Week of events will end with a bang with winners crowned on Sunday. By Natasha Hong.

As the countdown clock continues to tick on towards Sunday’s big Bar Awards industry event with its first party kicking off at Aqua Spirit tonight, The Bar Awards comes bearing more good news.

After turning over their Top 10 list of the city’s best venues and bartenders to the city’s Panel, the field for this year has been narrowed down to the Top 4. The nominees named below have been picked by 46 f&b, hospitality and media industry leaders, who were each asked to select five deserving winners in the 12 categories selected by this year’s Lead Panel. This year is the first time the Top 4s have been announced in Hong Kong, after the shortlist was first rolled out in June at Singapore’s edition of the awards.

In alphabetical order, here are the bartenders, bars and restaurants that might snag a plaque and barrel this Sunday:

The Rising Star, presented by Perrier
Ajit Gurung (Stockton)
Axel Gonzalez (Belon)
Simone Rossi (Aqua)
Toby Lo (Quinary)

Best Restaurant Bar, presented by Bulleit Bourbon
8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana
Foxglove
On Dining Kitchen & Lounge
Yardbird

Best Beer Bar, presented by Pilsner Urquell
Bobby’s Rabble
Second Draft
TAP: The Ale Project
The Globe

Best Wine Bar, presented by Mumm Champagne
12,000 Francs
121 BC
Caprice at the Four Seasons Hong Kong
La Cabane Wine Bistro

Best Bar Food, presented by East Imperial
Back Bar (Ham & Sherry)
Ping Pong Gintoneria
Vea Restaurant & Lounge
Zuma

Best Hotel Bar, presented by Tanqueray
Flint Grill & Bar at the JW Marriott
Lobster Bar & Grill at the Island Shangri-La
Ozone at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
The Envoy at The Pottinger

Most Creative Cocktail Bar, presented by Cointreau
Quinary
Stockton
The Woods
Zuma

Best Hospitality Team, presented by Monkey Shoulder
Honi Honi Tiki Cocktail Lounge
Stockton
The Pontiac
Yardbird

Best Hospitality Ambassador, presented by Avion
Agung Prabowo (The Old Man)
Bryson Rivera (JW Marriott)
Joe Villanueva (Red Sugar at Kerry Hotel)
May Chow (Little Bao)

Best New Cocktail Bar, presented by Campari
Bar De Luxe
Dr Fern’s Gin Parlour
Employees Only Hong Kong
Iron Fairies

Bartender of the Year, presented by Bacardi
Devender Kumar (8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana)
Samuel Kwok (Quinary)
Suraj Gurung (Stockton)
Timothy Ching (Bibo)

Best Cocktail Bar, presented by Stolichnaya Vodka
Butler The Japanese Whisky Bar
Quinary
Stockton
Zuma

Congratulations, and all the best to this year’s Top 4s!


DRiNK Magazine is the official publication partner for The Bar Awards 2017.