Barc from Kathmandu, and Kiki Lounge from Douglas on the Isle of Man will be spotlit by Lloyd. If you’re not planning on travelling to these destinations anytime soon, this guest shift is a must-go.
Where: Wing Lei Bar
When: 5pm-8pm
An Off-Menu Snacks & Cocktail Affair
One-Michelin-starred contemporary Japanese restaurant Mizumi will host Shanghai’s Vice Bistro-Lounge and Pony Up for an evening of inventive cocktails elevated by special bar snacks, right at the sushi counter. Apart from the exclusively curated cocktails, the food will also be off-menu delicacies, only available for this event.
Where: Mizumi, Wynn Palace
When: 7pm-late
The Best of British II
The spotlight turns to ol’ Blighty, showcasing UK bars that have been getting the bar industry’s attention over the past year. Sip your way through the Midlands and northwestern UK with Below Stairs from Leeds, Bar Glue from Liverpool, and Passing Fancies from Birmingham.
Where: Wing Lei Bar
When: 8pm-late
Sunday, July 26
A Bartenders’ Bartenders Takeover
Four figures who have won the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender award – who their peers agree is some of the global bar industry’s most admired hospitality talents – will go behind the stick. Jay Khan (Coa and The Savory Project) and Andrew Ho (Hope & Sesame) will open the night before passing the baton to Keith Motsi (Virtù) and Beckaly Franks (Artifact and Call Me Al) – see for yourself why they’re so well respected.
Where: Wing Lei Bar
When: 6pm-late
Bangkok Rooftop Glamour and Hong Kong Spirit
W Macau’s destination bar will play host to ABar Rooftop from the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park and Delphine Kong for Rémy Cointreau in Hong Kong & Macau. The Thai bartenders will serve up three drinks infused with tropical warmth – we’re looking forward to Hello Mellow, a blend of Rémy Martin VSOP, white rum, sun-dried banana, mango juice, and pineapple syrup, finished with a sea salt jasmine rice foam. Kong also brings three drinks including Between the Teas, Rosemary Clover Club, and The Yuzu 75.
Where: Blind Tiger, W Macau - Studio City
When: From 8pm
Pop City x Pony
This Japanese-inspired cocktail bar from Singapore’s CBD leaves the Lion City for one night to allow bar manager Sylvia Chong to go behind the stick. As a top 10 nominee from TOTCF’s Best New International Cocktail Bar selection, it’s bound to be a good night.
Where: The St. Regis Bar Macao
When: 9pm-late
Monday, July 27
Drink Thy Neighbours – A Hong Kong Takeover
Our city’s bars are the undisputed star of the show here! Wynn’s director of bars Mark Lloyd invites four standout bars from Hong Kong to show what makes our drinks scene so good. Bourke’s will be paired up with Swim Club, followed by Honky Tonks Tavern with The Green Door. If you want a cross-Hong Kong bar hop without leaving your seat, then here’s your chance.
Where: Wing Lei Bar
When: 2pm-5pm
From KL With Love
Next, the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur takes the stage, bringing Penrose (ranked No. 10 at Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025) and Three X Co (ranked No. 16) for a showcase of elegant finesse.
Where: Wing Lei Bar
When: 5pm-7pm
Two Voices From Taiwan
Taiwan’s drinks scene has been on the up and up lately, and one of their most talked-about bars, Some Fun, is taking over W Macau’s main bar. Co-founders Brandon Pan and Amis Huang bring a four-cocktail menu deeply rooted in the flavours and landscape of Taiwan. There will be a reimagined Irish coffee featuring mountain pepper; a blend of The Glenrothes and Valdespino Fino Inocente sherry and Taiwan Hinoki distillate; a whisky and sherry-based tipple featuring butterfly ginger and rosemary; and a fragrant drink inspired by the forest floor.
Where: Living Room, W Macau - Studio City
When: From 8pm
Formosa Medley
Bartenders from four acclaimed drinking spots across Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Tainan will gather to showcase Taiwanese cocktails at their best. The lineup includes the southeast Asian-inflected Vender (ranked No. 20 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025), the sci-fi-inspired To Infinity and Beyond (No. 41 in A50BB), The Han-Jia Pairing Dinner which highlights rare local ingredients from Tainan, and the single malt whisky-focused Maltail.
Where: Bar Patuá, MGM Cotai
When: From 9pm
Punch Room Tokyo
Here’s an opportunity to try drinks from Punch Room Tokyo, which sits at No. 36 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list. Director of bars Yasuhiro Kawakubo will be there for the night with bartenders Asano Nagai and Erika Obama to provide an exciting exploration into a top-notch Japanese bar.
Where: The St. Regis Bar Macao
When: 9pm-late
Perrier After Dark
Minguk Yu from Seoul’s Cricket and Dominic Dijkstra from Osaka’s Canes and Tales will join hands for one night in Capella’s whisky-centric bar, presenting a selection of their cocktails that feature locally sourced ingredients from Korea and Japan.
Where: Pony & Plume, Capella at Galaxy Macau
When: 9.30-12.30pm
Danil Nevsky Takeover
Barcelona-based Danil Nevsky, founder of mixology platform Indie Bartender and bar-related sh*tposter @cocktailman, brings his cocktail craft to the bar the night before the Asia’s 50 Best Bars live awards. Nevsky was recently ranked No. 5 on Bar World 100 (right ahead of our own Lorenzo Antinori!) so this is a great chance to interact with one of the bar industry’s most influential figures.
Where: Wing Lei Bar
When: 10pm-late
Tuesday, July 28
Behind Her Bar
We love it when women rule the world! Jen Queen and Nicole Slater of The Pontiac and Beckaly Franks of Artifact and Call Me Al have brought together an all-female lineup of bartending talents. Expect to see Zana Möhlmann from Singapore’s Manhattan, Evangeline Malley from Below Stairs in Leeds, Arlene Wong from The Green Door, and Nic Ho from Dead Poets alongside the event curators. Girl power and fantastic drinks – there can’t be a better mix.
Where: Wing Lei Bar
When: 2pm-5pm
Cosmo Pony
Cosmo Pony bar from the Grand Hyatt Jakarta will be taking over at The St. Regis Macao on the night of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony. They’re currently ranked No. 38 on the A50BB 2025 list, and general manager Silvio Daniele and bar manager Marsya A. Soemantri will be there to keep the party going.
Where: The St. Regis Bar Macao
When: 9pm-late
Wing Lei Bar Secret Houseparty
After the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 awards ceremony, head back to Wing Lei Bar as Lloyd reunites with three of his former apprentices who are now all bar owners of their own in Shanghai. Bar OJ, Pawoo By, and Bar Times will be joined by Bar Mixato for an intimate evening and an insider look into Shanghai’s bar scene.
Where: Wing Lei Bar
When: After ceremony - late
Wynn Palace After Party
Alternatively, you can join the official afterparty, where Asia’s 50 Best Bars veterans and recent list joiners alike will come together for what’s sure to be a long night of revelry. The lineup includes Cat Bite Club from Singapore, The Cocktail Club from Jakarta, Opium from Bangkok, Soka from Bangalore, and Carrots from Jakarta.
Where: Palace Reserve Club, Wynn Palace
When: After ceremony - late
Wednesday, July 29
Guest shift by Bar Cham
The night after the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 awards, MGM Cotai welcomes the founder and head mixologist of Seoul’s famous Bar Cham behind the stick. If you’ve been following bar rankings, you’ll know that this bar was ranked No. 6 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 and No. 53 on World’s 50 Best Bars. Byungjin Lim and Yeonghwi Yun will present three cocktails crafted with traditional Korean spirits and whisky, as well as regional ingredients. If you’ve never been to this bar in Seoul’s Tongin-dong, then swing by this one-night-only guest shift.
Where: Bar Patuá, MGM Cotai
When: From 9pm
Alice Cheongdam
This famous speakeasy-style bar based in Gangnam will be in Macau for a one-night guest shift, so if you’ve always wanted to try cocktails from the watering hole ranked No. 13 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list, here’s the perfect opportunity to get up close and personal with owner Terry Kim, co-founder Jo Minseok, and general manager Mason Park.
Where: The St. Regis Bar Macao
When: 9pm-late
Stay in the loop: Sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox
Recommended stories:
The Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong 2026 returns bigger than ever this July
Three Hong Kong bars rank in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 extended 51-100 list
Tim Ho Wan collaborates with Yung Kee to create a roasted goose bun