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Best beer destinations in Asia

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Sapporo
Snow festival city with ramen and beer
7.7
Sapporo Beer traces its roots to a brewery founded in the city in 1876. The Sapporo Beer Museum now occupies the original red brick building. Visitors can sample fresh drafts inside the museum's beer hall afterwards. The Sapporo Snow Festival fills nearby parks with ice sculptures each February.
Highlights:
  • ⏰ Visit the historic Sapporo Clock Tower landmark
  • 🌳 Stroll through Odori Park, Sapporo’s central green space
  • 🌄 Enjoy panoramic city views from Mount Moiwa Observatory
Harbin
Ice sculptures sparkle beneath winter’s glow
8.5
Harbin Beer has been brewed since 1900, making it China's oldest beer brand. Russian settlers built the original brewery during the city's railway boom years. Visitors can join the Harbin International Beer Festival held here every summer. Ice sculptures later fill the same riverside parks each winter.
Highlights:
  • ⛪ Admire Saint Sophia Cathedral's stunning Byzantine architecture
  • 🐅 Walk through the Siberian Tiger Park, observe wildlife
  • ❄️ Explore Harbin's massive Ice and Snow Festival
Qingdao
Beaches, Beer and Old-World Charm
7.4
German settlers founded the original brewery behind Tsingtao Beer here in 1903. The label remains China's most exported beer brand today. Visitors can join the Qingdao International Beer Festival held along the coast each August. Colonial era German architecture still lines several streets near the old brewery.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax at No.1 Bathing Beach on Huiquan Bay
  • 🍺 Tour the historic Tsingtao Beer Museum
  • 🏞️ Climb Laoshan Mountain, a Taoist sacred site
Tokyo
Japan's capital of temples, towers and food
9.7
Yebisu Beer takes its name from the Tokyo district where its original brewery once stood. A small museum near Ebisu Station now traces the brand's history back to 1890. Visitors can sample seasonal drafts in the museum's tasting lounge afterwards. The surrounding district still carries the beer's name on its train station.
Highlights:
  • 🖼️ Visit the teamLab digital art museum
  • 🌆 Enjoy panoramic city views from observation decks
  • 🍣 Savour sushi at a local eatery
Osaka
Castle, neon canals and street food
8.5
Asahi's roots trace back to a brewery founded in Osaka in 1889. The company later launched Asahi Super Dry, Japan's first widely popular dry style lager. Visitors can tour a modern Asahi brewery just outside the city. Local izakayas across Osaka still pour the brand ice cold with grilled skewers.
Highlights:
  • 🐠 Visit the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, one of the world’s largest
  • 🍢 Feast on street food at Dotonbori and see the neon lights
  • 🏯 Explore Osaka Castle and wander through its scenic park
Chengdu
Pandas, Hotpot and Laid-back Vibes
8.2
Small breweries have set up shop inside converted teahouses along Chengdu's old bamboo lined streets. Local brewers here often infuse beers with Sichuan peppercorn for a tingling finish. Visitors can pair a cold pint with the city's famously spicy hotpot. Teahouse culture and craft beer now share the same courtyards.
Highlights:
  • 🍜 Stroll through Kuanzhai Alley for culture and food
  • 🏯 Explore historic Wuhou Shrine and Zhuge Liang’s legacy
  • 🐼 Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Pandas
Hangzhou
A Timeless Blend of Serenity
7.9
Craft breweries have opened along the shoreline of Hangzhou's famous West Lake in recent years. Their outdoor seating looks out over the same pagodas and willow trees painted for centuries. Visitors can order a local pale ale while watching boats drift across the water. Evening lantern light reflects off the lake beside the tables.
Highlights:
  • 🍵 Taste authentic Longjing green tea at Meijiawu Village
  • ⛩️ Visit the historic Lingyin Temple and Buddhist grottoes
  • 🌊 Explore the serene West Lake by boat or bike
Chiang Mai
Ancient temples and mountain escapes
8.1
Chiang Mai's craft beer scene grew up around the Nimman neighbourhood near the old moat. Home brewers worked quietly for years under Thailand's strict licensing rules before laws eased. Visitors can hop between small taprooms tucked along narrow side streets. Live music and night markets often spill into the same blocks.
Highlights:
  • 🛕 Visit the sacred Doi Suthep temple atop the mountain
  • 🍲 Join a traditional Thai cooking class with locals
  • ⛩️ Explore the ancient temples of the Old City
Seoul
Where Tradition Meets High-Tech Marvels
8.6
Magpie Brewing helped launch Seoul's craft beer movement from a small taproom years ago. Neighbourhoods like Itaewon and Yeonnam dong now host dozens of independent breweries. Visitors can sample Korean takes on IPAs, stouts and fruited sours across these areas. Street food stalls nearby make an easy pairing after a few rounds.
Highlights:
  • 🌇 Admire Seoul’s skyline from N Seoul Tower at sunset
  • 🛍️ Shop and eat street food in bustling Myeongdong
  • 🏯 Explore Gyeongbokgung Palace and watch the royal guard ceremony
Beijing
Ancient history meets modern dynamism
8.9
Yanjing Beer has been Beijing's own lager since it launched from a local brewery in 1980. The brand became the city's official beer for the 1990 Asian Games. Visitors can find it poured cold in hutong courtyard bars across the old city. Street vendors nearby often sell skewers to go with it.
Highlights:
  • 🌸 Explore the Summer Palace’s gardens and lakeside pavilions
  • 🧱 Climb the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu
  • 🏯 Walk across Tiananmen Square and visit the Forbidden City
Guangzhou
A Fusion of Tradition and Modernity
7.9
Egghead Brewery helped pioneer Guangzhou's craft beer scene from a small taproom in the city. Its beers borrow local ingredients like lychee and jasmine tea into modern recipes. Visitors can find its bottles now stocked in bars across southern China. Cantonese dim sum restaurants nearby often add craft beer to their drink menus.
Highlights:
  • 🏯 Explore the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall’s ornate Lingnan architecture
  • 🛳️ Cruise along the Pearl River to see Guangzhou illuminated at night
  • 🌇 Admire the skyline from the Canton Tower’s observation deck
Chongqing
China’s Mountain City on the Yangtze
7.5
Chongqing Beer has been brewed locally since 1958 to cool down one of China's spiciest cities. Its crisp, light lager is built to balance the heat of local hotpot. Visitors can order it ice cold at riverside restaurants overlooking the Yangtze. Steam from the hotpot pots mixes with the mist off the river.
Highlights:
  • ⛰️ Admire panoramic city views from Nanshan Mountain
  • 🏘️ Stroll through historic Ciqikou Ancient Town
  • 🏮 Explore vibrant Hongya Cave, especially at night
Phnom Penh
Vibrant City with Deep History
6.4
Kingdom Breweries opened one of Cambodia's first modern craft breweries in Phnom Penh. Its riverside taproom brews everything from pale ales to a coconut infused stout. Visitors can watch the brewing process through glass walls beside the bar. The Mekong riverfront outside stays busy with bars late into the evening.
Highlights:
  • 🚤 Cruise along the Tonlé Sap and Mekong rivers at sunset
  • 🕯️ Reflect at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Killing Fields
  • 👑 Visit the Royal Palace and admire the Silver Pagoda’s glittering floor
Almaty
Mountains, markets and modern spirit
7.0
Almaty's craft beer scene has grown inside old Soviet era factory buildings turned taprooms. Apple orchards once covered the hills around the city, giving it the nickname Fatherland of Apples. Visitors can sample local pale ales alongside imported German and Czech styles. Beer gardens near Panfilov Park stay busy on warm summer evenings.
Highlights:
  • 🍲 Shop and taste local cuisine at the buzzing Green Bazaar
  • ⛪ Stroll around the colorful Zenkov Cathedral in Panfilov Park
  • 🚡 Ride the cable car to Shymbulak Ski Resort for mountain views
Hong Kong
Where East Meets West
9.3
Small craft breweries have taken over former warehouse spaces across Hong Kong's industrial districts. Hong Kong Beer Co and other local labels now brew everything from lagers to fruited sours. Visitors can hop between taprooms tucked into converted factory buildings in Kwun Tong. Rooftop bars nearby often serve the same beers with harbour views.
Highlights:
  • 🥢 Shop and eat street food in Mong Kok’s bustling markets
  • ⛴️ Sail across Victoria Harbour on the iconic Star Ferry
  • 🌇 Ride the Peak Tram and admire skyline views from Victoria Peak
Ulaanbaatar
Vibrant capital where steppes meet skyscrapers
8.1
Chinggis Beer takes its name from Genghis Khan and remains Mongolia's most recognised lager. Local breweries here also produce airag inspired sour styles using traditional fermentation methods. Visitors can sample both at bars scattered around Sukhbaatar Square. An annual Mongolian beer festival draws crowds each summer.
Highlights:
  • 🍖 Taste traditional airag and local barbecue
  • 🏛️ Stroll through Sukhbaatar Square’s historic monuments
  • 🧘‍♂️ Explore Gandan Monastery's vibrant prayer flags
Shanghai
A dazzling mix of modernity and tradition
9.0
Boxing Cat Brewery helped kickstart Shanghai's craft beer scene from a converted warehouse space. Its early success encouraged dozens of other breweries to open across the city. Visitors can find taprooms scattered through the French Concession's tree lined streets. Rooftop bars nearby often serve the same local brews with skyline views.
Highlights:
  • 🌸 Wander through Yu Garden and explore its traditional pavilions
  • 🏙️ Take the world’s fastest elevator to Shanghai Tower’s observation deck
  • 🌃 Admire Shanghai’s skyline from The Bund promenade at night
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