SPIRITED ASIA

Singapore may arrive on the itinerary as a business destination, but its hawker culture, heritage neighbourhoods and world-class dining scene make a compelling case for staying long after the meetings end.

From mythology-inspired nightcaps to nostalgic Japanese soda floats, the best Singapore bars are proving that a great cocktail menu can still surprise, delight and occasionally make you smile.

With its lush biophilic interiors, sustainability-minded philosophy and sweeping views over Tokyo Tower, 1 Hotel Tokyo brings a refreshing new perspective to luxury hospitality in a city already overflowing with world-class hotels.

Hong Kong's fine dining scene gains an intriguing new contender with Yakiniku Yama Oku, a 12-seat counter that transforms Japanese barbecue into an intimate kappo performance shaped by premium wagyu, mountain folklore, and old-school culinary craftsmanship.

With the opening of OMO7 Yokohama by Hoshino Resorts inside the former Yokohama City Hall, one of Japan's most underrated port cities gains a captivating new hotel that blends architectural heritage, local culture and neighbourhood exploration under one roof.

Smoke & Bitters' Michter's Art of Hospitality Award win proves that genuine warmth may be the cocktail industry's most valuable ingredient.

Hidden above Les Ducs on Ann Siang Hill, Madame Claude offers a seductive reminder that not every cocktail lounge needs to impress you with technique when charm, atmosphere and a little Parisian mischief will do just fine.

Vietnam may have earned its global culinary reputation through street food, but the newly unveiled MICHELIN Guide Hanoi | Ho Chi Minh City | Da Nang 2026 suggests the country's fine dining scene has become a most compelling reason to visit.

Five years after launching as one of Singapore's most respected independent bottlers, Malt, Grain & Cane celebrates its anniversary with a compelling quartet of cask-strength releases headlined by three mature Foursquare rums finished in rare named Otard Cognac casks that invite the kind of side-by-side comparison serious drinkers dream about.

Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Ubud, Bali offers a deeply restorative retreat where the rhythms of the Ayung River, rainforest and Balinese tradition take precedence over everything else.

As Thailand's first premium single malt whisky arrives in Singapore, Prakaan is betting that the future of whisky may lie not only in Scotland's cool warehouses, but also in the heat and humidity of the tropics.

At BAR KAP, one of Singapore’s grandest surviving heritage mansions sheds its museum-like solemnity and becomes something far rarer — a living cocktail bar where history can beexperienced with a drink in hand.

For a cocktail that has survived well over a century, the Old Fashioned remains remarkably adaptable — and Monkey Shoulder's citywide Monkey Old Fashioned Month is proving just how much life the classic still has left in it.

In a Manila cocktail scene increasingly defined by bars looking inward rather than abroad for inspiration, Malagihay Cocktail Club turns Filipino nostalgia, hospitality and everyday flavours into a fun neighbourhood drinking experience.

With the opening of Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Chalong Bay Resort, Phuket's increasingly dynamic southern coast takes another step towards establishing itself as a destination beyond beaches and island-hopping alone.

From Malaysian regional specialities and seafood feasts to Italian classics and Peranakan-inspired brunches, Singapore's buffet scene is serving up far more than just quantity...

At Artesian Bar Jakarta, its new ‘SLOW ROOTS’ cocktail menu transforms Indonesian terroir into a seasonal drinking narrative where native botanicals, agricultural rhythms and sustainability shape every pour.

At Loca Niru, dining inside the storied House of Tan Yeok Nee is a transportive experience where Singapore’s surviving Teochew grandeur meets the precision of contemporary Japanese-French gastronomy.

As Singapore’s appetite for premium agave spirits grows beyond Margaritas and ill-advised shots, celebrity-backed Pantalones Tequila arrives betting that accessibility — rather than exclusivity — may be the future of luxury tequila.

The renewed Mandarin Oriental The Landmark, Hong Kong suggests a more focused positioning that prioritises smaller-scale luxury, highly personalised service while offering a stronger overlap between hospitality, dining and wellbeing.