Quality of Hong Kong’s cocktail bars has exploded, says Simone Caporale of ‘World’s Best Bar’
- Co-founder of Barcelona’s Sips, ranked No 1 in Europe and globally in 2023, guests as bartender at Asia’s 50 Best Bars event
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Hong Kong’s cocktail scene has exploded, says Simone Caporale of ‘World’s Best Bar’
Bartender Simone Caporale, co-founder of Barcelona-based cocktail bar Sips – last year voted as the “Best Bar in Europe” and “World’s Best Bar” – was in Hong Kong last month for a one-off shift.
The Italian took part in an exciting week of events as the city marked the second time it had hosted Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony, which was supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB).
He reunited with his peer, Jay Khan, founder of Hong Kong’s Coa, ranked fourth at this year’s ceremony hosted by William Reed, a food and drinks event company which organises the annual 50 Best lists based on the votes of industry experts, for a special guest shift as bartender mixing cocktails at the bar in Central.
There’s a real appetite for 50 Best to be brought directly to consumers
“Jay and I met 10 years ago and he suggested doing something together as we celebrate Asia’s 50 Best Bars in Hong Kong,” Caporale said. So on a hot Monday afternoon during Hong Kong’s sweltering summer weather, fans and cocktail enthusiasts were treated to special concoctions created in collaboration with Coa, Sips and also the Mexico City-based Handshake Speakeasy.
A long queue had already formed on the steps outside the entrance to Coa before the start of the event, which was part of the Signature Sessions organised by Asia’s 50 Best Bars in partnership with the HKTB.
“Just seeing the amount of people waiting to go in is super exciting because it shows that there’s a real appetite for 50 Best to be brought directly to consumers, despite it actually starting out as an industry event,” Emma Sleight, head of content of bars and hotels at 50 Best, said.
“These Signature Sessions give people a taste of the best, and the amazing cocktail culture, both internationally and locally here in Hong Kong.”
Caporale, who first came to Asia when visiting Hong Kong in 2015, said the city’s bar scene had grown significantly since then. “Hong Kong has exploded – not just in the number of cocktail bars, but also in terms of the level of quality and concepts,” he said. “Options are rich and diverse, making the scene vibrant, international and unique.
“There are certain bars here that are definitely inspiring other bars in the world,” he added, citing Central’s Bar Leone, which clinched this year’s coveted “Best Bar in Asia” ranking. “Bar Leone is a concept of an Italian bar on the other side of the globe. And now there are bars in Italy which are looking at what Leone is doing in Hong Kong. This is crazy, but this shows that sometimes you must stay outside your comfort zone to make things happen successfully.”
There are certain bars here that are definitely inspiring other bars in the world
Besides Coa, Caporale also considered three other Central cocktail bars, The Old Man, Quinary and Penicillin – which he described as trendsetters – among his favourites in the city.
“When The Old Man opened with this long, shared counter bar, nobody had thought about that, but they did it first, and Quinary democratised molecular cocktails all over Asia,” he said. “Anyone who wants to open a bar, should come and see what is happening in Hong Kong.”
This year’s Asia’s 50 Best Bars award ceremony marked the first event in a new long-term partnership between HKTB and 50 Best, which will see Hong Kong host more 50 Best events over the next three years – and help to encourage more visitors and locals to explore the city’s diverse bar and dining scene.