At the 2026 Ceremony of Asia’s 50 Best Bars held in Macau at Wynn Palace on July 28, 2026, Hope & Sesame Guangzhou was crowned this year’s winner, becoming the first bar from Mainland China to win the coveted Best Bar in Asia title.
The beloved speakeasy co-founded by Andrew Ho, Bastien Ciocca, Amethy Huang, and Marcia Xiao holds a 10-year history in Dongshankou district in Guangzhou. The four first took the stage alongside their team with much excitement as Hope & Sesame was crowned Best Bar in Mainland China 2026 following Seoul’s Zest winning the Best Bar in Korea title. After great suspense, the bar was finally announced as this year’s Best Bar in Asia.
In tears, the team returned to the stage to receive the award sponsored by Perrier. Hong Kong native Andrew took the microphone, commemorating his fellow co-founders and their ever-growing team: “We gained money, we lost money, but along the way we gained so, so much — the entire industry, we’re all friends here. This is not the end; this is just the beginning.”
Hope & Sesame rose from their No. 7 Best Bar in Asia and No. 29 Best Bar in the World rankings in 2025 and have been a mainstay on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list since 2019. The group also operates Hope & Sesame Shenzhen, SanYouShenzhen, and Off Menu, opened earlier this year above Hope & Sesame Guangzhou.
Following the landmark win for Mainland China, five other bars ranked in the Top 50, marking a new generation of bar culture for the country. MO Bar Shenzhen rose to No.5, closely followed by Obsidian Bar Shenzhen ranking at No.10. New entry Pony Up in Shanghai earned the No.19 title, Chengdu’s Ralph's Bar scored No.28, and Beijing’s Tiao rounded out the list at No.50.
Hong Kong’s Bar Leone, ranked the World’s No. 1 Bar in 2025, followed Zest at No. 3 Bar in Asia this year, retaining the Best Bar in Hong Kong title. Synchronously celebrating its two-year anniversary, Gokan ranked for the second year in a row, rising to No. 22, followed by Coa at No. 24, which also earned the Rémy Martin Legend of The List Award. New entry Mius by Shelley Tai, the winner of this year’s Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award, ranked at No. 36 and won this year’s Best Bar Design Award, followed by Argo at the Four Seasons Hong Kong ranking at No. 37. Lorenzo Antinori and Simone Caporale’s newly opened Montana ranked at No. 47 and Penicillin rounded out the list at No 49. Beyond the ranking, Kinsman earned the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award in Asia this year.
Bangkok continues to top the 1-50 list, with eight bars cinching titles and special awards. Dry Wave Cocktail Studio rose to a No. 4 ranking, earning the Best Bar in Thailand award; Bar Us retained their No. 6 spot and was awarded the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award of the year. The newly opened Lennon's at Rosewood Bangkok ranked at No. 7, earning the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award; Genteel Bar Sathorn ranked at No. 17, taking the Nikka Highest Climber Award; followed by BKK Social Club (No. 20), Opium (No. 25), and Aqua Bar (No. 48).
Singapore held four spots on the 1-59 list, led by Jigger & Pony at No. 9, earning the Best Bar in Singapore title with its Co-Founder Indra Kantono being awarded the Roku Industry Icon Award for his important contributions to Singapore’s cocktail scene and the wider bar landscape across Asia. Nutmeg & Clove placed at No. 12, followed byOfftrack at No. 16, and Origin Bar at the Shangri-La Singapore re-entering the list at No. 43.
Two Malaysian bars from Kuala Lumpur retained their spots on the list, with speakeasy Three X Co ranking at No. 32 and winning the Best Bar in Malaysia title, and Bar Trigona at the Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur ranking at No. 38.
Manila re-entered the list this year with the newly opened Problem Child in Makati scoring No. 44 and Best Bar in the Philippines.
Macau’s opulent The St. Regis Bar returned to the list this year, ranking at No. 45 and winning the Best Bar in Macau title.
“This year's ranking, voted for by over 300 independent Academy members across the region, showcases the remarkable depth and diversity of Asia's bar scene — from Hope & Sesame's well-earned ascent to No. 1, to 14 new entries spanning emerging cities like Hiriketiya, Hanoi and Makati. It's a clear reflection of how Asia's cocktail culture is being shaped not just by its traditional capitals, but by a new generation of bars redefining what hospitality looks like across the region,” shared Faye Huggett, the Director of Community at Asia's 50 Best Bars.
This year’s World’s Best Bars ceremony will be held in Milan, Italy on Oct. 7, 2026. Follow The World’s 50 Best Bars on Instagram for the latest updates.
Follow Hope & Sesame Guangzhou on Instagram and visit their website for more information.
Asia’s Best Bar 2026 Location: Hope & Sesame Guangzhou, MiaoQian Xijie 58, Dongshankou Guangzhou 庙前冰室 – 广州市越秀区东山口 庙前⻄街58
