Tipple

“Work is the curse of the drinking classes.” — Oscar Wilde

50 Best Discovery Adds 178 New Asia Pacific Venues, 6 From Malaysia

Nicholas Ng

More than 650 new venues have joined 50 Best Discovery in the platform’s latest refresh, with 75+ cities and towns appearing on the site for the first time. Asia Pacific is among the biggest movers in this update, adding 178 venues across 95 cities, and Malaysia is part of that growth, with six new additions to the platform. 50 Best Discovery is the sister platform to The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Bars, Hotels and Vineyards. It now lists more than 3,500 hospitality establishments across over 800 cities and towns worldwide. Continue reading →

Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026: Hope & Sesame Takes No.1 as China’s Cocktail Scene Blooms

Nicholas Ng

The 2026 edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards was held at Wynn Palace Macau on 28 July 2026, with Hope & Sesame in Guangzhou claiming the No.1 spot and the title of The Best Bar in Asia, sponsored by Perrier. The ranking honoured 50 bars across 22 cities, with 14 new entries and two re-entries, a lineup that confirmed Mainland China’s arrival as a serious force in Asian cocktail culture, while Bangkok held firm as the region’s most densely represented city. Continue reading →

Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 Returns to Wynn Palace Macau

Nicholas Ng

Wynn Resorts Macau will once again welcome the global bar industry as the Official Host Partner of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026, marking both the awards’ return to the integrated resort and Wynn’s 20th anniversary in Macau. Following a successful partnership in 2025, Wynn Palace and Wynn Macau will host the region’s leading bartenders, bar owners, media and drinks professionals from 24 to 29 July, culminating in the Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony on 28 July. Continue reading →

Chengdu After Dark: Peter Peng on Building a Bar Scene That Refuses to Be Overlooked

Nicholas Ng

Chengdu rarely enters the global bar conversation with the same weight as Shanghai or Hong Kong, yet a quieter shift is taking place on the ground. At the centre of it is Peter Peng, the operator behind five distinct concepts including Chinese Room, each pushing a different reading of what a modern cocktail bar in China can be. This conversation looks at how those bars came to be, what Chengdu gets misjudged for, and why the city’s drinking culture is beginning to demand closer attention.

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Florence City Guide: Where Renaissance Meets Top 500 Bars

Nicholas Ng

Florence is often reduced to a checklist of Renaissance landmarks and leather markets, but that framing flattens the city into souvenir and surface. What Florence rewards is not enthusiasm, but judgement, and the ability to recognise proportion when it presents itself. It does not compete on scale, nor does it attempt to overwhelm. For travellers who already understand heritage, Florence reveals itself through continuity rather than spectacle, through the quiet alignment between art and appetite. That became particularly clear during our visit for the Top 500 Bars 2025 awards ceremony, when the city absorbed the global drinks industry without altering its own cadence. Continue reading →

The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025: A Roman Lion Rules in Hong Kong

Guest Writer

For the first time in the history of The World’s 50 Best Bars, Asia has claimed the crown. Bar Leone in Hong Kong has been named The World’s Best Bar 2025, sponsored by Perrier. This milestone moment was announced during the 17th edition of the awards, held in Hong Kong for the first time. The accolade marks an extraordinary triumph for the city and the wider Asian bar community, recognising Lorenzo Antinori’s cocktail vision rooted in Italian hospitality and Roman soul. Continue reading →

Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025: What The New Entrants Reveal About The Future of Cocktail Culture

Nicholas Ng
A50BB2025 | Tipple International | Food For Thought

The 2025 edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards was held at Wynn Palace Macau on 15 July 2025, with Bar Leone from Hong Kong securing the first place for the second consecutive year. This prestigious gathering of Asia’s top bartenders and industry leaders celebrated innovation, creativity, and community across 20 cities, with 20 new bars joining the list. We’ve also listed the current bars’ highest rankings ever in the history of Asia’s 50 Best Bars. Continue reading →

Asia’s 50 Best Bars Lands In Macau This July

Nicholas Ng

Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace will host the tenth edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars from 11 to 19 July 2025. In the lead-up to the main awards night on 15 July, both resorts will present a full week of cocktail-fuelled events, featuring over 25 guest shifts, bar takeovers, chef collaborations, and exclusive pairing dinners. This marks the first time the prestigious awards are held in Macao, further cementing the city’s growing reputation as a cocktail and culinary destination. Continue reading →

Oh Chong Hau Wins Hennessy MyWay Malaysia 2025

Nicholas Ng

At the Hennessy MyWay 2025 Malaysia Championship, Oh Chong Hau of The Nest Cocktail Bar in Penang claimed the national title with a cocktail that told a layered, locally rooted story. Presented at the finals during Kuala Lumpur Cocktail Week (KLCW), his winning drink, “The Golden Fondue”, stood out for its bold composition and distinctive narrative. Continue reading →

Taichung Cocktail Camp: Taiwan’s First Outdoor Cocktail Festival

Nicholas Ng
Taichung Cocktail Camp | Food For Thought

The 2025 Taichung Cocktail Camp (TCC) transformed Taichung into the centre of Asia’s cocktail culture, bringing together renowned bartenders, local talent, and industry professionals for a day of mixology, competition, and collaboration. Held at ALIVE Glamping Base, the event combined cocktail craftsmanship, outdoor dining, and interactive experiences, followed by guest shifts across the city, making it an immersive celebration of Taichung’s vibrant drinks scene. Continue reading →