From the cocktail and culinary stylings of international gastronomy icons to a Bartenders' Feast under the big top, a host of new entries celebrating their incredible wins and Bar Leone holding on to its title as The Best Bar in Asia, it was a succession of stars, sips and shakes in Macau.
Last week, the greatest bartenders, international media and dedicated cocktail hunters across the Asian continent and beyond landed in the vibrant city of Macau to celebrate Asia's 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier.
Wynn's iconic and undeniably lavish resorts provided the backdrop for a series of buzzing guest shifts, one-off culinary masterclasses and sumptuous events fuelled by crafted cocktails, delectable food and the kind of infectious passion only the hospitality industry can provide.
This was the first time Asia's 50 Best Bars was hosted in Macau and, as well as a focus on bartenders congratulating each other on their achievements, there was ample time for the wider community to strengthen networks, share knowledge and build new connections – the backbone of this thriving bar community.
This edition of Asia's 50 Best Bars saw the return of 50 Best Connects, 50 Best's female networking event where women in the bar industry gathered at SW Steakhouse in Wynn Palace to discuss the topics most affecting them in their current roles. They also received sage advice from guest speakers Kate Gerwin of Happy Accidents in Albuquerque, Yvonne Pi Chan from Kwant in London and Guoyi Gan of Singapore's legendary Jigger & Pony.
The 2025 event series featured a never-before-seen series of culinary and cocktail mash-ups courtesy of 50 Best Signature Sessions. Ticket-holding guests were able to experience a specially crafted menu of perfectly paired food and drinks that showcased the talents of Wynn's resident chefs and representatives from international bars.
The 50 Best Signature Sessions kicked off with a dinner at Wynn Macau's Drunken Fish, where chef Henry Zhang created dishes such as spicy, sour soup with fish maw while Sydney bartenders Hunter Gregory and Paolo Maffietti served up tailor-made drinks from their Maybe Sammy (No.26 in The World's 50 Best Bars 2024) repertoire.
Elsewhere, it was an omakase lunchtime showcase at Sushi Mizumi as chef Hiro Maeda cooked up a succession of bite-sized delights alongside expertly curated sips from Takuma Watanabe of Martiny's in New York (No.24 in The World's 50 Best Bars 2024). Matching serves included Maeda's Crispy Grilled Unagi Eel Burger with Watanabe's Seaside Harmony (Torres Brandy, Los Siete Misterios Mezcal, orange juice, uni, vanilla liqueur, egg yolk, agave, lemon).
While the programme was jam-packed with exciting events, there's no question that the hotly anticipated awards ceremony, in which Bar Leone was crowned The Best Bar in Asia 2025, was the pinnacle of the week.
See the magical moment this year's No.1 was crowned and more highlights from Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025.
Hunter Gregory and Paolo Maffietti (L-R) served up bespoke sips from Sydney star bar Maybe Sammy, including Australian Martinis made with Ketel One, Mancino Vermouth and lemon myrtle.
Takuma Watanabe of sleek NYC bar Martiny's took the cocktail helm at the second 50 Best Signature Session of the event programme. 
Meanwhile, chef Hiro Maeda, the mastermind behind host restaurant Sushi Mizumi, kept hungry guests satisfied with bite-sized delicacies such as hand-made unagi eel burger.
More than 40 attendees gathered at Wynn Palace's SW Steakhouse as women from across the bar industry in Asia came together to discuss career growth and the changing landscape of bartending at 50 Best Connects.
It was a fun-filled circus at the Bartenders' Feast, complete with silk rope performers and stilt walkers.
The teams from Bar Sathorn and Opium Bar, both in Bangkok, got in the spirit with drinks courtesy of official beer sponsor Noam.
Elsewhere, guests sampled delicious cocktails from Bangkok's Bar Us, Hong Kong bar Tell Camellia and Wynn's bar team. Guests sipped Jasmine + Margaritas (Los Siete Misterios Doba-Yej Mezcal, Cointreau L’Unique, Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila, jasmine-infused Ketel One Vodka, kombucha, lime juice, vegan foam, dried chili salt rim), Martin Tellers (Rémy Martin VSOP, Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt, Disaronno Originale, lapsang tea, barley-infused Mancino Vermouth Rosso, cacao husk, orange peel garnish) and Toronto Sours (Naked Malt, MSG, lemon, salted maple, red wine)...
... while DJ Jane Ki span the decks all night long.
Then it was the main event as well-dressed guests, global media and excited bartenders met to celebrate this year's ranking of Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025.
Guests sipped espresso martinis at the Tia Maria stand and tried Tommy's Margaritas at the Altos Tequila stand made by the inventor of the cocktail himself, Julio Bermejo.
It was a night of surprise and delight, starting with the announcement of this year's Campari One To Watch Award, presented to Hanoi newcomer Workshop14 (ranked No.83 in the extended 51-100 list)...
... and continuing with this year's winner of the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award: new entry Sora in Phnom Penh, which took the No.65 spot in the extended ranking of Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025.
The bartender contingency from the India won the unofficial award for loudest celebrations in the room as teams from Boilermaker and Bar Outrigger in Goa, Lair and Sidecar in New Delhi, ZLB23, Soka and Bar Spirit Forward in Bengaluru and Bombay Canteen in Mumbai waved their Mathusalem-emblazoned red scarves in acknowledgement of each other's achievements.
The cheers rang out as Abhishek Tuladhar and Adarsha Man Tamrakar of Barc in Kathmandu accepted a double whammy of the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award and The Best Bar in Nepal Award 2025, sponsored by Michter's.
The crowd went wild with bars cheering upon hearing their rankings, best demonstrated by the dapper team from Punch Room Tokyo (No.36), who posed with their Mancino Vermouth and Amaro Lucano-branded shakers.
Hong Kong hero Jay Khan was taken by surprise when he was named the winner of the Roku Industry Icon Award 2025...
... as was the team from Vesper in Bangkok, when the bar was announced as the winner of the Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award 2025.
The accolades kept coming as Modernhaus in Jakarta took home the Three Cents Best New Opening Award.
While Backdoor Bodega in Penang clinched the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award for its menu, The Backdoor Bodega Guide to Penang, which stands as an homage to the Malaysian island's native flavours, culture and history.
Super-cool Bangkok newcomer Dry Wave Cocktail Studio secured the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award 2025.
The Korean bartending cohort couldn't contain their joy for the team behind Alice as the Seoul speakeasy was named the recipient of the Nikka Highest Climber Award 2025, climbing an incredible 33 spots in the ranking to clinch the trophy.
But the most emotional celebration of the night came from Lorenzo Antinori, Justin Shun Wah and Wing Lo of Bar Leone as the bar retained its title as The Best Bar in Asia, sponsored by Perrier, for a second consecutive year.
It was time to sit back, relax and recuperate with delicious food and drinks at the official closing party held at Wynn Palace's Italian-themed Fontana restaurant the day after the awards.
There was ample time to enjoy more cocktails too, this time curated by the teams from Cosmo Pony (No.38), The Curator (No.78) and the bar crew from Wynn. 
The dynamic bartending duo of Minwoo Lee and Bernice Tiu from The Curator served up Café Milanos (Campari, coffee-infused Mancino Vermouth Rosso, Disaronno Originale, Three Cents Tonic, Scrappy's Chocolate Bitters, orange peel garnish) and Zen Gardens (Nikka from the Barrel Whisky, Rémy Martin VSOP, herbal liqueur, Mancino Vermouth Rosso, Scrappy's Aromatic Bitters, bitters, orange peel garnish) to the thirsty attendees.
Myriad tasty treats were provided by the Wynn culinary team.
Lorenzo Antinori was in attendance to celebrate Bar Leone's win from the previous night's awards, and make time for a candid photograph to commemorate the event.
Now watch some of the highlights from Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025:
Discover the full list of Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025, sponsored by Perrier.
