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Hope & Sesame has claimed the top spot in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026, but Guangzhou has plenty more to offer! Here are seven more bars across the city to check out for your second round…
Hope & Sesame just took the crown as Asia’s best bar — if Bar Leone’s win last year taught us anything, you’re unlikely to find a seat for the foreseeable future. Don’t worry, Guangzhou has more than one great spot to drink. The team behind the #1 address actually runs two other bars in the city (see below!), and there are plenty of gems beyond that. From a colonial café pouring rare whiskey and a mixology-forward neighbourhood bar to a basement cave mixing tarot-inspired cocktails, here are seven more places to keep your night going.
Read More: Your Ultimate City Guide To Guangzhou
Hope & Sesame — Yuexiu speakeasy and Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 winner
Ranked #1 on Asia’s 50 Best Bar 2026 list, Hope & Sesame is hidden behind a traditional Cantonese snack shop in the historic Dongshankou area. The team here pioneered the speakeasy movement in Guangzhou, blending a nostalgic atmosphere with a laboratory-like approach to cocktails. The mixology prioritises Chinese liquors like baijiu, offering unique drinks you’’re unlikely to sample elsewhere.
Sassy Tip: Upstairs, Hope & Sesame’s new space features ‘off menu’ cocktails — our favourite series so far.
Hope & Sesame, 48 Miaoqian Xi Jie, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China, hopeandsesame.cn
Read More: Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 — Which Bars Made The List?
Mixtopia — Affordable, innovative and lively neighbourhood bar in Tianhe
Located in the back alleys of Tianhe District, Mixtopia has carved out a reputation as an intimate and unpretentious neighbourhood bar while remaining truly mixology-forward. Unlike the sprawling sky bars, Mixtopia’s menu playfully explores unconventional ingredients and modern textures — much like Hope & Sesame, but unbranded and for shockingly affordable prices.
Mixtopia, Shop 102, 1-3 Huaming Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China
Read More: Team Sassy’s Favourite Neighbourhood Bars & Pubs
LIÁNG – Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou bar with an outdoor terrace
The newest addition to the Mandarin Oriental’s award-winning portfolio, LIÁNG takes its name from the traditional crossbeam that supports Lingnan architecture. The cocktail programme is built around the five elements, utilising modern techniques like clarification and fat-washing to interpret local botanical flavours. We love the Golden Eave cocktail, made with rye, bourbon, roasted goose-fat washed vermouth, sour plum paste and bitters.
LIÁNG, Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou, 389 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China, www.mandarinoriental.com/liang
Read More: The Best New Bars & Drinks Menus In Hong Kong
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Inner — Cave bar in Dongshankou with tarot-inspired cocktails
Tucked away in a basement on Dongshankou’s bustling streets, Inner is an underground (literally) cave bar with live music that drifts through the dimly lit, rock-hewn space. The bar’s latest collection serves tarot-inspired cocktails and creative concoctions, but the menu changes as the bartenders continue to experiment.
Inner, 35 Miaoqian West Street, Guangzhou, China, Instagram: @inner.gz
Read More: The Top Jazz Bars Hong Kong
TOO HIGH — Rooftop bar at Rosewood Guangzhou with skyline views
Perched on the 107th floor of the Rosewood Guangzhou, TOO HIGH is officially the highest bar in the city. Sipping a world-class whiskey or an cocktail while standing on the open-air outdoor terrace at eye-level with the peak of the Canton Tower is a ‘bucket list’ experience, especially if you’re looking for panoramic views of the Pearl River or the glittering Tianhe skyline.
Too High, 107/F, Rosewood Guangzhou, 6 East Zhujiang Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China, www.rosewoodhotels.com/too-high
Read More: Hong Kong’s Sky-High Rooftop Bars & Outdoor Terraces
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SĀN YǑU — Hope & Sesame team’s street-level baijiu bar
From the team behind Hope & Sesame is SĀN YǑU, which offers a distinct take on Chinese spirits — specifically, baijiu. With over 400 bottles behind the bar, plus rice wines, local gins and whiskies, the bar offers cocktails built around local ingredients, with menus often inspired by specific neighbourhoods. It has also launchd a second location in Shenzhen, so you can try out the mixology a little closer to home!
SĀN YǑU, 43/F, 46 Qiyi Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China, hopeandsesame.cn/bar-sanyou
Read More: Shenzhen Nightlife Guide — Best Bars, Clubs & Music Venues
Room 8 — Tea room and whiskey bar on Shamian Island
Set inside a restored colonial building on Shamian Island, Room 8 is part café and part bar with a whiskey collection that can’t be slept on. Filled with antiques and dripping in that old-money vibe, Room 8 also sells everything in the room, so you can leave with more than just a buzz!
Room 8, 8-2 Shamian 4th Street, Liwan District, Shamian Island, Guangzhou, China
Read More: The Top Whiskey Bars In Hong Kong
DSK Cocktail Club — Three-storey bar from Hope & Sesame team
DSK Cocktail Club sits in a three-story heritage building in Dongshankou and boasts a cocktail programme split across floors (each level has its own menu and concept). The ground floor keeps things easy-drinking, while the second floor serves food-inspired cocktails like a pho-flavoured number and a matcha creation. Upstairs, the third floor leans into classic cocktails with a heavier spirit focus.
DSK Cocktail Club, 1 Qingming First Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, hopeandsesame.cn/dsk-cocktail-club
Read More: Our Favourite Speakeasies & Hidden Bars In Hong Kong
Main image courtesy of LIÁNG, image 1 courtesy of Hope & Sesame via Instagram, image 2 courtesy of Anna Lentchner, image 3 courtesy of LIÁNG, image 4 courtesy of TOO HIGH via Instagram, image 5 courtesy of Suchetana Mukhopadhyay.
