Hong Kong Hosts Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 Ceremony for the First Time Local bar COA Breaks Record with Three Consecutive Wins

Post Date:	18 Jul 2023
Details:	Over 800 of Asia’s very best bartenders and drinks industry experts gathered in Hong Kong today (18 July) for the unveiling of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023, one of the region’s most authoritative and prestigious surveys of cocktail tastes and trends. Brought to Hong Kong for the very first time by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) in partnership with Asia’s 50 Best Bars with top bartenders and industry trendsetters gathering in town, the awards celebrate the continued success of Asia’s thriving bar landscape, while showcasing the city’s vibrant and diverse charm. The event saw industry leaders from the Mainland, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and India attended and witnessed COA, a Hong Kong local gem, winning the top spot of this year's ranking. COA has been on the list for five consecutive years, and broke the record by topping the chart for three years in a row. Founder of this Asia’s Best Bar Mr Jay Khan said: “Of the three number ones, this one means the most. Taking out the top spot at Asia’s 50 Best Bars for the third year in a row feels surreal, and I could not be any more proud that is has happened in my hometown. I was born here, I grew up here, Hong Kong means everything to me. I’m very happy to represent Hong Kong. This award is testament to our incredible team, whose passion and hard work continues to not only push boundaries in the world of cocktails, especially as our homegrown bar scene, which champions creativity and diversity, continues to go from strength to strength.” Mr Dane Cheng, HKTB Executive Director said, “Our congratulations go to our homegrown bar COA for outperforming top Asian competitors and topping the list, making a name for Hong Kong on the international bar landscape. It is also out pleasure to see the enormous success of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023. The hosting of such an influential event of Asia showcases Hong Kong’s exquisite gastronomic experiences to some of the region’s most influential tastemakers. In the future, we look forward to seeing more worldclass gastronomic events to be held in the city.” Mr Mark Sansom, Content Director for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, says: “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 and we thank our destination partners at Hong Kong Tourism Board for helping to make it happen. 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 to COA and all of the bars on this year’s list.” Eight local bars made it to top 50 Apart from top winner COA, Asia’s 50 Best Bars once again recognised the depth and breadth of Hong Kong’s world-class bar scene. In total, eight homegrown bars were featured on the 2023 list. Frequent award winners Argo and Darkside have made it to the top 10 best bars in Asia, while The Aubrey, Penicillin, and Quinary and The Old Man were once again named among Asia’s best, while Mostly Harmless made it to the list for the first time, signifying the ever-evolving nature of Hong Kong’s bar scene. The gender and ethnic diversity of Asia’s bar scene is also reflected on this year’s winner list, especially with Hong Kong’s Beckaly Franks of The Pontiac receiving the peer-voted Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award for Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023. With the event held first-time in the city, the backdrop of Hong Kong’s thriving bar scene contributed to the resounding success of this year’s event, which saw a week-long celebration of the region’s drinks landscape with citywide events, activations and bartender guest shifts, giving local drink aficionados a chance to savour the world-class refreshments. This year’s results also ensure Hong Kong’s world-class bar scene stays firmly in the spotlight, thanks to the city’s rich mix of traditional and progressive, envelope-pushing institutions that offer something for every taste and style all year round.

Post Date:

18 Jul 2023

Details:

Over 800 of Asia’s very best bartenders and drinks industry experts gathered in Hong Kong today (18 July) for the unveiling of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023, one of the region’s most authoritative and prestigious surveys of cocktail tastes and trends. Brought to Hong Kong for the very first time by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) in partnership with Asia’s 50 Best Bars with top bartenders and industry trendsetters gathering in town, the awards celebrate the continued success of Asia’s thriving bar landscape, while showcasing the city’s vibrant and diverse charm.

The event saw industry leaders from the Mainland, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and India attended and witnessed COA, a Hong Kong local gem, winning the top spot of this year's ranking. COA has been on the list for five consecutive years, and broke the record by topping the chart for three years in a row. Founder of this Asia’s Best Bar Mr Jay Khan said: “Of the three number ones, this one means the most. Taking out the top spot at Asia’s 50 Best Bars for the third year in a row feels surreal, and I could not be any more proud that is has happened in my hometown. I was born here, I grew up here, Hong Kong means everything to me. I’m very happy to represent Hong Kong. This award is testament to our incredible team, whose passion and hard work continues to not only push boundaries in the world of cocktails, especially as our homegrown bar scene, which champions creativity and diversity, continues to go from strength to strength.”

Mr Dane Cheng, HKTB Executive Director said, “Our congratulations go to our homegrown bar COA for outperforming top Asian competitors and topping the list, making a name for Hong Kong on the international bar landscape. It is also out pleasure to see the enormous success of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023. The hosting of such an influential event of Asia showcases Hong Kong’s exquisite gastronomic experiences to some of the region’s most influential tastemakers. In the future, we look forward to seeing more worldclass gastronomic events to be held in the city.”

Mr Mark Sansom, Content Director for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, says: “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 and we thank our destination partners at Hong Kong Tourism Board for helping to make it happen. 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 to COA and all of the bars on this year’s list.”

Eight local bars made it to top 50

Apart from top winner COA, Asia’s 50 Best Bars once again recognised the depth and breadth of Hong Kong’s world-class bar scene. In total, eight homegrown bars were featured on the 2023 list. Frequent award winners Argo and Darkside have made it to the top 10 best bars in Asia, while The Aubrey, Penicillin, and Quinary and The Old Man were once again named among Asia’s best, while Mostly Harmless made it to the list for the first time, signifying the ever-evolving nature of Hong Kong’s bar scene. The gender and ethnic diversity of Asia’s bar scene is also reflected on this year’s winner list, especially with Hong Kong’s Beckaly Franks of The Pontiac receiving the peer-voted Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award for Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023.

With the event held first-time in the city, the backdrop of Hong Kong’s thriving bar scene contributed to the resounding success of this year’s event, which saw a week-long celebration of the region’s drinks landscape with citywide events, activations and bartender guest shifts, giving local drink aficionados a chance to savour the world-class refreshments. This year’s results also ensure Hong Kong’s world-class bar scene stays firmly in the spotlight, thanks to the city’s rich mix of traditional and progressive, envelope-pushing institutions that offer something for every taste and style all year round.