Jigger and Pony named The Best Bar in Asia 2020

While the pageantry at this year’s Asia’s 50 Best Bars has been somewhat subdued given the global situation, there’s much to be said about the continuity of such an award.

In dark times, it’s a nice reminder that people have worked hard to be the best bars they are- and a good guide to where to go when things return to normal.

It’s also frankly great that the a bar we’ve always loved has climbed to Asia’s pinnacle!

Just a recap: Asia’s 50 Best Bars is an international award. The panel is comprised of bartenders, bar owners, drinks specialists and luminaries from Asia, and they each cast seven votes, of which three must be for bars outside of their own country.

As always, the Motion Picture Academy- like voting process submits the bars to the judgement of some of the sharpest critics imaginable- their peers. To reach these lofty heights, the bars must be the best of the best.

Country Awards

Overall Results

Overall, many of the stalwarts of the list have managed to stay on, with only 7 new entrants and one re-entry (by Nutmeg and Clove at No.32) into the list this year.

The rankings have seen quite a lot of movement, though. Three bars have newly entered into the Top 10. Other than Atlas holding firm at 5th place, all the other members of the previous top five have shifted down a notch, with Manhattan moving to 8th.

Remarkable too, is the unprecedented sweep by The Old Man, whose main branch in Hong Kong took the number two slot, Singapore branch took the Best New Opening Award at number twenty-two, and head bartender Agung Prabowo taking the Industry Icon Award.

All this, of course, means that Jigger and Pony has managed to ascend from 9th to 1st.

Says Indra Kantono, founder of Jigger and Pony, of the landmark achievement:

We’ve always dreamed of this moment. I feel too many crazy emotions right now. I feel incredibly honoured for all the work the team has put in for the past 8 years. At the same I feel the amazing responsibility on my shoulders to represent the team, industry and country, even Asia, on the path to recovery.

Indra Kantono, co-founder of Jigger and Pony

We take the shape of the rankings to mean that the list is fairly fluid and competitive, and bars in the region are getting to a neck-and-neck race- a good sign for consumers and the industry as a whole, in our opinion.

As for what’s next? While this year’s event has inevitably been coloured somewhat by the global pandemic, Indra has some hopeful words:

“This shared hardship has helped us to build bridges. We’re all on this path of recovery together. I’m hoping to use the platform we have to help our team and community.”

Indra Kantono, co-founder of Jigger and Pony

For the full list of winners, you can watch the announcement or check the list right here.