Singaporean venue, Sago House, has been awarded the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award winner as part of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 list, which will be fully revealed in a ceremony on 18 July 2023.
This is the first of two awards that will be revealed in the run-up to the ceremony. The Art of Hospitality title was voted on by Asia’s 50 Best Bars’ 260-strong academy of judges, who were asked to name a venue that has provided the single-best hospitality experience in the 18-month judging period.
Sago House was founded in 2020, and is an upcycled space, which was hand built by the founders themselves. The venue is the creation of three well known industry figures: Jay Gray (a former Brand Ambassador and bartender who has worked in London and Sydney); Desiree Jane (previously 28 HongKong Street and EC Proof); and Abhisek C George (ex-Spiffy Dapper and Oriental Elixir).
Originally specialising in canned cocktails during the lockdown period, the bar is now known for offering a rotating list of six classic cocktails, based upon native and seasonal ingredients available in local markets. Sago House seats 35 in its Chinatown shophouse, and is an intimate space
“Good hospitality has always been our top priority from day one, so being recognised with this award means everything to us. We want every guest who walks through our doors to feel welcome and comfortable; this goes for our regulars and even those who come in for their first visit,” says Co-founder Gray.
“We are excited to celebrate this win, which is not just an award for the Sago House team, but also one for the community we have built, for those who have made our little shophouse bar their home away from home.”
Mark Sansom, Content Director for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, congratulated the Sago team on their win.
“Sago House is truly a labour of love from all who built it, which comes through in the drinking experience it offers. It is raw, honest and fuelled by passion, with a service structure that feels like having cocktails in a friend’s home, mixed by someone who knows a lot about crafting amazing drinks.
“The Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award was established in 2019 to recognise exceptional hospitality on the continent’s biggest stage and I applaud the team headed by Jay Gray, Desiree Jane and Abhishek C George for creating a space that makes everyone feel at ease.”
Similarly, Matt Magliocco, Executive Vice President of Michter’s Distillery, offered his commendation.
“Congratulations to Jay, Desiree, George and the entire Sago House team. The Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award is a testament to Sago House’s focus on the details that create a fantastic guest experience.”
Asia’s hospitality and bar industry will gather at Hong Kong’s Rosewood Hotel on 18 July 2023 for the full unveiling of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, in what is thought to be the largest gathering of the on-premise industry since 2019. The event will also be live streamed online.