Phnom Penh
This place keeps visitors hanging around the Russian Market area long after dark with its combination of rare single-malt whiskies, Cambodian craft beers…
Must-see nightlife in Asia
Chinatown, Merdeka Square & Bukit Nanas
The southern end of Jln Petaling's evolution into a hip ’hood is helped along by this cocktail bar concealed behind a fake toyshop in a building that was…
Bukhara
This boutique teahouse offers a delightful diversion from all that sightseeing. It has three spicy varieties of tea, as well as cinnamon or cardamom…
Mactan Island
Jutting into the ocean, this is the sleekest beach club in the Visayas, with cool white seating, decking and sail-like canopies drawing Cebu's bright…
Chiang Khan
The most pleasant of a number of cutesy cafes that dot Th Chai Khong, this plant-filled, wooden-shuttered, roadside perch serves excellent coffee as well…
Leh
Excellent coffee from a Faema machine served in an uncluttered pine interior that has a traditional Ladakhi-style seating area, simultaneously balancing…
Melaka City
A swinging recorded soundtrack of jazz and classic pop keeps the beers flowing at this traveller magnet. The first cafe to open on Jonker St (in 1999), it…
Taichung
At this relaxing speakeasy, mixologists Jacko and Calvin et al whip up impeccable cocktails behind a circular bar where waiting guests munch on smoked…
Nha Trang
Ramshackle bar on the riverbank owned by a hospitable Japanese couple who speak great English. Music is very well selected, with DJ Alan Ritchie spinning…
Shanghai
Run by a bright and sunny bunch, good-looking Sumerian packs a lot into a small space. The real drawcard here is the coffee – the cafe roasts its own…
Kampot
Reserve Tuesday nights for a visit to Karma Traders' rooftop bar, where there's live music, US$2 tacos (try the Coca-Cola pulled pork) and two-for-one…
Thanon Sukhumvit
This cool and friendly neighbourhood bar also packs in a gallery space. Arty locals and resident foreigners come for the old-school cocktails, live music,…
Manila
This arty new bar is a breath of fresh air on the fringes of Makati's Central Business District. Superb selection of craft beer, both in bottles and on…
Chinatown
No one ever expects to find a bar this sophisticated – yet this fun – in Chinatown. Tep hits the spot with Thai-tinged, contemporary interiors and boozy…
Khon Kaen
Khon Kaen's youthful population has spawned many good coffee shops, but this friendly, attractively cluttered, front-terrace cafe is our favourite. It…
Ko Chang
Perched at the north end of the island, past the flash marina, this poolside bar has a magnificent outlook across green lawn to a secluded golden sweep of…
Tianjin
Leading the way in the Tianjin craft-beer scene, this hidden gem of a bar is tucked away down an alley off Xi'an Dao. Its English-speaking owner knows his…
Shanghai
Part of the trendy Zhang Garden eating and drinking complex, this brewhouse has a nice outdoor area, rooftop terrace and 20 craft imports on tap. Food is…
Gili Meno
Part educational hub promoting a cleaner island through garbage pick-ups (each Sunday at 3.30pm) and part workshop where you can learn to make…
Hyderabad
A highly popular, cavernous brewhouse with five tap beers, including an English ale and a stout, plus cider. There are several zones, all stylishly lit,…
Phnom Penh
This Phnom Penh institution with an alluring Angkorian theme has evolved into more of a nightclub than a bar over the years, with drag shows that drop…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
Seoul's most sophisticated makgeolli bar is a place for connoisseurs of Korean liquors and those who'd like to learn a bit more about the depths and…
Vientiane
This traditional Lao house facing the Mekong has a well-stocked bar and a witty, helpful menu that doubles as a crash course in cocktails. A chilled…
Kowloon
You could squish a dozen Hong Kong bars together and they still wouldn't have as much personality as this boho hang-out with its art-adorned walls,…
Miri
This ever-busy corner bar stocks 25 imported bottled beers and has several on tap, including Paulaner wheat beer. The drinks menu also lists Australian…
Melaka City
Brought to us by the female entrepreneur behind Backlane Coffee, this member of Jonker St's coterie of design cafes is a winner, offering excellent…
Hyderabad
A stylish, sociable Belgium beer house that draws a refreshingly mixed-gender, mixed-age crowd. Try a 'beer platter' for a sample of four choice brews,…
Nagano Region
This extremely popular beer-hall-type place is upstairs only a couple of minutes' walk from Nagano Station. Plenty of beer and wine from around the globe…
Delhi
Found in a magically unexpected art enclave called Champa Gali, down a lane beside the fake Dilli Haat shopping centre ('Delhi Haat'), Blue Tokai is one…
French Concession
A popular three-floor microbrewery, with a rotating line-up of top-notch beers that range from the Standing 8 Pilsner and Black EyePA to the Right Hook…
South Delhi
This chilled-out restaurant-bar-club is a Hauz Khas hub, and has an urban warehouse-like interior with stone walls, high ceilings and huge plate-glass…
Shanghai
Wow your date with Shanghai’s most intoxicating nocturnal visuals from the outdoor terrace on the 58th floor of the Ritz-Carlton, where Flair nudges you…
Siargao
There's no better happy-hour spot than White Banana. It's owned by a DJ and the music, piped through Siargao's best sound system, is on point. Come happy…
Nan
What an unexpected pleasure to find this sophisticated but snug bar in remote Nan. Enter speakeasy-style up the unmarked staircase to the 2nd floor of a…
Tokushima & the Anan Coast
Head to this relaxed spot down by the river to try a few local brews such as the pale ale, stout and bitter. There's indoor and outdoor seating, plenty of…
Manila
Inspired by the Singapore original, this lobby-level watering hole at the Raffles Makati has an unbeatable happy hour – all-you-can-drink beer, wine and…
Kagawa Prefecture
The scene here is so smooth you'll fall off your seat as the bookish owner plays vintage '60s, '70s and '80s funk and soul from his enormous collection of…
Bangkok
Smalls aptly resembles a quintessential New York jazz bar. Fixtures include a revolving main door, a cheekily decadent interior, an inviting rooftop, food…
Manila
Agimat should be a mandatory stop for any cocktail person. The head bartender forages for obscure herbs and other natural ingredients around the country…
Con Dao Islands
Perhaps surprisingly, Con Son town has one of the best bars in southern Vietnam, featuring perfectly mixed classic cocktails and expertly prepared…
