Jigger & Pony (Singapore) has been named the Best Bar in Asia, and this year sees six new bars and India enter the list. By Holly Graham.

Jigger & Pony in Singapore has been crowned the Best Bar in Asia on the 2020 Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, knocking The Old Man (Hong Kong) off the top spot.

This year’s ceremony was streamed online, and Jigger & Pony took number one as voting industry peers deemed it 2020’s reigning bar. Following in second place was last year’s number one The Old Man (Hong Kong), then COA (Hong Kong) in third. Read the full list below.

Overall China (including Hong Kong, Shanghai and Guangzhou) was the country with the most bars on the ranking with 12, followed by Singapore with 10, Japan with six and Taiwan and Thailand both with five.

Now in its fifth year, Asia’s 50 Best Bars was due to be held in Singapore, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the awarding body streamed the results instead, packed full of videos from bars and personalities around the region.

India notably made a welcome return to the list with Sidecar in New Delhi coming in at 40. Shouts to individual award winners including Agung Prabowo, winner of this year’s inaugural Industry Icon award, and The Old Man (Singapore), who took the new Best New Opening Award. No Sleep Club (Singapore) was deservedly touted as the One to Watch and stalwart Indulge Experimental Bistro (Taipei) was awarded the Legend of the List.                                                              

Bee’s Knees (Kyoto) won Highest New Entry at 21, and Bar Mood (Taipei) was this year’s Highest Climber at 13 – rising 30 places from last year!

The full ranking of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2020:

1. Jigger & Pony (Singapore) – Best Bar in Singapore

2. The Old Man (Hong Kong) – Best Bar in China

3. COA (Hong Kong)

4. Indulge Experimental Bistro (Taipei) – Legend of the List Award and Best Bar in Taiwan

5. ATLAS (Singapore)

6. Native (Singapore)

7. The Bamboo Bar (Bangkok) – Best Bar in Thailand

8. Manhattan (Singapore) – Art of Hospitality Award

9. The SG Club (Tokyo) – Best Bar in Japan

10. AHA Saloon (Taipei)

11. Vesper (Bangkok)

12. Sober Company (Shanghai)

13. Bar Mood (Taipei) – Highest Climber Award

14. Bar Trigona (Kuala Lumpur) – Most Sustainable Bar Award and Best Bar in Malaysia

15. Bar Benfiddich (Tokyo) 

16. Quinary (Hong Kong)

17. Tippling Club (Singapore)

18. The Wise King (Hong Kong)

19. Speak Low (Shanghai)

20. Bar High Five (Tokyo)

21. Bee’s Knees (Kyoto)  – Highest New Entry

22. The Old Man (Singapore) – Best New Opening Award

23. D.Bespoke (Singapore)

24. Tropic City (Bangkok)

25. Gibson (Singapore)

26. Draft Land (Taipei)

27. ROOM by Le Kief (Taipei) – New Entry

28. Otto e Mezzo Bombana (Hong Kong)

29. Charles H (Seoul) – Best Bar in Korea

30. 28 HongKong Street (Singapore)

31. Rabbit Hole (Bangkok)

32. Nutmeg & Clove (Singapore) – Re-entry

33. Backstage (Bangkok)

34. Caprice (Hong Kong) – New Entry 

35. The Pontiac (Hong Kong)

36. Hope & Sesame (Guangzhou)

37. JungleBird (Kuala Lumpur)

38. The Odd Couple (Shanghai) – New Entry

39. Bar Trench (Japan)

40. Sidecar (New Delhi) – New Entry and Best Bar in India

41. Bar Orchard Ginza (Tokyo) 

42. The Curator (Manila) – Best Bar in Philippines 

43. Union Brasserie, Bakery & Bar (Jakarta) – Best Bar in Indonesia 

44. Lobster Bar (Hong Kong)

45. The Back Room (Manila)

46. MO Bar (Singapore) – New Entry

47. Alice (Seoul)

48. Coley (Kuala Lumpur)

49. Le Chamber (Seoul)

50.  Cham Bar (Seoul) – New Entry