Asia’s 10 Coolest Bars

Asia is a very interesting continent, especially when it comes to great food and drink. While Asian cultures differ pretty dramatically from country to country, there’s one activity that’s shared throughout almost all of them: drinking.

Home to some of the coolest bars in the world, these East Asian watering holes are sure to keep any traveler or partygoer entertained. From relaxed sports bars to upscale martini bars, we’ve got everything covered. If you’re planning a trip to any East Asian countries, make sure to include at least one of these bars in your “to-see” list.

10. Apocalypse Now, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

South Vietnam’s former capital was once legendary for its nightlife, but the post-war drinking scene wasn’t exactly world standard. Apocalypse Now, popular with tourists and Vietnamese partygoers alike, is a pretty standard party bar, but it’s a welcome change from Vietnam’s myriad karaoke joints. Grab a beer, enjoy the familiar tunes and kick back in one of Saigon’s most exciting nightspots.

9. Bed Supperclub, Bangkok

Too lazy to get out of bed to eat and drink? Bed Supperclub is a bit of an anomaly amongst Bangkok nightclubs. Most trendy places seem to come and go, but Bed’s been around long enough to establish itself as king of Bangkok’s hi-so establishments. With both a bar and restaurant area, Bed Supperclub is the perfect place to enjoy dinner in a contemporary setting and rock out on the dance floor later on.

Bangkok is known for cheap prices, and while Bed isn’t as expensive as New York’s top establishments, it’s certainly not cheap either.

8. Dusk ’til Dawn, Hong Kong

Smack in the middle of Wan Chai, Hong Kong’s legendary red light district, is Dusk ’til Dawn, a rocking bar which offers awesome live music in a sea of CD player wannabe bars. Supposedly named after the old Tarantino/Rodriguez movie, Dusk ’til Dawn is one of Hong Kong’s best live music spots, and also a satisfying restaurant. Music starts at around 11pm most nights, and keeps going well into the morning.

7. New York Bar, Tokyo

50 stories above Tokyo, New York Bar is by far the best place to sip on a martini and enjoy the view. Known just as much for its legendary food as the drinks on offer, New York Bar is set right in the middle of Shinjuku, offering travelers a great view of Tokyo’s Blade Runner-style streets and skyscrapers. Best visited early, followed by a nighttime voyage through Roppongi, New York Bar is the perfect place to start a stunning (and potentially expensive) evening in Tokyo.

6. DR Bar, Shanghai

DR Bar is a nice relaxing escape from Shanghai’s thousand-odd ultra-noisy beer bars. While prices aren’t exactly cheap, the interior is incredible and the atmosphere is arguably the most calm and relaxing in Shanghai. Set in a former Communist Party conference hall, DR is one of the most impressively presented bars in East Asia. If you’re heading out for a night in Shanghai, this is the place to start.

5. Face, Beijing

Beijing is packed with awesome bars and restaurants, and when it comes time to decide the best it’s hard to pick anything other than Face. Set in a former school building and packed with exotic furniture from all over the world, Face in Beijing is one of the most fascinating and impressive bars in China. While there’s a chain of Face bars throughout Asia, not many can touch the Beijing branch in terms of elegance and style. Still, if you’re ever in Shanghai, Bangkok, or Jakarta, pop into a Face bar and grab a drink.

4. Mafia Bar, Seoul

This small bar in Seoul’s expensive Apgujeong-dong district is the preferred watering hole of every wannabe mobster around. While it isn’t Seoul’s biggest or most impressive bar, Mafia Bar is certainly one of the coolest. Walk inside and you’ll spot a picture of the Don up on the wall, along with some chilling dark décor. Drinks aren’t exactly cheap, but if you’re rolling in laundered money that shouldn’t be an issue.

3. Zouk, Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia isn’t renowned for alcohol fueled parties – it’s a relatively conservative Muslim country and alcohol is taxed beyond belief – but KL’s Zouk bar certainly paints an exciting picture. This monster-sized bar in KL’s Golden Triangle area is the best place to sip on exotic cocktails and enjoy a massive dance floor. International DJs perform almost every week, making the club one of Southeast Asia’s top dance and D’n'B spots.

2. Long Bar, Singapore

Home of the world famous Singapore Sling, the Long Bar is one of Singapore’s most well known bars, offering just about every drink imaginable and some great food too. It’s furnished like a 1920s Malay plantation home, and while the prices aren’t exactly cheap, the dress code isn’t too demanding. If you want to experience a little bit of alcoholic history, trying the Singapore Sling in its home bar is definitely worth the time.

1. Vertigo Bar, Bangkok

Bangkok isn’t a city that could be described as quiet, but from the top floor of Vertigo Bar it’s hard to hear the endless growls, car horns, and 2-stroke bikes that make up the Bangkok soundtrack. Built on the 61^st floor of the luxury Banyan Tree hotel, Vertigo has one of the most impressive views in the world, offering panoramic 360° views of Bangkok’s Sathorn business district and Chao Praya river.

The food is standard upscale restaurant fare, but that’s not what most people are here for. Grab a cocktail, sit back at your table and enjoy the view, because they rarely come better.