FOUR SEASONS DOMINATES ASIA'S 50 BEST BARS 2023 WITH SIX RANKED BARS
BKK Social Club in Bangkok and ARGO in Hong Kong rank in the Top Ten; Tokyo’s VIRTÙ makes its debut on the list and wins the Highest New Entry Award, joining last year’s newcomer Copitas (Bengaluru), along with multi-year honourees Bar Trigona (Kuala Lumpur) and Charles H. (Seoul) |
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FOUR SEASONS DOMINATES ASIA'S 50 BEST BARS 2023 WITH SIX RANKED BARS
BKK Social Club in Bangkok and ARGO in Hong Kong rank in the Top Ten; Tokyo’s VIRTÙ makes its debut on the list and wins the Highest New Entry Award, joining last year’s newcomer Copitas (Bengaluru), along with multi-year honourees Bar Trigona (Kuala Lumpur) and Charles H. (Seoul) |
Category: Asia Pacific - Exclusive experiences
- Rewards
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2023-07-20
With a continued commitment to developing unique culinary and cocktail concepts around the world, Four Seasons has once again earned multiple accolades on the prestigious Asia’s 50 Best Bars List in 2023.
At the ceremony in Hong Kong on July 18, 2023, Asia’s Best Bars Academy revealed stellar results for all five bars on last year’s list, along with the debut of a sixth in the top 20: BKK Social Club at #3, ARGO at #8, VIRTÙ at #20, Bar Trigona at #36, Copitas at #38, and Charles H. at #51.
“Creativity and craft go hand in hand as our extraordinary bar teams continue to shape unique experiences for our guests,” says Rainer Stampfer, Four Seasons President, Global Operations, Hotels and Resorts.
“To have so many of our bars ranked among the very best in this important region is testament to the people who bring them to life, and their commitment to excellence. As we continue to develop and perfect bar concepts across our global portfolio, we’re doing so with a focus on quality and innovation, as well as empowering our exceptional teams and fostering dynamic careers for our people.”
Barhopping Through Asia with Four Seasons: Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023
More than mixologists, Four Seasons bar teams are storytellers, bringing local legends and faraway places to life, firmly establishing roots in their communities and regions while circling the globe in the imaginative pursuit of the ultimate drink experiences to share with their guests.
#3 Best Bar in Asia: BKK Social Club, Bangkok
BKK Social Club was also named the Best Bar in Thailand 2023.
Celebrating the spirit of Argentina’s golden age in modern Bangkok, BKK Social Club embodies the idea that travellers want to experience something local while locals want to be taken on a journey.
Beverage Manager Philip Bischoff has created a menu of bespoke cocktails, craft spirits and fine cigars to be enjoyed in the bar’s stylish ambiance and an upbeat soundtrack that wins hearts from around the world.
BKK Social Club burst onto the international scene with a top 10 placement on last year’s list, also earning the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award and named #1 bar in Thailand.
It is also the recipient of London Essence Best New Opening Award 2022 and placed #14 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022. BKK Social Club is located within Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, which is also home to Yu Ting Yuan, Thailand’s only Michelin starred Cantonese restaurant.
#8 Best Bar in Asia: ARGO, Hong Kong
For cocktail lovers thirsting for something new, the menu of signature cocktails at ARGO offers intriguing possibilities with carefully selected, and often unusual, ingredients sparking curiosity, and ultimately delivering satisfaction as they blend together perfectly.
Bar Manager Federico Balzarini, who joined the team earlier this year following turns behind the bars at Bangkok’s Vesper and London’s American Bar at the Savoy Hotel, now brings an extra taste of dolce vita to the experience in a spectacular setting overlooking Victoria Harbour.
ARGO debuted on last year’s list at a remarkable #3 in its first year of operations, and is located within Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, which earlier this year earned seven Michelin stars across four Forbes Five Star restaurants, making it a must-visit destination for global gourmands and cocktail connoisseurs.
#20 Best Bar in Asia: VIRTÙ, Tokyo
VIRTÙ also won the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award 2023.
With glittering skyline views, Paris meets Tokyo at VIRTÙ, where modern Japanese ingredients and techniques mix perfectly with classic French flavours and drinking rituals.
The drinks menu draws from Japanese tales and French folklore, attracting a loyal local following and rapidly building an international reputation.
Helmed by last year’s Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award winner Keith Motsi, VIRTÙ boasts a world-leading collection of vintage French bottles, rare and hard to find cognacs, forgotten spirits and a robust list of Japanese labels.
Always on the hunt for something new, the bar team delights in introducing their patrons to lesser-known producers as well.
Debuting on Asia’s 50 Bars this year, VIRTÙ is located on the 39th floor of Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi, which is also home to Michelin starred restaurant est.
#36 Best Bar in Asia: Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur
Bar Trigona was also named the Best Bar in Malaysia 2023.
Grounded in the principles of sustainability, Bar Trigona recently doubled down on its commitment to working with local farmers and celebrating Malaysian culture with a new menu of signature drinks.
Head Bartender Rohan Matmary and his team are inspired by everything from garden blossoms and fruit peels to spice boxes and tea rituals, not to mention the bar’s namesake trigona honey bee.
The latter continues to be the focus of the team’s passion project, inviting guests to join them in supporting the preservation the natural habitats of honeybees.
Celebrating its 5th year on the list, Bar Trigona was previously a two-time winner of the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award, and last year earned the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu award as well. It is located within Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
#38 Best Bar in Asia: Copitas, Bengaluru
With leafy city views from the 21st floor terrace and chic interiors that welcome stylish gatherings with friends old and new, Copitas welcomes guests for leisurely sundowners and more.
With several hundred labels to choose from, Bar Manager Sarath Nair and his team welcome patrons into a wide world of spirits, often inviting colleagues from across the region to collaborate with them behind the bar.
Look forward to new and inventive craft cocktail by Sarath and the team from August onwards.
Now in its second year in the top 50, Copitas is located within Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru.
#51 Best Bar in Asia: Charles H., Seoul
Continuing to explore the world of legendary namesake Charles H. Baker, the dynamic duo of Odd Strandbakken and Alyssa Heidt has recently introduced a new cocktail menu at Charles H. that takes guests through four of the world’s most storied drinks destinations: London, Havana, New Orleans and Hong Kong.
In the spirit of its speakeasy style, cocktails feature artisan ingredients handcrafted by the bar team, with a selection of bar bites perfectly paired.
Charles H., a mainstay of Asia’s 50 Best Bars since 2018, is located within Four Seasons Hotel Seoul.
More to Come
Always striving to introduce new ideas, many Four Seasons bar teams have also been looking to the past and future for inspiration, recalling glamorous drinking establishments and golden age destinations while also digging deeper into local traditions and sustainable practices.
TELU, just opened at Four Seasons in Bali, is another one to watch: Taking its name from the Balinese word for “three” and inspired by the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana – harmony with nature, people and soul – the resort team has created an intimate open-air bar made entirely from repurposed and upcycled materials.
The zero-waste cocktail menu features almost entirely homegrown or locally sourced ingredients. TELU infuses sustainability, connection and community, with proceeds from the menu supporting Balinese charities.
Salud, Kanpai, Å’kålè Ma’luna, Chok Tee and Cheers! at Four Seasons
To discover more award-winning dining and drinking experiences at Four Seasons hotels and resorts around the world, click here.
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