Coconut Palm-pioneer ‘Raa’ secures No. 71 among Asia’s Top 100 Bars

Thursday, 16 July 2026 00:12 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka’s progressive bar scene has secured a major regional victory, with Hiriketiya-based venue Raa ranked at Number 71 in Asia on the prestigious 2026 Asia’s 50 Best Bars 51–100 extended list.

Announced on 14 July ahead of the main awards ceremony, the list represents the definitive authority on regional mixology, voted on by an influential academy of over 300 drinks experts, bartenders, and writers across Asia. Following its remarkable debut at number 84 last year within its very first year of opening doors, Raa’s back-to-back inclusion firmly establishes the venue as a global benchmark for heritage-driven hospitality.

Named after the traditional Sri Lankan coconut sap-based toddy, Raa opened its doors in August 2024 under the vision of childhood friends and co-founders Don Ranasinghe and Lalla Perera. It stands as the world’s first bar dedicated solely to Sri Lankan arrack and toddy-based cocktails, and remains the only establishment globally to serve fresh toddy tapped directly on-site every single day.

Built entirely outdoors around a hyper-local, circular ecosystem, the venue functions as an active daily practice in low-impact sustainability, utilising every element of the coconut palm—from fruit to husk—alongside traditional wood-fired coastal cuisine to deliver a completely uncompromised, raw expression of island culture.

Co-owners Don Ranasinghe and Lalla Perera said: “To have Raa recognised among Asia’s best for the second year running is an incredible milestone for our team and the village community that builds this venue with us every day.”

“We created Raa to prove that our ancestral crafts, like traditional toddy tapping, aren’t just relics of the past—they are sophisticated, world-class traditions that deserve a seat at the global hospitality table. Taking the raw soul, flavours, and genuine warmth of our island to the rest of Asia means everything to us.”

Though intentionally tightly focused, the Raa team has consistently taken Sri Lankan toddy and arrack culture to the world, executing a curated selection of international guest shifts at some of the region’s most respected venues—including Sugarhall in Singapore, ZLB23 at The Leela Palace in Bangalore, and the iconic House of Sathorn in Bangkok. Widely praised by international press and global visitors alike for its radical originality, the venue continues to prove that an elevated, world-class cocktail experience can be built entirely around a dedicated, two-spirit focus, completely redefining the boundaries of modern mixology.

The Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, a regional branch of The World’s 50 Best Bars, celebrates excellence, innovation, and exceptional hospitality across the continent, signalling to global travellers that Sri Lanka’s independent hospitality sector is driving the regional conversation forward.