Cocktails, Takeovers & Toasts: Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 in Macau

The much-anticipated Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 awards ceremony was held on July 15th, 2025, at the iconic Wynn Palace Macau, marking the tenth edition of this prestigious event. Organised by The World's 50 Best Bars and sponsored by Perrier, the celebration brought together Asia’s top bartenders, bar owners, and drinks industry pioneers for an unforgettable evening of recognition, collaboration, and craft cocktail excellence.

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Honouring Asia's Finest Bars

Bars from 20 cities across the region were recognised, with 20 new entries and two re-entries shaking up the rankings. The night celebrated creativity, resilience, and innovation within Asia’s bar scene - with a palpable sense of community as winners took the stage to accept their awards.

Japan’s Standout Showing

Japan had a powerful showing, with a total of 13 bars placing on the extended list:

Top 50 Rankings:

• No.9 Bar Benfiddich (Tokyo, Shinjuku)

• No.18 Virtù (Tokyo, Otemachi)

• No.25 Yakoboku (Kumamoto)

• No.36 Punch Room Tokyo (Tokyo, Ginza)

• No.46 Lamp Bar (Nara)

• No.49 Bar Libre (Tokyo, Ikebukuro)

51-100 Rankings:

• No.58 Craftroom (Osaka)

• No.67 Gold Bar (Tokyo, Toranomon)

• No.70 Tokyo Confidential (Tokyo, Azabujuban)

• No.76 Bee’s Knees (Kyoto)

• No.79 The Bellwood (Tokyo, Shibuya)

• No.99 The SG Club (Tokyo, Shibuya)

• No.100 Bar Nayuta (Osaka)

Special congratulations go to Tokyo Confidential, making the list at No.70 - a huge achievement for the new bar led by Holly Graham. Another shoutout goes to Gokan in Hong Kong, debuting at No.33 after just one year of opening. Helmed by Shingo Gokan, the legendary Japanese bartender and founder of The SG Group (which includes several acclaimed bars in Tokyo and beyond), Gokan showcases his signature blend of Japanese precision and international flair - a testament to his continued influence across Asia’s cocktail scene.

The cat-inspired "Neko-No-Densetsu" menu at Tokyo Confidential; Credit: Thomas Shagin

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Pre-Ceremony Highlights: Takeovers and Tastings

In the lead-up to the awards, Wynn Palace hosted a spectacular line-up of events that showcased Asia’s most exciting bar talent. Here are some of the standout moments:

• Wing Lei Bar Beach Club: Honky Tonks Tavern x Potato Head Bali - A sun-drenched afternoon blending Hong Kong’s honky-tonk flair with Bali’s beachside vibe, featuring cocktails, snacks, and DJ sets.

• Hong Kong Takeover at Wing Lei Bar - Two high-energy back-to-back collaborations: Mostly Harmless x Artifact (3–6PM) and The Pontiac x Call Me AL (6–9PM), delivering big flavours and bold atmospheres.

• Dinner at Chef Tam’s Seasons - A refined culinary experience at the MICHELIN two-starred Cantonese restaurant, highlighting seasonal elegance.

• iichiko Takeover at Mizumi - Shochu-forward cocktails from Singapore’s 28 HongKong Street and Tokyo’s Bar Trench (7–10PM), followed by a late-night session featuring Holly Graham (Tokyo Confidential) and Beckaly Franks (Artifact/Call Me AL).

• Mr. Black Presents: Offtrack - Coffee cocktail innovation from Singapore’s Offtrack at SW Steakhouse, spotlighting Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur.

• Wing Lei Bar Aperitivo Canto with Campari - A stylish Italian-inspired gathering with top talent from Bangkok, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Milan, and Singapore, paired with Chef Tam’s Cantonese snacks and live DJ sets.

• Battle of the Houses: Sago House x Jing Bar - A spirited showdown between Singapore and Chengdu’s finest, held at SW Steakhouse.

A few cocktail highlights from the bar takeover events during Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 week at Wynn Palace Macau

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A Toast to Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025

Elegant Cantonese dinners, raucous bar takeovers, and the glittering energy of awards night - Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 in Macau was a masterclass in celebration. Huge congratulations to all of the winners and nominees who continue to push boundaries and shape the future of cocktails across Asia. Cheers to another decade of excellence!