While Manhattan may have topped the list for the last two years, its limelight was abruptly snatched away by this Hemingway-inspired gem

Singapore turned into the epicentre of mixology tonight, as we saw the return of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards at the Capitol Theatre. The fourth edition of the awards rewarded the region’s best and most innovative talent in the drinks industry, with more than 600 industry figures bearing witness to an evening of surprising wins.

A relative newbie in Asia’s bar scene, The Old Man Hong Kong went up against 49 giants and found itself on top, effectively dethroning Singapore’s Manhattan bar. Helmed by award-winning mixologist Agung Prabowo, the bar takes its cues from literary genius Ernest Hemingway, and entered the list in fifth place last year.

The bar is a hit with patrons, thanks to its innovative repertoire of libations – each one is named after Hemingway’s best works and inspired by the writer’s favourite ingredients such as butter-fat-washed gin and beeswax-infused bourbon.

It’s a particularly exciting win, as The Old Man just opened its doors in Singapore along Keong Saik Street earlier in the year. It makes us want a sneak peek into the 2020 edition of the awards, if only to see where both bars sit on the venerated list. Will The Old Man Singapore give the Hong Kong edition a solid run for its money? Only time will answer that question.

And while Manhattan may have dropped to the number two spot, it certainly didn’t go home empty handed; the bar was recognised with the Best Bar in Singapore and the Legends of the List awards.

It was a good night for Singapore’s bar scene, as the island was well-represented by winners such as Tippling Club, D.Bespoke, Operation Dagger and Jigger & Pony; the latter rose 33 spots from last year to clinch the Highest Climber award. In all, Singapore snagged 11 spots on a winning list that saw 11 new entries from around the region.

Other special award winners include:

Altos Bartenders’ Bartender
Shingo Gokan

Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award
Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Campari One To Watch Award
Pussyfoot Saloon, Seoul, Korea

Highest New Entry Award
Coa, Hong Kong, China

The full list of winners include the following bars in Asia:

1. The Old Man, Hong Kong, China
2. Manhattan, Singapore
3. Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei, Taiwan
4. Native, Singapore
5. Atlas, Singapore
6. High Five, Tokyo, Japan
7. Speak Low, Shanghai, China
8. The Bamboo Bar At Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, Thailand
9. Jigger & Pony, Singapore
10. Quinary, Hong Kong, China
11. Tippling Club, Singapore
12. Coa, Hong Kong, China
13. The SG Club, Tokyo, Japan
14. Charles H, Seoul, South Korea
15. Gibson, Singapore,
16. Sober Company, Shanghai, China
17. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo, Japan
18. The Wise King, Hong Kong, China
19. Le Chamber, Seoul, South Korea
20. Backstage Cocktail Bar, Bangkok, Thailand
21. 28 HongKong Street, Singapore
22. Operation Dagger, Singapore
23. Bar Trench, Tokyo, Japan
24. Aha Saloon, Taipei, Taiwan
25. D.Bespoke, Singapore
26. Vesper, Bangkok, Thailand
27. Coley, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
28. Bar Orchard Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
29. Alice Cheongdam, Seoul, South Korea
30. Union Trading Company, Shanghai, China
31. Tropic City, Bangkok, Thailand
32. The Pontiac, Hong Kong, China
33. Lobster Bar & Grill, Hong Kong, China
34. Rabbit Hole, Bangkok, Thailand
35. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou, China
36. Stockton, Hong Kong, China
37. The Curator, Manila, Philippines
38. 8 1/2 Otto E Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong, China
39. Union Brasserie, Bakery & Bar, Jakarta, Indonesia
40. Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
41. Employees Only, Singapore
42. Smalls, Bangkok, Thailand
43. Bar Mood, Taipei, Taiwan
44. Junglebird, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
45. Draft Land, Taipei, Taiwan
46. The Other Room, Singapore
47. Oto, Manila, Philippines
48. Teens Of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand
49. Mixology Salon, Tokyo, Japan
50. The Back Room, Manila, Philippines

The 2019 awards ceremony kicks off a three-year partnership between the 50 Best organisation and the Singapore Tourism Board – a collaboration that will see The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards and The World’s 50 Best Bars awards make their Asian debut in Singapore in 2019 and 2021 respectively.

Asia’s 50 Best Bars