Legazpi Village's The Curator is once again the best bar in the Philippines—that is, according to the annual list published by William Reed Business Media, where it ranked 37th, the highest for any Philippine establishment. The bar, owned by Jericson Co and David Ong, has consistently been included on the list since 2016, landing its highest place then at 16th.
Asia's 50 Best Bars notes:
"Third-wave coffee by day and kick-ass cocktails by night is a winning combination, judging by the popularity of this cool bar. Staff treat ingredients with the utmost respect, whether it’s coffee beans or small-batch spirits, attracting a young, up-for-it crowd of cocktail lovers and caffeine fiends."
Esquire revisited The Curator last year, fresh from their 25th place finish. Asia's Best Bars is ranked via a poll by other bars, which makes the honor extra significant.
This year sees the addition of more Philippine bars such as Poblacion's sound-inspired OTO, also co-owned by Ong, at 47, and Shangri-La Fort's speakeasy, Backroom, led by the hotel's executive mixologist Ulysse Jouanneaud, ranked 50th. The latter's inclusion on the list is impressive since it opened only late in 2018.
Topping the list is Old Man (Hong Kong) followed by Manhattan (Singapore), Indulge Experimental Bistro (Taipei), Native (Singapore), and Atlas (Singapore).
