The 2025 edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars was revealed on Monday as the prestigious ceremony was held in Macau, and it looked great for the Indian bar scene. Topping the list of the Indian bars that made it to the rankings, Lair in New Delhi secured the eighth position. That’s not all, Lair also won the award for the Best Bar in India 2025, sponsored by Matusalem.
Besides Lair, four other Indian bars also made it to the list, which was a step up from the previous editions. In 2024, Lair was in 68th place. From 68 to bagging a spot in the top 10, Lair has come a long way.
Among the five Indian bars, three are from Bengaluru, namely, Soka at No. 28, ZLB23 at No. 31, and Bar Spirit Forward at No. 37.
Goa’s Boilermaker ranked at No. 30.
In the 2024 edition of the competition, ZLB23 of The Leela Palace Bengaluru was the only bar from India that made it to the top 50.
The official description of Lair on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars website calls it “a modern speakeasy inspired by secretive 1920s prohibition-era bars, where moonshine and craftsmanship reigned supreme.”
Lair’s signature drinks such as the Blueberry Cheesecake, infused with cream liqueur, and the Mountain Breeze, featuring Himalayan botanicals are just some of the many offerings.
The platform added, “Don’t let the extensive menu scare you off, the friendly bartenders go out of their way to listen to preferences and carefully suggest a drink suited to your taste and mood.”
On Instagram, Asia’s 50 Best Bars announced the news with the caption, “Located in the heart of New Delhi, Lair is a modern speakeasy inspired by secretive 1920s prohibition-era bars, where moonshine and craftsmanship reigned supreme. The name is a nod to the immersive space, which is designed to transport patrons to a sleek, hidden retreat.”
Helmed by hospitality entrepreneurs Jairaj Singh Solanki and Dhruv Raj Vij, Lair’s decor is for intimacy and sensory exploration. With its dimly lit interiors and an earthy aesthetic, Lair’s drink menu is divided in three tiers – the beginner, intermediate, and superior.
It was just not the top 50 where Indian bars made a mark. Four more bars were named on the extended list (ranked 51–100). These are – Goa’s Bar Outrigger at No. 55, New Delhi’s Sidecar at No. 62, Mumbai’s The Bombay Canteen at No. 69, and Goa’s Hideaway at No. 94. The extended list was released earlier this month.
Bar Leone in Hong Kong claimed the No. 1 position on the 2025 list. At number 2 is Zest in Seoul and at number 3 is Jigger & Pony in Singapore. Find out the full list below.
These Are Asia’s 50 Best Bars For 2025
Bar Leone, Hong Kong
Zest, Seoul
Jigger & Pony, Singapore
Bar Us, Bangkok
Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, Bangkok
Bar Cham, Seoul
Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou
Lair, New Delhi
Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
Penrose, Kuala Lumpur
Argo, Hong Kong
Modernhaus, Jakarta
Alice, Seoul
Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya
Three X Co, Kuala Lumpur
CMYK, Changsha
Coa, Hong Kong
Virtu, Tokyo
BKK Social Club, Bangkok
Vender, Taichung
MO Bar Shenzhen, Shenzhen
The St. Regis Bar, Jakarta
Offtrack, Singapore
Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore
Yakoboku, Kumamoto
G.O.D, Bangkok
Penicillin, Hong Kong
Soka, Bengaluru
Vesper, Bangkok
Boilermaker, Goa
ZLB23, Bengaluru
The Savory Project, Hong Kong
Gokan, Hong Kong
Carrots Bar, Jakarta
Barc, Kathmandu
Punch Room Tokyo, Tokyo
Bar Spirit Forward, Bengaluru
Cosmo Pony, Jakarta
Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur
The Public House, Taipei
To Infinity & Beyond, Taipei
Moonrock, Tainan
Opium, Bangkok
Cat Bite Club, Singapore
Native, Singapore
Lamp Bar, Nara
Reka, Kuala Lumpur
Bar Sathorn, Bangkok
Bar Libre, Tokyo
Le Chamber, Seoul
