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Hope & Sesame

Guangzhou

• The Best Bar in Asia 2026, sponsored by Perrier
• The Best Bar in Mainland China 2026

Putting Mainland China on the cocktail map

The accolades keep coming for this star bar. Found in a quaint neighbourhood lined with eccentric Cantonese collectable and curio shops sits a humble cha chaan teng (Cantonese casual eatery), behind which lies a sumptuous hidden saloon – one that is easy to miss but hard to leave, it was opened in 2016 as the first speakeasy in southern China.

Hope & Sesame leans on far-reaching techniques (centrifugal clarification, sous vide infusions, slow cooking and rotary distillation), bringing them to a bar scene that was previously stuck in the traditional. It's an ethos that has afforded this haunt a spot on Asia's 50 Best Bars list for six consecutive years, as well as spawning a new bar leader in the form of its co-founder, Andrew Ho, who was named Altos Bartenders' Bartender at Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025.

A testing ground for innovation, previous menu renditions – such as The Kitchen Pantry – drew inspiration from a global selection of lesser-known condiments, sauces and spices, while the most recent roster – Volume 16 x Lee Kum Kee – is inspired by shared culinary heritage and uses the sauce brands most famous flavours to craft out-there drinks that honour local tastes and modern mixology.

This year, the bar takes home the ultimate accolade as it is named No.1 and The Best Bar in Asia 2026 – the first bar from Mainland China to do so.

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