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Hong Kong’s bar scene has earned global spotlight, says Jay Khan of Coa, Asia’s No 1 bar

  • The city hosts Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony for the second time, reflecting the vibrancy, diversity and high standards of its bar scene

In partnership with:Hong Kong Tourism Board
Reading Time:4 minutes
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Jay Khan and his Hong Kong bar Coa have made history with Asia’s 50 Best Bars by winning the coveted No 1 spot three times. Photo: SCMP/Xiaomei Chen

Hong Kong has long been lauded for its dynamic and diverse culinary landscape. The city offers a wide array of dining experiences, from time-honoured traditional cuisines to innovative fusion dishes, with Hong Kong-style delicacies being offered alongside global gastronomic delights. The city is also home to an impressive 79 Michelin-star restaurants.

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Beyond its acclaimed dining scene, Hong Kong also fosters a vibrant and unique bar culture. The city’s bar ecosystem is known as one of the most active in Asia, giving rise to numerous award-winning bars and bartenders. Over the last five years, 16 Hong Kong bars have made it onto the prestigious list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars.

It is fitting, then, that Hong Kong is about to host the Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony for the second time. Presented in partnership with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the ceremony will be held on July 16 at the Rosewood Hong Kong.

“Hong Kong is a wonderful place to host the event, as the city has so much to showcase, and many high-quality bars are all located in the same area, making bar-hopping easy and convenient,” says Jay Khan, founder of top-ranked bar Coa in Central district. “It will be like a theme park.”

Hong Kong has many high-quality bars all located in the same area, making bar-hopping easy
Jay Khan, founder of Coa, Coa Shanghai and The Savoury Project

Speaking to the Post from his popular Mexican-inspired cocktail bar, which specialises in agave-based drinks, Khan notes that he and his team have been hard at work preparing for the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 programme of events.

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