Asia's best bars: bookmark this, for when it's time to travel again

The best bar in Asia is Singapore’s Jigger & Pony, with Hong Kong’s The Old Man in the number two position, according to Asia’s 50 Best Bars.

Jigger & Pony, which was ninth on the 2019 list, is named after the double-coned device used by bartenders to accurately pour out spirits.

The bar promises “fresh interpretations of classic cocktails.” Its selections include the Bubblegum Fizz, which contains Ketel One Vodka, strawberry wine, Empirical Spirits Fallen Pony, lemon and egg white; as well as the Madame President, with ingredients Monkey 47 Gin, kaffir dry vermouth, orchid and bittermelon liqueur, and a Campari lollipop.

Jigger & Pony, Singapore.

Jigger & Pony is closed temporarily due to Singapore’s Covid-19 circuit-breaker, but it’s delivering cocktails across the city-state, including the gin-based The Tree Does Not Grow Straight in honor of its number-one status.

Hong King winner The Old Man honors Hemingway, it says, “by taking inspiration from his novels, history, and folklore, and by using novel ingredients and culinary accoutrements – thereby paying tribute to the spirits and cocktails he loved.”

Offerings include the In Our Time - 1924 with clarified banana ghee â€Â celery, salted tequila and special banana skin tincture.

The Old Man, Hong Kong.

The announcement was made online Thursday. The ranking is based on the votes of members of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars Academy.

Hong Kong’s Coa took the number three ranking, while Taipei’s Indulge Experimental Bistro came in fourth. Other notable honorees included The Bamboo Bar in Bangkok in seventh, The SG Club of Tokyo in ninth place, Kuala Lumpur’s Bar Trigona in 14th and The Curator in Manila at 42.

Last year’s list featured The Old Man in the top spot and Indulge Experimental Bistro as number three. Singapore’s Manhattan, which was ranked second, fell to eighth place this year.

Some of the honorees may be in various states of closure as countries try to stop or slow the spread of Covid-19.

Here’s the full list, with the bar location in parentheses:

1. Jigger & Pony (Singapore)
2. The Old Man (Hong Kong)
3. Coa (Hong Kong)
4. Indulge Experimental Bistro (Taipei)
5. Atlas (Singapore)
6. Native (Singapore)
7. The Bamboo Bar at Mandarin Oriental (Bangkok)
8. Manhattan (Singapore)
9. The SG Club (Tokyo)
10. Aha Saloon (Taipei)
11. Vesper (Bangkok)
12. Sober Company (Shanghai)
13. Bar Mood (Taipei)
14. Bar Trigona (Kuala Lumpur)
15. Ben Benfiddich (Tokyo)
16. Quinary (Hong Kong)
17. Tippling Club (Singapore)
18. The Wise King (Hong Kong)
19. Speak Low (Shanghai)
20. High Five (Tokyo)
21. Bee’s Knees (Kyoto)
22. The Old Man (Singapore)
23. D.Bespoke (Singapore)
24. Tropic City (Bangkok)
25. Gibson (Singapore)
26. Draft Land (Taipei)
27. Room by Le Kief (Taipei)
28. 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombano (Hong Kong)
29. Charles H (Seoul)
30. 28 Hong Kong Street (Singapore)
31. Rabbit Hole (Bangkok)
32. Nutmeg & Clove (Singapore)
33. Backstage Cocktail Bar (Bangkok)
34. Caprice Bar (Hong Kong)
35. The Pontiac (Hong Kong)
36. Hope & Sesame (Guangzhou)
37. Junglebird (Kuala Lumpur)
38. The Odd Couple (Shanghai)
39. Bar Trench (Tokyo)
40. Sidecar (New Delhi)
41. Bar Orchard Ginza (Tokyo)
42. The Curator (Manila)
43. Union Brasserie, Bakery & Bar (Jakarta)
44. Lobster Bar & Grill (Hong Kong)
45. The Back Room (Manila)
46. MO Bar (Singapore)
47. Alice (Seoul)
48. Coley (Kuala Lumpur)
49. Le Chamber (Seoul)
50. Bar Cham (Seoul) 

Also read: The best whisky, gin and cocktail bars we’ve discovered in Asia

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