Taiwan Bar Awards 2024

Taiwan Bar Awards 2024 brought together top bars and bartenders from across the island, creating fierce competition as all nominees showcased their creativity and skills. The ceremony was not only an awards event but also an important showcase of Taiwanese bar culture, fully demonstrating the innovation and diversity of the industry. The event attracted a great deal of attention from bar enthusiasts and facilitated interaction among bartenders from different regions, injecting new vitality into Taiwan's bar culture.

Best New Bar of the Year- Knock Knock Who’s There?

Kevin, the founder, combined years of experience and creativity to establish this stylish bar. With distinct themes and designs across its two floors, Knock Knock has emerged as a dark horse among new bars. The innovative menu and unique atmosphere make it a standout. Each cocktail is carefully crafted, blending local characteristics with international elements to offer a fresh experience that patrons won't easily forget.

Best Bar in the North- WarmFlow

WarmFlow has earned high praise for its sophisticated drink menu and cozy atmosphere. Prioritizing the customer experience, it offers multi-layered flavors that embody the essence of northern Taiwanese bar culture. Drawing inspiration from the changing seasons, WarmFlow's cocktails connect guests to nature and flavor—a key to its success.

Best Bar in the Central Region- Tor Dāy

Named after the Taiwanese word for "land," Tor Dāy draws inspiration from the natural environment, integrating terroir into every drink. This bar emphasizes its connection to the land and incorporates local ingredients to create cocktails full of Central Taiwan flavor, showcasing regional characteristics that customers love.

Best Bar in the South- Moonrock

Moonrock's elegant design and creative cocktails have made it a highly popular bar in Tainan. Founder Liao, with years of experience, has shaped this bar into a unique space, with every detail—from the decor to the drink menu—exuding charm. Moonrock isn't just a place for drinks but also an art and design experience, striving to create a multi-sensory experience for patrons.

Most Improved Award- Kevin Shi (MQ)

Kevin leveraged his experience with the Taiwan World Class team, combined with his own hard work, to rank in the top three at the 2024 Taiwan World Class finals. His commitment to continuous learning and experimentation with new flavor combinations, as well as challenging traditional boundaries, earned him recognition with the Most Improved Award.

Best Restaurant Bar of the Year- HiBoRu ハイボール

Veteran bartenders Mark and Lawrence founded HiBoRu, combining retro and modern styles to create an ideal space for enjoying Japanese-style Highballs. HiBoRu emphasizes a refined drinking atmosphere, where each Highball is crafted with delicate flavors and paired with carefully selected small bites and authentic Taiwanese dishes, offering a rich culinary experience.

Best Bar of the Year- wu (nothingness)

With incredible popularity, "Wu" was founded by the legendary Kae, who is often regarded as a godfather of Asian cocktail culture. Through pure bartending techniques, Wu respects the classics and strives for technical perfection, becoming a favorite among cocktail lovers. Focusing on the ultimate recreation of classic cocktails, each drink at Wu aims to deliver a pure, authentic taste that highlights the true essence of mixology.

Bartender of the Year- Pedison Kao (Bar Without)

Pedison Kao emerged victorious in the 2024 Taiwan World Class championship, representing Taiwan at the Shanghai finals and ultimately achieving third place worldwide. His talent for blending different cultural elements into his drinks delivers delightful surprises for customers, showcasing the unique allure of Taiwanese bartending on the global stage.

Best Bar Team of the Year- The Public House

Ranked No. 44 in the Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024, The Public House earned the Best Team Award. Each member is committed to providing the best service, making every guest feel at home. The success of The Public House is deeply tied to the collaboration and cohesion of the team, whose professionalism and passion shine both in bar service and cocktail creation.

Bartender's Bartender- Yi-Hsiang Huang (Bar Home/ Bar TCRC)

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Yi-Hsiang Huang (Xiang) established Bar TCRC during a time when cocktail culture was not yet flourishing in Taiwan. Through constant experimentation and practice, he has committed to sharing the charm and spirit of bartending. Xiang has cultivated numerous talented bartenders and contributed to the founding of several notable bars. Bar Home further strengthens the bond between Xiang and his customers, conveying the essence of Taiwanese cocktail culture. This award is well-deserved, reflecting his dedication and influence.

As Xiang says: "Keep pushing forward."

Best Bars in Taiwan: Top 20 List

NO.1 Wu / Taipei
NO.2 Moonrock／Tainan
NO.3 The Public House／Taipei
NO.4 unDer lab／Taipei
NO.5 Sidebar／Taipei
NO.6 HiBoRu ハイボール／Taipei
NO.7 Digout／Taipei
NO.8 Bar Cynic／Taitung
NO.9 Bar Pine／Taipei
NO.10 The Fridge bar／Taipei
NO.11 Tor Dāy／Taichung
NO.12 Slow Down／Tainan
NO.13 Voice Over／Kaohsiung
NO.14 Bar Dip／Kaohsiung
NO.15 Bar Mood／Taipei
NO.16 The Han-Jia Pairing Dinner／Tainan
NO.17 Kashoku／Taipei
NO.18 Swallow／Tainan
NO.19 Commons／Taipei
NO.20 To Infinity and Beyond／Taipei

Conclusion & Future Outlook

The Taiwan Bar Awards 2024 showcased the innovation and growth of Taiwan's bar industry, attracting international attention to its vibrant cocktail culture. Unlike previous years, where Taipei-based bars mostly dominated the awards, bars from southern Taiwan have begun to rise, reflecting how Taiwan's cocktail culture is blossoming slowly but surely across different regions. Future ceremonies could integrate more events, such as masterclasses and cocktail workshops, to draw in overseas industry professionals for deeper engagement with Taiwanese bar culture. Additionally, there are many outstanding bars that, though unranked, demonstrate great skill and passion. Their dedication deserves wider recognition.

This year's ceremony included guest bartending events with top bartenders from around the world, further fostering international exchange. In the future, more interdisciplinary collaborations could be introduced—such as blending music, art, and drinks—to enrich Taiwan's bar culture. We hope that the Taiwan Bar Awards will continue to grow, becoming a pivotal international event in bar culture, showcasing Taiwan's alluring bar scene to mixology enthusiasts worldwide.