Asia’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, will unveil its highly anticipated ninth edition at a live awards ceremony in Hong Kong on 16 July 2024. Hosted in collaboration with destination partner Hong Kong Tourism Board, the awards and its surrounding event programme will be held in the city for the second year in a row.
The annual list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars stands as the most authoritative and prestigious survey of cocktail tastes on the continent. It is curated from the votes of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars Academy — an influential and anonymous, gender-balanced group of 265 industry leaders across the region, including bartenders, bar owners, drinks writers, and cocktail experts. Each Academy member can nominate up to seven establishments, and the definition of a “best bar experience” is left to the judgment of these trusted and well-traveled experts. The list itself is the result of a simple computation of votes, with results independently adjudicated by Deloitte.
Emma Sleight, Head of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, says: “We are thrilled to announce our return to Hong Kong for this year’s live awards ceremony. Asia’s 50 Best Bars stands as one of the most significant events in Asia’s bar calendar and amidst Hong Kong’s vibrant culture and thriving food and drinks scene, the city emerges as the ideal backdrop for hosting once again. Hong Kong’s dynamic spirit promises to not only elevate the event programme and awards ceremony itself, but also to propel the entire region’s bar scene to even greater heights of excellence.”
Dr Pang Yiu-kai, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, says: “The Hong Kong Tourism Board is thrilled to partner with the prestigious Asia’s 50 Best Bars again for the second year. This commitment is a testament to Hong Kong’s prominence in the world of gastronomy and the international bar scene. It is a vibrant showcase of our city’s unique blend of East-meets-West culture and a powerful statement on Hong Kong as a top tourism destination. We look forward to welcoming industry leaders and enthusiasts from around the world to experience Hong Kong’s incredible mixology, warm hospitality, and unforgettable, diverse culture.”
Key elements of this year’s event programme in Hong Kong will include the Bartenders’ Feast, which will take place the night before the unveiling of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024. This will be followed by the main event on 16 July, complete with red-carpet arrivals, interviews, a drinks reception, and finally the ceremony and countdown itself. Last year’s ceremony saw Coa in Hong Kong crowned as No.1 and named The Best Bar in Asia, a position that they have held for three consecutive years since 2021.
Special Awards and the 51-100 list
During the live awards ceremony, which culminates in the awarding of The Best Bar in Asia, sponsored by Perrier, other prestigious accolades are bestowed to celebrate the various talent from bars across Asia. These accolades undergo a meticulous selection process and are intended to consistently highlight both emerging and established bar talent in the region.
These include:
● Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award, an accolade given to the bar that has offered outstanding service to its guests in the past 18 months; this award is voted for by all members of Asia’s 50 Best Bars Academy
● Altos Bartenders’ Bartender, as voted for by the bartenders from the establishments on the 2024 list, who are asked to name one peer who has done more to further the craft of bartending than any other, across the course of the 18-month voting period
● The extended 51-100 list of establishments is revealed in advance of the actual awards ceremony and is created from the overall Asia’s 50 Best Bars voting process. It underscores 50 Best’s commitment to championing the diversity of talent behind Asia’s bar scene and offers bar enthusiasts a wider selection of establishments to experience.