Overview
- Hope & Sesame in Guangzhou was crowned No. 1 at Asia’s 50 Best Bars after the live awards ceremony on July 28, becoming the first bar from mainland China to win the top title.
- The 2026 list spans 22 cities with 14 new entries and two re-entries, and shows Bangkok leading with eight bars while China placed a record seven venues and Singapore had four entries.
- The rankings were produced by William Reed from anonymous votes by an Academy of more than 300 industry experts and adjudicated by Deloitte, following the established Asia’s 50 Best Bars process.
- A slate of sponsored special awards recognised specific achievements, including Lennon’s (Disaronno Highest New Entry), Bar Us (Ketel One Sustainable Bar), Bar Sathorn (Nikka Highest Climber) and Indra Kantono (Roku Industry Icon).
- The win for Hope & Sesame underlines growing technical craft and creativity in mainland China and could boost local tourism and investment in neighbourhood speakeasies, hotel bars and sustainable bar operations across the region.