Now Reading: Three Indian bars enter Asia’s Top 30 for first time in 2026
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Three Indian bars enter Asia’s Top 30 for first time in 2026
Three Indian bars have finished inside Asia's Top 30 for the first time, according to the 2026 Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. Goa's Boilermaker rose from No. 30 to No. 8 and…
The Story in Brief
Three Indian bars have finished inside Asia's Top 30 for the first time, according to the 2026 Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. Goa's Boilermaker rose from No. 30 to No. 8 and was named India's Best Bar. Bengaluru's Soka climbed from No. 28 to No. 18, and Bar Spirit Forward moved from No. 37 to No. 30. The rankings mark a new high for India's cocktail scene, which had only one bar in the 2024 Top 50.
Industry insiders say the rise reflects a shift away from imitating international bars. Leading establishments now draw on local ingredients such as kokum, feni, and GI-tagged Moira bananas. Bartenders are building menus around regional stories rather than global templates. The trend began with the growth of independent bars and increased access to global cocktail culture, but the focus has turned inward.
The Indian Opinion
The rankings are rightly celebrated, but the hype risks overshadowing a harder truth: most Indian bars remain out of reach for ordinary drinkers, with cocktails often costing more than a day's meal. The real test isn't a list, it's whether the local-first approach can thrive without international validation. Watch whether bars like Boilermaker and Soka can expand their audience beyond the affluent and the travelling elite.
Source: timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
