French Concession
This popular oasis of Francophilia is decked out in hip 'olde worlde' charm with a bar made from stacked suitcases and bistro-like decor, plus windows…
Must-see nightlife in Asia
Bukit Peninsula
Perched at the base of the Bukit peninsula, Bali's hottest new day club is home to seekers of sunshine-fuelled revelry and house and hip-hop beats. The…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Colaba is the best of the locations of the hip Social chain, which combines a restaurant/bar with a collaborative work space. The happening bar nails the…
Phnom Penh
The origins of sugarcane are in Southeast Asia, so the Venezuelan owners of this beloved rum distillery see themselves as bringing the tradition full…
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
Oozing style, this rooftop bar offers one of the best views of Singapore. Perched on the top of the National Gallery, the vista looks out over the Padang…
French Concession
This excellent bar is one of the most pleasant spots in the concession to raise a glass. Ensconced in a converted 1930s villa, the bar's interior has cosy…
Leh
Entered beside a 2000-year-old Dhyani Buddha stela, this tiny, traditional temple-like house was saved from demolition and immaculately restored in 2006…
Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa
SG stands for 'Sip' and 'Guzzle' but also for award-winning bartender Shingo Gokan. Ground-floor Guzzle is a social, counter space; the house drink is…
Melaka City
Fancy a full-bodied Johor or classic Perak white? Sip a coffee inspired by your favourite Malaysian state at this perky place. The coffee is excellent,…
Beijing
First-rate cocktails come with a first-class price tag at this exquisite cocktail bar hidden inside the Duan Qirui Former Government Building compound…
Padang
Overlooking the river in the colonial quarter, this sprawling, graffiti-splattered 'ruin pub' feels a bit like a bombed-out building, but instead is…
Manila
A precinct of cool bars, cheap eats and boutiques, Cubao X is a must for anyone interested in Manila's underground scene. Venues come and go, but boozy…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
This high-end bar is located inside a hanok within a nest of lonesome alleyways. Owned by Robin Yoo (a pioneer in Korea's cocktail scene), it has no menu;…
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
A mecca for hardcore java heads, this temple to the arabica bean has a multitude of gourmet-coffee combos, including espresso classics, quirky cold brews…
Taitung
In a garden of poinsettia, one of Taitung's finest Japanese-style wooden houses acts as showcase for local floral teas (NT$120) and single-estate organic…
Busan
There's nothing common about this exceptional coffee and wine bar. Stylishly decorated, with an ubercool vibe, comfy sofas and friends dissecting…
Northern Seoul
Seoul’s most charming teahouse is housed in a 1930s hanok and surrounding garden that once belonged to famous writer Lee Tae-jun, who settled in the North…
Sandiaoling
Born from the vestiges of a derelict mining cottage, this delightfully hip hangout should be a mandatory stop before or after tackling the Sandiaoling…
Phuket
Engulfed by beautiful Andaman and island views and bordered by glittering reflective pools, the elegant, intimate rooftop Baba Nest lounge-bar at Sri…
Kuching
This bar attracts a relaxed crowd of tourists and locals. There's a nightly BBQ of meaty skewers (7pm to midnight) and you'll find menus from nearby…
French Concession
Big Brother might be watching, but he'd be hard-pressed to find you in this hidden nook of a bookshop-cafe off Hunan Rd. There's no sign, just a metal…
Yangon
Sample some of Myanmar's first generation of craft beers at this taproom-cum-sports-bar in the leafy embassy district. Most ales are European-inspired but…
Hua Hin
Vana Nava Sky is Hua Hin's classiest cocktail joint. Opened in 2018, the 27th-floor stunner features marble floors and lattice iron framing high windows…
Luang Prabang
Lush riverside bar with peaceful views of the Nam Khan, recliner cushions, low-slung tables and leafy nooks. Chill over a fruit shake, burger or breakfast…
Harbin
Look for the neon-lit guitar at the entrance, leave your itinerary on Zhongyang Dajie and enter the world of Carl Damo, Harbin's hippest conceptual artist…
Kunming
The new second branch of a long-standing Kunming favourite is far more accessible, and the long wooden bar is fairly inviting as well. You'd have to try…
Ubud
From the same folks at Locavore, this neighbouring, 2nd-storey cocktail bar has a talented mixologist and some fascinating flavour combos. Inventive…
Northern Seoul
Being featured in a Korean TV drama can do wonders for your business, but punters would still flock to this mountainside hot spot regardless for the…
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
For a decadent high tea, it's hard to beat the one at this chichi waterside lounge. Book ahead (one week for weekdays, one month for weekends), style up,…
Chiang Mai
A tiny cafe with enormously good coffee. Only about 10 people fit inside, and the line often snakes down the old city block. Favourites include the Nitro…
Chinatown & the CBD
Hidden away in the Everton Park public housing complex, this pocket-sized, standing-room-only cafe and roastery has an epic reputation for phenomenal…
South Jakarta
A real contender for Jakarta's best cup of coffee is this third-wave roaster that offers a range of single-origin beans from around Indonesia. It now has…
Kuala Terengganu
Equal parts cafe, bar, restaurant and wine shop, Vinum Exchange is a game changer for Kuala Terengganu. The stylish interior features a great selection of…
South Jakarta
One for those who take their booze seriously is this classy French bistro with a long bar you can prop yourself up at to order from a pleasing, ever…
Kinmen
Tiny but sparklingly imaginative, this Aussie-run pub serves a range of foreign beers (NT$160), three IPA-style craft ales from Taiwan and remarkably well…
Kandy
The best place in Kandy for a drink, the Royal has benefited from a stunning, sympathetic recent renovation. With a couple of atmospheric bars, a lovely…
South Jakarta
Immortalised by the Indonesian coffee-lover's movie Filosofi Kopi (the film itself was shot here), this busy cafe does a range of local coffees prepared…
Yangshuo
With a prime riverfront location overlooking karst peaks, Demo's outdoor terrace is the perfect spot to come for a sundowner of quality craft beers. Its…
Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island
On the 1st floor of gorgeous heritage pile the Pawn, Botanicals draws after-work imbibers to its stylish twin bars and colonial-chic veranda for wines by…
Canggu
A sibling of Seminyak's La Favela, La Laguna is one of Bali's most alluring bars. It combines a beatnik look with Moorish trappings and sparkling tiny…
