Today is the day. A day of excitement, elation, fear and reckoning, only amplified by the roller coaster that has been 2025 so far. The drinks industry across the region this year has witnessed giants fall and newcomers arise from the ashes, a radical restructuring that reflects the bar scene's evolution of late. More than anything this year, the bar world has banded together, proving a resilience that has afforded a select few a reward in the form of a coveted spot on the Asia's 50 Best Bar Awards List 2025.

With prestige and influence that can propel a bar to the top of the ranks, the 50 Best Bar Awards List identifies the finest in regional mixology. This is the 10th edition of this celebrated list, and the first year it's being held in Macau – recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy – garnering its status as a premier drinking and dining destination.

As a lead-up (and follow-up) to last nights' awards, Macau's (and by proximity, Hong Kong's) bar world has been packed with a stellar lineup of guest shifts, pop-ups, collaborations and master classes all week, from lauded bars and equally famed mixologists from around the globe.

But after a full week of sipping, slurping and slamming the tastiest drinks from all corners of the world, the long-awaited list of Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 was announced at a ceremony held at Wynn Palace Macau. By the end of the night, 13 China bars had scored a limited spot on the 1-50 list. This year saw a complete reset compared to years past, with greater showings for the Chinese mainland, India and Taiwan.

On the China (the mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) front, 13 bars made the cut, clinching more spots than any other country, with three on the Chinese mainland, six in Hong Kong and four in Taiwan.

The best bar on the Chinese mainland, for a third year in a row, Hope & Sesame came in at No. 7, moving up another seven spots following its great climb last year of a whopping 25 spots. Famed for their inventive cocktails, whimsical presentation and standout team, the Guangzhou group has continually pushed boundaries and worked hard to put China's cocktail scene on the map. A further testament of the team's dedication to the craft, (spoiler alert for those who haven't yet jumped ahead) co-owner Andrew Ho won the revered Bartender's Bartender Award this year as well.

Premiering on Asia's 50 Best Bars list for the first time last year, Changsha's CMYK scored the No. 16 spot, while the only other bar on the Chinese mainland to make the top 50 cut – MO Bar Shenzhen – made its premiere on the list this year. Perched high above the bustling cityscape of Shenzhen on the 79th floor of the Mandarin Oriental, MO Bar Shenzhen is pouring a liquid tribute to Chinese cultural heritage. Via nods to the 24 solar terms, Chinese dynastic costume colors and ancient printing techniques, the aptly-dubbed menu, Colours of China, follows the ethos of the 24 solar rerms – a calendar divided into 24 periods used to mark the changes in microseasons, climate and phenology that's commonly associated with traditional Chinese medicine. The bar team, led by the accomplished Tiger Chang, continuously pays homage to China's five-millennia history while embracing the dynamic spirit of contemporary Shenzhen.

Hong Kong's own Bar Leone held its coveted No. 1 spot as the 2025 best bar in Asia, the second year it's maintained its position. Bar Leone in Central was founded by seasoned barman Lorenzo Antinori. Orbiting around the concept of "cocktail popolari" – or "cocktails for the people" – the revived classics-style libations served are at once unpretentious and approachable, inspired by the neighborhood bars of Rome's backstreets.

To recap, the 2025 list saw three bars on the mainland (Hope & Sesame at No. 7, CMYK at No. 16 and MO Bar Shenzhen at No. 21) making the Top 50 cut, as well as four in Taiwan and six in Hong Kong, including Bar Leone, who snagged the top spot on the entire list, again. Amongst the entire list, there were 20 new entries this year, with bars sprinkled across 20 Asian destinations.

Before we reveal the full list, a little background (assuming you haven't skipped ahead already). It is compiled based on anonymous voting by the Asia's 50 Best Bars Academy, an influential, gender-balanced group of 300+ bartenders, bar owners, drinks writers and cocktail aficionados across the region, who vote for what they believe constitutes a "best bar experience."

Now – the moment you've been waiting for – here's the full Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 list...

Other Special Award Winners include:

• Bartender's Bartender Award: Andrew Ho (Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou)

• Art of Hospitality: Barc (Kathmandu)

• One To Watch: Workshop14 (Hanoi)

• Industry Icon: Jay Khan (of COA & The Savory Project, Hong Kong)

• Legend of the List: Vesper (Bangkok)

• Best New Opening: Modernhaus (Jakarta)

• Sustainable Bar Award: Sora (Phnom Penh)

• Highest Climber Award: Alice (Seoul)

• Best Cocktail Menu: Backdoor Bodega (Penang)

• Highest New Entry Award: Dry Wave Cocktail Studio (Bangkok)

• Best Bar Design: Messenger Service (Bangkok)

Just last week, on July 3, the 51-100 list was also released, spanning 23 different cities across Asia, with 14 new entry bars.

Like last year, Singapore took the lead with six bars making the 51-100 list, followed by four bars each from Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo and our very own Shanghai. Bars from Shenzhen, Phnom Penh and Kaohsiung also made a debut on the list with Obsidian Bar (No. 51), Sora (No. 65) and Maltail (No. 75), respectively.

Five bars from the Chinese mainland made the 51-100 list, including four from my own backyard of Shanghai:

• Obsidian Bar at No. 51

• Epic at No. 74

• Sober Company at No. 81

• COA Shanghai at No. 85

• Pony Up at No. 97

As well as six bars in Taiwan and three in Hong Kong.

Dre Yang, owner of Shanghai's Pony Up, reflects on how it feels to make his debut on the list for the very first time and what it means to him, the whole Pony Up bar team, and the greater Shanghai bar scene: "I feel a deep sense of pride for both myself and my incredible team at Pony Up in making it onto the list. After over a decade of working in the best bars in Shanghai – like Speak Low and The Odd Couple – I opened this venue with a vision for its future. Our hard work over the past 18 months has truly paid off, but we know there's still much to accomplish. For our team, I am immensely proud of the talented individuals who have joined me on this journey. We've focused on nurturing their creativity and ensuring that our success is a collective effort. The fact that four bars from Shanghai made it onto the 51-100 list shows that our city is thriving and regaining confidence. I hope our story inspires others with similar dreams, proving that if Pony Up can achieve this, they can too. I believe the future of the Shanghai bar scene holds great promise in the years to come."

Here's the full list of 51-100 Asia's 50 Best Bar winners...

So there you have it! Time to start sampling (read: sculling) your way across Asia to visit as many of the establishments as your budget, schedule, stomach (and liver) will allow!