Live from Singapore’s Capitol Theatre, the 2019 Asia’s 50 Best Bars (the Asian edition of the World’s 50 Best Bars, under William Reed Business Media) saw three Philippine entries this year– the most we’ve ever had!

Here’s a little bit more about them:

No. 50: THE BACK ROOM (New Entry)

The Back Room opened in late 2018 as a 1920s speakeasy. Its exact location is never really disclosed, only that it’s within Shangri-La Fort. The gilded bar is home to 18 signature cocktails, subdivided into five different categories, each pertaining to a flavor preference named after key elements of the era, namely, Jag Juice (strong, flavor-forward), Giggle Water (Sophisticated, glamorous), Live Wire (Refreshing), Moonshine (Experimental) and On A Toot (For sharing). My favorite drink is Ransom Note (tequila, pistachio, agave, lemon, and hazelnut nut). They also have 120 brands of gin, the largest in the country. Expect to find Manila’s well-heeled on an easy nightcap or a night-about-town. Cocktails start at P450.

No. 47: OTO (New Entry)

I once wrote in South China Morning Post, “You know the cocktails are going to be good if David Ong is behind it.” And lo and behold, Oto, which means ‘sounds’ in Japanese, Ong’s cocktail bar-listening room in Poblacion, Makati is a new entry at this year’s Asia’s 50 Best Bars! Here, craft cocktails are divided into classics, modern classics (tributes like Bacon Old Fashioned, to Jim Meehan of New York speakeasy PDT) and signatures (#ReligionBlack, named after Ong’s sister shoe brand is a popular concoction of rum, lime and black sesame)– all within the affordable price range of P350 to P380! Often packed with a young crowd, have live DJ sets 10 PM onwards, and also serve Japanese-inspired plates.

No. 37: THE CURATOR (The Best Bar in the Philippines)

The Curator has been consistently on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list for the past several years, so it’s no surprise it’s once again the Best Bar in the Philippines, at No. 37 on the list. I’ve written about them numerous times for different publications, and to quote myself on the 50 Best Bars site: “If you’re looking for a team that really knows its cocktails– as in, really, really knows its cocktails – The Curator Coffee & Cocktail has it. The expert team views both coffee (it is a third wave multi-roaster café by day) and cocktails as an art, science and a craft. With reverence to the origins of each ingredient – from coffee beans to homemade bitters to small-batch spirits – all the drinks are carefully created with proper technique, churning out some of the most profound flavour profiles in the country to date. The windowless, concrete space exudes intimacy – walking in feels like you’ve stumbled on a clandestine sect where everyone knows each other. A framed bar area, fashioned from 19th-century salvaged wood, forms the stage for the mixologists. The seating space is crafted so the bar is high and close to the action; the two long tables behind give ample space for groups; while the back has the lowest space for those who want least interaction.” Cocktails start at P450.

134 Legaspi Street cor C Palanca Street, Legaspi Village, Makati, Philippines; Open daily from 7AM to 2AM, and up to 6PM on Sundays (*Note: it’s a coffee shop during the day)

For the full list, visit the 50 Best Bars website