The two other bars in Malaysia that got into Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2021 is Bar Trigona and Junglebird KL.
2020 was a trying year with the pandemic shuttering many F&B businesses around the world. Throughout the year, restaurants and bars went back and forth between closing and reopening, with most opting for a change in business models just to get by. In this year’s Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards, we see some of these bars honoured.
For Malaysia, Three X Co, Junglebird KL, and Bar Trigona bars got into the list at 47, 37, and 12 respectively. While our perennial favourite bar Coley didn’t make it into the top 50 list, they were instead at the 58th spot in the inaugural 51-100 list that was released for the first time by the awards. “We’re excited to expand the list this year…we wanted to shine the light on more bars, it feels even more right to do that now given the challenging period the hospitality section has been through in the past year,” William Drew, 50 Best Content Director.
Established in 2017, Three X Co is a cocktail bar hidden inside Bangsar Shopping Centre. However, it’s no secret how popular it is among the denizens of the Klang Valley. Boasting a team of talented bartenders, Three X Co has continuously poured some of the best cocktails in town and is always the go-to destination for guest bartenders from around the world, pre-pandemic. Junglebird KL and Bar Trigona, on the other hand, needs no introduction.
The number one spot on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2021 list, however, went to COA in Hong Kong. Drew also mentioned that they would be returning to Singapore for the 2022 instalment of Asia’s 50 Best Bars. We can only hope that happens for real.
Below is the full list of winners from Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2021, with Malaysian bars highlighted in bold:
1. COA, Hong Kong
2. Jigger & Pony, Singapore
3. The SG Club, Tokyo, Japan
4. Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei, Taiwan
5. Sober Company, Shanghai, China
6. Manhattan, Singapore
7. Atlas, Singapore
8. No Sleep Club, Singapore
9. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo, Japan
10. Caprice Bar, Hong Kong
11. The Bamboo Bar, Bangkok, Thailand
12. Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
13. Charles H, Seoul, South Korea
14. Native, Singapore
15. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou, China
16. Sidecar, New Delhi, India
17. Bar Mood, Taipei, Taiwan
18. Bee’s Knees, Kyoto, Japan
19. Room by Le Kief, Taipei, Taiwan
20. The Diplomat, Hong Kong
21. 28 Hong Kong Street, Singapore
22. Tropic City, Bangkok, Thailand
23. Tell Camellia, Hong Kong
24. Aha Saloon, Taipei, Taiwan
25. Quinary, Hong Kong
26. The Pontiac, Hong Kong
27. High Five, Tokyo, Japan
28. The Wise King, Hong Kong
29. Barbary Coast, Singapore
30. Penicillin, Hong Kong
31. Union Trading Company, Shanghai, China
32. Speak Low, Shanghai, China
33. Union Brasserie, Baker & Bar, Jakarta, Indonesia
34. Bar Cham, Seoul, South Korea
35. Backstage Cocktail Bar, Bangkok, Thailand
36. Tippling Club, Singapore
37. Junglebird, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
38. The Curator, Philippines
39. D. Bespoke, Singapore
40. Darkside, Hong Kong
41. Alice, Seoul, South Korea
42. The Old Man, Singapore
43. Bar Trench, Tokyo Japan
44. Le Chamber, Seoul, South Korea
45. MO Bar, Singapore
46. Vesper, Bangkok Thailand
47. Three X Co, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
48. Teens of Thailand, Bangkok Thailand
49. Sago House, Singapore
50. Star Bar, Tokyo Japan
(Hero image credit: Three X Co ; Featured image credit: Asia’s 50 Best Bars)
