Asia’s 50 Best Bars announces 2024 list with 3 Malaysian bars named

On 16 July 2024, the crème de la crème of the continent’s thriving bar scene descended upon the Rosewood Hong Kong for the highly anticipated Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 awards. The festivities arrive just a week after its 51-100 list announcement. As the night fell, the ceremony began with a magnificent dragon dance to welcome the guests, signalling the start of a night to remember. This is also the second year in a row that the awards ceremony has been held in Hong Kong. 

The 2024 list spans 11 cities and includes 15 new entries. Leading the list with the most number of listings at 11 bars is Singapore. Hong Kong follows with nine bars with its very own Bar Leone topping the list at No. 1. Taking second place on the list is zero-waste bar Zest in Seoul, whose Dohyung ‘Demie’ Kim won the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award. At No. 3 is Singapore’s Jigger & Pony, followed by Hong Kong’s Coa at No. 4 and Bar Benfiddich of Tokyo at No. 5. 

This year, Malaysian bars performed well once again with three bars making an appearance, an increase from the two of 2023 and 2022. We see Chinatown’s Penrose at a whopping No. 8, the city centre’s Bar Trigona at No. 36, and Bukit Damansara’s Reka at No. 41 representing Malaysia on the revered list. 

With its No. 8 rank, Penrose takes the title of Best Bar in Malaysia and breaks the record of the highest ranked Malaysian bar to ever be named on the list! This title was previously held by Omakase & Appreciate, which ranked at No. 10 in 2016. It also jumped an impressive 42 spots from its previous placing of No. 50, earning it the Nikka Highest Climber Award.

An introduction to the Malaysian bars

A Chinatown cocktail landmark, Penrose has become a destination for all tipple lovers setting foot in Kuala Lumpur. With Jon Lee and team behind the bar, every guest is guaranteed a refined and sophisticated cocktail experience, topped with a healthy dose of conviviality. Though its interiors are monochromatic and moody, its tipples are anything but. The bar’s sleek design by Pow Ideas was created to foster conversations and welcome guests from all walks of life. Drinks here are crafted around five pillars: alcohol, flavour, taste, body and dilution—so expect nothing but precision in every drink. 

Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur’s Bar Trigona, which also ranked at No. 36 last year, is known for its ingenious use of local ingredients and commitment to sustainability. Led by Rohan Matmary, Bar Trigona offers a curated look at what the country has to offer alongside unparalleled views of the capital city. Up until this year, it has retained the title of The Best Bar in Malaysia for five consecutive years. The bar also maintains close relationships with farmers and purveyors across the country, who all contribute to its drinks programme.

Tucked away in Bukit Damansara, Reka moved up from its previous ranking of No. 65 to make it to the main list of 2024. Named after the Malay word for ‘creation’, it becomes clear that this bar strives to serve bold and modern cocktails that will leave an impression on each guest. At Reka, each menu takes on a distinct theme and structure with its Domino Effect series being one of its most notable. In said menu, each cocktail shared a common ingredient with the next drink on the list, creating none other than…a domino effect. 

The full Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list:

* An asterisk denotes new entries and two asterisks denotes a re-entry

1. Bar Leone, Hong Kong *
2. Zest, Seoul
3. Jigger & Pony, Singapore
4. Coa, Hong Kong
5. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
6. Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore
7. BKK Social Club, Bangkok
8. Penrose, Kuala Lumpur
9. Argo, Hong Kong
10. The Aubrey, Hong Kong
11. Virtù, Tokyo
12. The Cocktail Club, Jakarta
13. Vesper, Bangkok
14. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou
15. Sago House, Singapore
16. Night Hawk, Singapore *
17. Darkside, Hong Kong
18. Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, Bangkok
19. The Savory Project, Hong Kong *
20. Bar Cham, Seoul
21. Bar US, Bangkok *
22. The St. Regis Bar, Macau *
23. The SG Club, Tokyo
24. Penicillin, Hong Kong
25. Offtrack, Singapore *
26. Quinary, Hong Kong
27. Pantja, Jakarta
28. Craftroom, Osaka *
29. Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya
30. Vender, Taichung
31. Native, Singapore
32. Origin Bar, Singapore *
33. The Curator, Manila
34. The Bellwood, Tokyo
35. Analogy Initiative, Singapore
36. Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur
37. Bar Mood, Taipei **
38. Employees Only, Singapore
39. Barc, Kathmandu *
40. ZLB23, Bengaluru *
41. Reka, Kuala Lumpur *
42. Fura, Singapore *
43. CMYK, Changsha *
44. The Public House, Taipei
45. Mostly Harmless, Hong Kong
46. Alice, Seoul
47. The Haflington, Hanoi *
48. Le Chamber, Seoul
49. Atlas, Singapore
50. Pine & Co, Seoul *

SPECIAL AWARD WINNERS:

• Campari One to Watch Award: Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, Bangkok
• Disaronno Highest New Entry Award, The Best Bar in Asia, sponsored by Perrier & The Best Bar in Hong Kong: Bar Leone, Hong Kong
• The Best Bar in Korea, sponsored by Naked Malt: Zest, Seoul
• The Best Bar in Singapore, sponsored by Tia Maria: Jigger & Pony, Singapore
• The Best Bar in Japan, sponsored by Torres Brandy: Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
• The Best Bar in Thailand, sponsored by Scrappy’s Bitters: BKK Social Club, Bangkok
• The Best Bar in Malaysia, sponsored by Nikka Whisky & Nikka Highest Climber Award: Penrose, Kuala Lumpur
• Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award: Virtù, Tokyo
• The Best Bar in Indonesia, sponsored by Amaro Lucano: The Cocktail Club, Jakarta
• The Best Bar in Mainland China, sponsored by Matusalem: Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou
• London Essence Best New Opening Award: The Savory Project, Hong Kong
• The Best Bar in Sri Lanka: Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya
• The Best Bar in Taiwan, sponsored by Mancino Vermouth: Vender, Taichung
• The Best Bar in The Philippines: The Curator, Manila
• The Best Bar in Nepal: Barc, Kathmandu
• The Best Bar in India: ZLB23, Bengaluru
• Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award: Fura, Singapore
• The Best Bar in Vietnam: The Haflington, Hanoi
• Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award & Bareksten Best Bar Design Award: Atlas, Singapore
• Roku Industry Icon Award: Yangdup Lama
• Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award: Dohyung ‘Demie’ Kim

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