The bar philosophies of Japan at WYNN PALACE

At WING LEI BAR — the main bar of Wynn Palace, where Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 was held — a special guest shift took place featuring two Japanese bars that made their debut on this year’s list.

The participating bars were Punch Room Tokyo (Ginza), known for its modern interpretation of the world’s oldest cocktail, the punch, and Yakoboku (Kumamoto), celebrated for creating distinctive cocktails using local Japanese ingredients.

The event drew lively crowds from Hong Kong and Macau, who came to experience Japan’s refined and beautifully executed bartending, along with cocktails showcasing Japanese ingredients from different regions.

From Yakoboku, which is preparing to open its second location in Hokkaido, Masato Ishioka—Japan’s representative at Diageo World Class 2024—took the bar. He began with a long drink inspired by the lavender aroma that greets travelers the moment they step off the plane in Hokkaido, followed by a cocktail (pictured) combining local single malt Yoichi whisky with Hokkaido apples, showcasing the region’s unique ingredients.

From Punch Room Tokyo, Yasuhiro Kawakubo presented a series of refined punch cocktails featuring Japanese ingredients such as Japanese whisky and matcha, including the Bamboo Katana Martini（pictured) , a twist on the classic Bamboo and one of the bar’s signature serves, captivating the crowd.

Mark Lloyd, Head Bartender of WING LEI BAR, explained why he selected the two bartenders for the event:“I found the contrast fascinating — Punch Room Tokyo, which expresses the world’s oldest mixed drink in a modern way, and Yakoboku, which creates cocktails with its own unique worldview in regional Japan. I also felt it was meaningful to introduce Macau to Japanese bartending, which has a deep understanding of the classics. The classics are what I personally value most as well.”

With Macau’s bar culture rapidly emerging, there is great anticipation that exchanges like this will continue to inspire even more creativity in the years ahead.

27, Nov 2025 at WYNN PALACE, Macau