Two Philippine Bars Made it to Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2020

This year’s Asia’s 50 Best Bars ceremony was broadcasted live on the evening of May 14 on various channels online. Originally slated to be held at Capitol Theatre in Singapore, this year’s announcement was brought online due to the state of the current global pandemic. Now on its fifth year, Asia’s 50 Best Bars ceremony heralds the best that cocktail culture has to offer from this part of the world.

Jigger and Pony’s Giovanni Graziadei

Singapore’s Jigger and Pony was named 2020’s best bar in Asia. After debuting on the list in 2018 and climbing up the charts 33 slots to claim last year’s 9th spot, Jigger and Pony earned the top award this year. Last year’s best bar, The Old Man Hong Kong, slipped down to the number 2 slot, while Jay Khan’s mezcal bar COA rose to number 3 this year. The man behind Hong Kong’s celebrated mezcal haven was also named this year’s Altos Bartender’s Bartender award.

The man behind Coa Hong Kong and Altos Bartender’s Bartender awardee, Jay Khan

This year, two Philippine bars got two slots on the coveted list. Manila’s The Curator headed by David Ong and Jericson Co, a frequent Asia’s 50 Best Bar lister, was once again named Best Bar in the Philippines, though moving down from 37 to 42. Last year’s new entry at number 50, Shangri-La the Fort’s The Back Room rose five spots to 45 this year. Unfortunately, OTO, another new entry last year, dropped from the list.

The Back Room’s Poch Ancheta at last year’s ceremony

“We are deeply honored and humbled to be included in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2020 as the 45th in the list. In this time of pandemic this doesn’t call for a celebration but as a boost for us to be inspired and motivated to make sure we take care of the most important aspect of our business, the guest,” says Poch Ancheta, head bartender of The Back Room, on a Facebook post he made about the announcement. “It is indeed a trying time for everybody but most especially for the industry. This serves as a reminder that as soon as we are allowed to open, we need to make sure guests feel happy once they are done visiting our bar. It’s one of the few ways that we can help our guest who would want to forget at least for a while what is happening,” he continues.

It’s a bittersweet win for The Curator’s David Ong. While The Curator maintains its distinction as the best bar in the country, they’ve slipped down a few notches in the rankings and OTO has dropped from the list.

The Curator’s Jericson Co and David Ong at last year’s ceremony

OTO slipping out of the list this year wasn’t a surprise to David since they were closed for six months. “Though we had a lot of momentum, fresh from getting on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019, then David (Ablayan) and Kate (Osmillo) winning Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year and Glenfiddich’s Most Experimental Bartender of the Year,” he shares. “We were forced to close in July until after the voting of Asia’s 50 Best Bars (for 2020) in December. I don’t feel bad at all as we simply didn’t deserve it last year as there was no bar to showcase.”

Despite this, he’s still thankful and optimistic. “I’m happy for us, for The Back Room and for the Philippines – it’s always an honor to represent the country,” he shares. “It’s our fifth year, since Asia’s 50 Best Bars inception too, and so we’re just happy that our colleagues still deem us worthy to be among them!”

The awards are a beacon of light in the midst of the current crisis. The challenge of coping, surviving, and thriving amidst the COVID-19 pandemic can be felt throughout the industry. And while those challenges still exist, finding things to celebrate will keep us going.

Here is the full list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2020 winners: