Bar awards raise a cheer for hospitality

The eagerly awaited Asia's Best 50 Bars 2023 list was unveiled in Hong Kong on Tuesday, the first full gathering of the Asian bar community since 2019.

The list for this year was meticulously sifted through votes from 270 prominent industry leaders across Asia, which consists of bartenders, bar owners, beverage writers, educators, and cocktail enthusiasts.

This year's list features 13 new entries and five re-entries. Coa from Hong Kong achieves an unparalleled feat in the history of Asia's 50 Best Bars, becoming the first-ever venue to be thrice-awarded the coveted No 1 position, as it clinched the Best Bar in Asia trophy.

Among the impressive contenders, Hope & Sesame from Guangzhou, Gangdong province, which ranks 39 on the list, stood out as the sole representative from the Chinese mainland, adding an extra layer of significance to their well-deserved achievement. Opening in 2016 as the first speakeasy in Guangzhou, Hope & Sesame brings far-reaching techniques to a bar scene that previously stuck to the traditional.