Kathmandu’s renowned Barc was honoured with the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award as part of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025, sponsored by Perrier. Voted for by more than 300 esteemed members of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars Academy, the accolade recognises an establishment that over the past 18 months has consistently set a new benchmark in guest experiences and hospitality across the region.
In 2024, Barc made history as the first establishment in Nepal to break into the Asia’s 50 Best Bars ranking, debuting at No.39—a milestone that not only spotlighted its excellence but also marked a defining moment for Nepal’s cocktail culture.
Since opening its doors in 2021, Barc has redefined Kathmandu’s bar scene by reimagining the art of drinking, dining, and connecting. Tucked behind discreet doors, the award-winning speakeasy invites guests into the Barc family, where every cocktail tells a story. The venue’s design, inspired by grand sweeping arches and rustic tones, echoes relaxed sophistication, while framed photographs of Nepalese art provide a fresh lens on local culture in a space that is both nostalgic and distinctly original. Gathering at Barc is more than just drinks in hand—it’s about sparking conversation, discovery, and experiencing a new kind of hospitality that is slow, intentional, and deeply personal.
Barc’s cocktail programme fuses international mixology techniques with local and foraged ingredients, honouring tradition while pushing boundaries and exploring new flavours rooted in Nepal’s rich culinary heritage. The creative menu is anchored by distinctive local elements such as titaura (a Nepalese snack made from hog plum), khattu (a mix of preserved fruits underpinned by dried salted plums), and aylā (a traditional fermented rice liquor). For the curious, an aylā tasting flight showcases the liquor in its many expressions—from traditional and aged to spiced and infused with aromatic paan leaves—highlighted by an Aylā Punch, a tea-infused milk-washed drink using Newari aylā. Complementing the drinks, Barc’s Pan-Asian food menu elevates the overall experience with a selection of bold, sumptuous dishes.
Under the leadership of founder Abhishek Tuladhar, Barc has become a catalyst for Nepal’s modern bar movement—mentoring a new generation of bartenders, championing native ingredients, and nurturing a style of hospitality rooted in empathy and storytelling. Abhishek’s work continues to inspire a broader reimagining of what bars can be—not merely places to drink, but spaces where culture, emotion, and community converge. This vision is brought to life with the support of co-founder Adarsha Man Tamrakar and an exceptional bar team led by head bartender Rajani Pradhananga and bar manager Sagar Singh Bista.
Emma Sleight, Head of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, says: “Barc is more than a bar — it’s a movement that’s redefining how people drink, connect and experience hospitality in Kathmandu. A trailblazer in a city where cocktail culture continues to surprise in its complexity and development, Barc’s commitment to championing local ingredients, mentoring new talent and delivering hospitality with soul has set a bold new benchmark — not just for Kathmandu, but for the wider region. Congratulations to the entire Barc team for showing the world what Nepalese hospitality can be at its very best.”
Abhishek Tuladhar, Founder of Barc, says: “We are truly honoured to receive the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award. From the beginning, our vision was to bring the flavours of Nepal through our drinks and to create a space that blends global standards with the warmth and soul of our local culture. This award is not just a recognition of our service, but a testament to that dream. Barc is deeply personal to me and it has been a journey of passion, challenges and belief. This moment means the world to our team, and to Nepal, a country where hospitality runs through our veins.”
Matt Magliocco, Executive Vice President for Michter’s Distillery, says: “Congratulations to the entire Barc team on this outstanding achievement. Nepalese bar professionals have long stood at the vanguard of mixology around the world, particularly in East Asia. It is fitting that with Barc winning the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award, the Nepalese bar community is being further recognised for their excellence at home.”
The Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award is the first in a series of accolades to be revealed in the run-up to the tenth edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier. The final prestigious list will be unveiled at a live awards ceremony on 15 July 2025 in Macau—the first time the event will be held in the city—in collaboration with destination partners Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace.
Barc
Bluestar complex, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
