Seeing as I am on a bit of a roll with my lists, I have decided to put together my 10 best drinking cities in South-East Asia! So, what qualifies a city to be a top drinking city in South-East Asia? Well firstly drink needs to be affordable and varied, but mostly you need to be able to party!
As always rules dictate that I must have been to the city in order for it to be included. And honestly, I have been to pretty much every major city within the region bar a few (Muslim) ones in Indonesia, so I feel this to be a very accurate list.
Top 10 Drinking Cities in South-East Asia
As always this is very much “in order” with us counting down from 10 to 1, the champion of the best drinking cities of South-East Asia.
10) Vang Vieng
Top Bar – Sakura Bar ບ້ານສະກຸລ່າ
By far the sketchiest of our best drinking cities in South-East Asia, but still one not without its charms. Most famous for drugs, fake alcohol and people quite literally dying ()! They do though know how to party in fairness. Despite government crackdowns there are still wild parties by the river, and of course tubing — if you’re still into that sort of thing.
9) Bali
Top Bar – Sky Garden Bali Jalan Legian No.61 Kuta Badung
A place I used to describe as my least favourite part of Australia, in actuality this is one of the most notorious places that the Aussies come to party. Many many great bars here and the place to visit if you want to see “white girl wasted”. It has become a lot tamer in recent years, but you’ll still find oceans of cocktails, street beers, and Australians doing shots of Arak.
8) Singapore
Top Bar – Four Floors Orchard Towers 400 Orchard Road
The real outlier of the list in that drinking here is bloody expensive. They do though have a great scene with bars that could almost rival anywhere in the world. And they even have a place called Four Floors of Whores which probably needs little explanation. You’ll find some of the classiest cocktails in South-East Asia here, if your wallet can take it.
7) Gili Islands
Top Bar – Sama Sama Bar Jalan Pantai Gili Trawangan
Right up there with Bali when it comes to Aussies with no class! This is a true true set of party islands and while they do not have cars, they do got booze and pharmaceuticals. I personally prefer the laid back vibe of next door Lombok, but for sunset cocktails, island-wide bar crawls and mushroom shakes, this place still holds its own.
6) Saigon
Top Bar – Apocalypse Now Bar 2C Thi Sách Bến Nghé Quận 1
Forget Ho Chi Minh City, it is all about Saigon or District 1. This place always was and very much is just bat shit crazy. There is everything here from high-end to essentially crack dens and even a mini-Africa. Few go lonely in Saigon. The combination of rooftop bars, shady expat dives and endless girlie bars makes it pure chaos.
5) Hanoi
Top Bar – Whole of Railway Street Đường tàu Trần Phú Hoàn Kiếm
When it comes to Saigon or Hanoi you can often much like a bisexual go either way. I currently now opt for Hanoi in part because of the climate, but for the most part due to great cocktails, bia hoi and best of all drinking on train street. It feels a bit more local and authentic, and you don’t have to look far for a dodgy late-night bar with karaoke. Oh and then there is the wonder that is Railway Street!
4) Bangkok
Top Bar – The Club Khaosan 123 Khaosan Road Talat Yot Phra Nakhon
It might not be the winner, but again there are few lists about best on Asia that don’t feature Bangkok and our best drinking cities. You’ve got Khaosan Road, Soi Cowboy, RCA and Thong Lor — everything from street beers to elite cocktail joints. And of course, the whole scene is very “open-minded” in every sense of the word.
3) Angeles City / Subic Bay
Top Bar – Candy Bar Fields Avenue Barangay Balibago Angeles City
Despite being two hours apart these two are pretty much twin cities. The Angeles City party scene is based around Fields Avenue and the notorious Walking Street which sprang up from when it was a US Air Force base. Subic on the other hand is the naval beach variation of it. Oh and if that was not enough they have the best food in the Philippines. Come for the beer, stay for the ribs, leave because you got married.
2) Phnom Penh
Top Bar – The Big Easy Street 172 Phnom Penh ក្រុងភ្នំពេញ
OK, so while I do not feel I have a Cambodia bias, living here does mean that I know it very well. What sets Phnom Penh out as one of the best drinking cities in South-East Asia is that despite being relatively small there is something here to fit every budget and indeed interest. And this goes from dollar beers on the riverside, all the way up high-end rooftop bars, not to mention a killer craft beer scene. Oh and you can never go wrong on Street 172.
1) Manila
Top Bar – LA Cafe 1429 M H Del Pilar Street Ermita Manila
And the best of the drinking cities of South-East Asia is Manila! But why is this so? Well despite the grime, the crime and the traffic there is just something magical about the place, which again caters to every budget and demographic. But what really sets it apart is the weirdness! Yes we are talking about you Ringside where one can literally box midgets. It’s seedy, it’s chaotic, and it is completely unforgettable.
And that makes my top drinking cities in South-East Asia — did I hit all the right notes, or miss anywhere out?
Click to check my South-East Asia Tours with Young Pioneer Tours.