Daven Tamayo

Problem Child is highest ranked PH bar in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 at No. 44

Article (news)

Cyrene De La Rosa

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17852542591731785254259580.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Team Problem Child at the Asia&#x27;s 50 Best Bars awarding ceremony in Macau. Photo by Cyrene De La Rosa</div>MACAU -- Makati’s Problem Child has entered Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 at No. 44, earning with it the accolade as Best Bar in the Philippines this year.Hope &amp; Sesame in Guangzhou took the top spot as the Best Bar in Asia 2026.Less than a year after opening, Problem Child has secured a spot on one of the region’s most prestigious bar rankings. The results were announced Tuesday night, July 28, during the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 awards ceremony held at the Grand Ballroom of Wynn Palace in Cotai, Macau for the second consecutive year.For co-founder and managing partner Kevin Corales, who leads the bar and kitchen program, the news was totally unexpected.“I was honestly surprised when we checked our company email. We kept reading it over and over because we couldn’t believe it. We haven’t even been around for a year, so we really didn’t expect this at all,” he said.“Actually, binabasa ko siya (I read the email) every day for a week!” he added, laughing.The ranking gives Problem Child its first appearance on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list and makes it this year’s highest-placed Philippine entry — a notable result for a bar that has yet to celebrate its first anniversary!Problem Child’s debut continues a strong run for Philippine bars on the international stage this year. Just last week, Makati’s Spirits Library entered the Asia’s 50 Best Bars extended 51–100 list for the first time. It also follows the recent addition Raion in San Juan and Recraft in Quezon City to the 50 Best Discovery guide. Finally more Philippine bars are finding their place on the global radar!For those who have been following the Philippine cocktail scene, it’s very encouraging and heartwarming to see more local bars earning recognition across the different 50 Best platforms.

Makati’s Problem Child has entered Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 at No. 44, earning with it the accolade as Best Bar in the Philippines this year.

Makati’s Problem Child has entered Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 at No. 44, earning with it the accolade as Best Bar in the Philippines this year.