Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
June 30, 2026

Smoke & Bitters Wins Michter's Art of Hospitality Award

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TLDR

  • Smoke & Bitters wins Michter's Art of Hospitality Award, raising Sri Lanka's bar scene profile and attracting global attention.
  • The award is voted by 300+ Asia's 50 Best Bars Academy members based on exceptional hospitality over 18 months.
  • Smoke & Bitters showcases Sri Lankan warmth and generosity, creating a welcoming beachfront experience that honors local culture.
  • Signature cocktails like Bananarama blend smoked wild bee honey, arrack, and hellfire bitters for a unique flavor.

Impact - Why it Matters

This recognition puts Sri Lanka's bar scene on the global map, showcasing that exceptional hospitality and local ingredients can compete with the world's best. For travelers and cocktail enthusiasts, it means a must-visit destination that offers a unique, culturally rooted experience. For the industry, it sets a new standard for blending tradition with innovation, proving that hospitality is just as important as the drinks themselves.

Summary

Sri Lanka's celebrated coastal venue Smoke & Bitters has been named winner of the prestigious Michter's Art of Hospitality Award in the run-up to Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026. Voted by over 300 members of the Asia's 50 Best Bars Academy, this award recognizes an establishment that has delivered exceptional hospitality over the past 18 months, setting a new benchmark for guest experience across the region. Located on Pehembiya Beach in Dikwella on Sri Lanka's southern coast, Smoke & Bitters has risen steadily since opening in January 2020. In 2025, it ranked No.14 on Asia's 50 Best Bars and No.67 on the extended list of The World's 50 Best Bars, becoming the first bar in Sri Lanka to feature on the global ranking. The venue has also been named The Best Bar in Sri Lanka on the Asia's 50 Best Bars list for four consecutive years.

Co-founded by Don Ranasinghe and Lahiru Perera, Smoke & Bitters showcases Sri Lanka's culinary heritage and ingredients through a contemporary cocktail and dining experience. All dishes are cooked using traditional wood fire – either smoked or chargrilled – as signified by 'Smoke' in the name, while 'Bitters' reflects bitters from indigenous Sri Lankan herbs and spices that dominate a cocktail menu inspired by myriad global cultures. Signature serves include the Bananarama combining smoked wild bee honey with Rockland arrack, banana peel, falernum and smoked hellfire bitters, and the playful Mai Chai blending Ceylon chai tea with rum, triple sec, spiced orgeat and chai syrup. The bar has become recognised for its ingredient-led cocktails built around seasonal local produce such as rambutan, mangosteen and woodapple. Emma Sleight, Director of Content & Creative for Asia's 50 Best Bars, praised the bar for redefining perceptions of Sri Lanka's bar scene, while the co-founders expressed that the award means a huge amount to their team and the wider hospitality community in Sri Lanka. The Michter's Art of Hospitality Award is the first of two special accolades ahead of the 11th edition of Asia's 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, culminating in a live awards ceremony at Wynn Palace, Macau on 28 July, which will be livestreamed on the 50 Best YouTube channel.

Source Statement

This curated news summary relied on content disributed by Media Outreach. Read the original source here, Smoke & Bitters Wins Michter's Art of Hospitality Award

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