Malaysia’s cocktail scene has another reason to celebrate. Kuala Lumpur’s Three X Co has been crowned the Best Bar in Malaysia at No.32 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026, after reaching a high of No.15 in 2025. It overtook Penrose who dropped to 64th spot this year. Bar Trigona at Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur followed closely, placing at No. 38 as the second bar ranked in the top 50 list.
For Malaysia, Three X Co’s latest recognition is more than an individual achievement. It reflects the continued evolution of the country’s cocktail culture, where local ingredients, refined techniques and increasingly distinctive storytelling have helped Kuala Lumpur emerge as one of Southeast Asia’s most exciting cities for craft cocktails.
Founded as one of Kuala Lumpur’s pioneering modern speakeasies, Three X Co has built its reputation around Asian-inspired flavours, polished hospitality and a menu that balances innovation with approachability. Despite its location (situated within Bangsar Shopping Centre), and being much more as a neighbourhood bar, Three X Co stands out with its excellent hospitality. The team has had some of the best times in the past year with numerous guest shifts, recognitions and tipples that have made a lasting impression. Perhaps, this is your reason to pay them a visit since your last one, which may have been many moons ago.
The announcement was made at the annual awards ceremony held at Wynn Palace in Macau on 28 July, where Asia’s leading bartenders and hospitality professionals gathered to honour the region’s finest bars.
Malaysia’s presence extended well beyond the main top 50 list. Earlier this month, the organisers unveiled the extended 51-100 rankings, where five additional Malaysian bars earned recognition. They include Reka:Bar (No. 63), Penrose (No. 64), newcomer Cabinet 8 KL (No. 65), Backdoor Bodega in Penang (No. 66), and long-time favourite Coley (No. 83).
Across Asia, this year’s biggest winner was Hope & Sesame in Guangzhou, which made history by becoming the first Chinese bar to be named The Best Bar in Asia. Seoul’s Zest claimed second place, while last year’s champion Bar Leone from Hong Kong finished third. The rest of the top ten showcases the geographical diversity of Asia’s drinks scene, with bars from Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong all represented. China, in particular, enjoyed its strongest performance yet with seven bars making the top 50, while Bangkok emerged as the most represented city with eight establishments.
The 2026 edition also witnessed a new wave in Asia’s bar scene. Fourteen new bars entered the Top 50 this year, spanning 22 cities across the region. Alongside the rankings, several special awards recognised industry achievements, including Bangkok’s Bar Us, which received the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award, while Hanoi’s Workshop14 earned the Three Cents Best New Opening Award. Jakarta’s Hats Bar was named the Campari One To Watch, and Hong Kong’s legendary COA received the Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award after years of shaping Asia’s cocktail culture.
(Images courtesy of Asia’s 50 Best Bars)
Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
