Ahead of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 set to take place on July 15 in Macau, the awards has announced the winner of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2025, sponsored by Perrier. Andrew Ho, founder and co-owner of Hope & Sesame in Guangzhou, won the crown.
Voted exclusively by bartenders from venues on the 2025 list, this special award marks the only peer-judged accolade in the Asia’s 50 Best Bars programme.
A Hong Kong native with a background in luxury hospitality, Ho is a dynamic force in Asia’s bar scene. After graduating from the prestigious École Hôtelière de Lausanne, Ho swiftly rose through the ranks at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, becoming Assistant Director of Food & Beverage within just three years.
In 2016, he co-founded Hope & Sesame – Guangzhou’s first speakeasy cocktail bar. Since then, the venue has become one of Mainland China’s most acclaimed drinking destinations. It has consistently ranked on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list for six years and most recently came in at No.14 in 2024, also earning the title of The Best Bar in Mainland China for the second consecutive year.
From the beginning, Hope & Sesame has been a testing ground for boundary-pushing cocktail innovation, bringing techniques such as centrifugal clarification, sous vide infusions, slow cooking and rotary distillation to a traditionally conservative bar scene. For Ho, a great cocktail bar must have character and romance. It should be more than a venue – it should have mystery, heritage and a story. Hope & Sesame is exactly that: easy to miss, but impossible to forget.
Ho’s entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond bar ownership. In addition to opening the acclaimed SanYou – a baijiu-forward bar spotlighting 100% locally-sourced ingredients and regional Chinese flavours – and DSK Cocktail Club, he leads Spirits Architects, a full-spectrum hospitality consultancy. The group supports clients from concept to operations, offering everything from brand strategy to beverage development and training.
Recognised for his influence and creativity, Ho has hosted countless guest shifts and brand events in over 40 cities worldwide. His work continues to shape the cocktail and spirits landscape across Mainland China, inspiring a new generation of bartenders and hospitality professionals with his earnest commitment to excellence and passion for reinventing the norm.
Emma Sleight, Head of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, said, “Andrew is not only redefining what great bartending looks like in Mainland China – he’s laying the foundations for the country’s modern cocktail culture with his entrepreneurial vision. His approach to hospitality is grounded in innovation, mentorship and a deep respect for the craft. Through global collaborations and consulting work, he has elevated Mainland China’s profile on the international bar stage while fostering a strong sense of community.”
She added that Andrew is a catalyst for change and a driving force in shaping the future of Asia’s drinks industry. It is incredibly fitting that his peers have recognised this by awarding him the well-deserved Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award,” said Emma Sleight, Head of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Bars.
“It is such an incredible honour for my family, team and myself to have my work recognised by such an illustrious panel of industry peers and colleagues. After the excitement settles, it’s important to remember that my work is not done. The responsibility to inspire and mentor our next generation still requires my unwavering dedication. However, in the meantime, ganbei! And I hope to see you all in Hope & Sesame for a drink,” said Ho.