Tokyo had two bars on The 50 Best Bars 2026 list, announced in Milan on Wednesday.
The awards list was renamed from World’s 50 Best Bars last month, with “The 50” serving as the master brand.
Tokyo had one fewer bar on the list than last year. The rankings also fell: Bar Benfiddich dropped from No. 18 to No. 44, while Virtu slipped from No. 45 to No. 48. The Bellwood, which debuted at No. 48 last year, sneaked onto the extended 51-100 list at No. 100.
Hong Kong’s Bar Leone took the top spot for the second consecutive year, reinforcing its reputation as a force to be reckoned with.
With four bars on the list, Hong Kong also reclaimed its status as Asia’s leading cocktail destination from Tokyo. Bangkok, the top regional performer in the Asian edition of the awards in July, followed closely with three bars: Bar Us ranked No. 4, Dry Wave Cocktail Studio debuted at No. 27 and BKK Social Club landed at No. 30. Singapore placed two bars, tying with Tokyo.
Shingo Gokan, founder of bar consultancy SG Group and bartender at The SG Club in Tokyo, received the Roku Industry Icon Award for pioneering a new era of Asian cocktail culture through his international venues, including Speak Low in Shanghai and Sip & Guzzle in New York.
This year’s list features bars from 26 cities, with 14 new entries.
In a press statement, Faye Hugget, director of community for The 50 Best Bars, said this year’s rankings are “a powerful reflection of the extraordinary talent, dedication and hospitality that continue to elevate bar culture around the world.”
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