In an unwanted but perhaps not unexpected turn of events, the number one spot on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019 list, announced at an awards ceremony at Capitol Theatre May 9 evening, no longer belongs to a bar in Singapore, but to one in Hong Kong.
After ranking as the best bar in Asia for two years in a row, Manhattan at Regent Singapore now ranks number two, though it remains the best bar in Singapore under the watch of new Head Bartender Sophia Kang.
Taking over Manhattan as the best bar in Asia is The Old Man Hong Kong, which first entered the top 50 list in 2018 with an incredible number five placing. Continuing its meteoric rise, The Old Man Hong Kong usurped contenders like Taipei’s Indulge Experimental Bistro (dropping one spot to no.3), as well as Singapore’s Native (climbing four spots to no.4) and Atlas (dropping one spot to no.5) to claim 2019’s top spot.
Men and women of The Old Man
Other Singapore bars that made it onto this year’s list include Jigger & Pony (no.9), which climbed 33 spots, making it the highest climber this year, plus the usual names like Tippling Club (no.11), Gibson (no.15), 28 HongKong Street (no.21) and more.
If you want a taste of The Old Man Hong Kong, the good news is you can have it right here. They opened outpost The Old Man Singapore just earlier this year on Keong Saik, made so that it replicates the OG space in terms of concept and design. You don’t have to travel all the way to Hong Kong to find out how their succinct nine-drink menu brought them to today’s heights.
