You have to feed coins into a vending machine just to get through the door — that's the rule at Taichung's Vender. A vending machine sits right at the entrance, and guests must insert coins before they can push the door open. This slightly mischievous ritual has become the signature hook behind the bar's third consecutive year as "Taiwan's Best Bar." At the Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026 list revealed in Macau on July 28, Vender landed at No. 14 — a solid leap forward from its steady reign atop Taiwan's rankings in recent years.
The Asia's No. 1 spot, however, changed hands this year, going to Guangzhou's Hope & Sesame. Tucked behind an old-school tea restaurant in Guangzhou's Dongshankou district, the bar builds a speakeasy-like, time-worn atmosphere with exposed red brick, raw wood, and moody lighting. Behind the bar, techniques like ultrasonic extraction and rotary distillation are used to reinterpret familiar local flavors and cultural narratives. Founded by Bastien Ciocca and Andrew Ho — the latter took home the Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award from Asia's 50 Best Bars last year — Hope & Sesame only debuted on the World's 50 Best Bars list last year, and has now shot straight to the top of Asia.
Two More Taiwanese Bars in the Top 50
Vender itself leans into a Singapore nightlife vibe, with a menu heavy on Southeast Asian fruits and spices. Its signature drink is the Singapore Sling, and the bar also serves Malaysian-Singaporean dishes like bak kut teh and chili crab. Address: No. 118, Wuquan West 4th St., West Dist., Taichung.
Taipei's To Infinity & Beyond took No. 35. The name is a nod to Buzz Lightyear's catchphrase from Toy Story, and the space is designed like a spacecraft cabin. Bartender Mars Chang was named Taiwan's Bartender of the Year at World Class 2021, and the menu builds on classic cocktails layered with rich, clarified, and sparkling textures. Address: No. 13, Lane 160, Sec. 1, Dunhua S. Rd., Taipei.
