Sips, Barcelona: the world's best bar with no counter
Sips, Simone Caporale and Marc Álvarez's cocktail bar in Barcelona's Eixample, was named the world's best bar in 2023, and still has no counter to sit at.
Stories of the businesses building what's next
In-depth stories of independent businesses and the people behind them: the decisions, the spaces and what other owners can learn from them.
Sidecar, New Delhi: the bartender's bar of GK II
Sidecar, Minakshi Singh and Yangdup Lama's cocktail bar in Greater Kailash II, New Delhi, has spent eight years showing India what a bartender's bar can be.
Naru Noodle Bar, Bengaluru: a week of ramen in 90 seconds
Naru Noodle Bar, Kavan Kuttappa's small ramen counter in Bengaluru's Shanti Nagar, grew from a lockdown project into the city's hardest table to book.
Jigger & Pony, Singapore: a bar built on hospitality
Jigger & Pony, the Amara Hotel cocktail bar in Singapore's Tanjong Pagar, is No. 9 in Asia and No. 18 in the world for 2026, 14 years after it opened.
Bar Spirit Forward, Bengaluru: India's No. 1 bar for 2025
Bar Spirit Forward, a classics-led cocktail bar on Lavelle Road in Bengaluru, was named India's best bar for 2025 and is No. 30 in Asia for 2026.
Gaggan, Bangkok: 14 seats and five Asia No. 1 titles
Gaggan Anand, who grew up in Kolkata, runs a 14-seat counter on Sukhumvit 31 in Bangkok, Thailand. It has been named Asia's best restaurant five times.
The Bombay Canteen, Mumbai: a decade of regional Indian
The Bombay Canteen opened in Lower Parel, Mumbai in 2015 under the late Floyd Cardoz. A decade on, it still cooks India's regional food by the season.
Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City: the world's No. 1 of 2024
Handshake Speakeasy, a two-level cocktail bar in Mexico City's Colonia Juárez, nearly closed in the pandemic, then was named the world's best bar in 2024.
SOKA, Bengaluru: the 38-seat bar Asia ranked No. 18
SOKA, a 38-seat cocktail bar in Bengaluru's Indiranagar, turns local stories into drinks and climbed to No. 18 on Asia's 50 Best Bars in 2026.
Disfrutar, Barcelona: three El Bulli chefs, one kitchen
Disfrutar, in Barcelona's Eixample, is run by three El Bulli alumni, was named The World's Best Restaurant in 2024 and holds three Michelin stars.
Masque, Mumbai: ten years of tasting India
Masque is a tasting-menu restaurant in a former textile mill in Mahalaxmi, Mumbai, ranked No. 15 in Asia in 2026 and winner of the Art of Hospitality Award.
Bar Leone, Hong Kong: the Roman bar ranked world No. 1
Bar Leone is a Roman-style neighbourhood cocktail bar in Hong Kong from Lorenzo Antinori, named The World's Best Bar in 2025 and again in 2026.
Boilermaker, Goa: the Siolim dive bar Asia ranked eighth
Boilermaker is a craft beer and cocktail bar in Siolim, Goa, from Pankaj Balachandran and Nakul Bhonsle, now No. 8 in Asia and named India's best bar for 2026.
Native Cocktail Room, Jaipur: the bar that taught a city
Native Cocktail Room is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar off Ajmer Road in Jaipur, run by Karan and Simran Wallia and ranked No. 25 at 30 Best Bars India.
Slow Tide, Goa: the Anjuna beach shack, rethought
Slow Tide is a beach shack bar and restaurant in Anjuna, Goa, with a Palinda Kannangara design, West Coast plates and three years on 30 Best Bars India.
Bar Outrigger, Goa: a rum bar at the Dona Paula jetty
Bar Outrigger is a nautical rum bar by the Dona Paula jetty in Goa, with over 100 rums, a treasure-map welcome and a place on Asia's 50 Best Bars 51–100.
Japonico, Gurugram: robata fire and a manga cocktail list
Japonico is a contemporary Japanese restaurant and bar on Golf Course Road, Gurugram, with a live robata grill and a cocktail list that follows one man's story.
Barbet & Pals, New Delhi: two bartenders, one nest
Barbet & Pals is a 38-seat cocktail bar in Greater Kailash II, New Delhi, where two old friends turn Kumaon ingredients and their own memories into drinks.
Zetu, New Delhi: Sri Lanka under a Mehrauli banyan
Zetu brings the full range of Sri Lankan cooking to Mehrauli, New Delhi, with a Sri Lankan chef, a Bawa-inspired space and a 500-year-old banyan tree.
Hoots', New Delhi: the speakeasy with a family tree
Hidden off a wine bar in Vasant Vihar, Hoots' has poured numbered cocktails since 2016, built a fictional family of owls and made Asia's 50 Best Bars.
Indian Accent, New Delhi: modern Indian, still evolving
At The Lodhi in New Delhi, Indian Accent has spent over fifteen years reworking Indian classics into tasting menus, with a decade on Asia's 50 Best list.
Seezen Coffee House, Kanpur: the café built for staying
In Kanpur's Civil Lines, Seezen Coffee House & Kitchen makes the case for the all-day café: sculpted arches, a rope-woven ceiling and doors open 10am to midnight.