Wine Bars & Bistros

French wine bars and bistros combine a serious wine list with food that works for a full dinner or a few plates with a bottle. They range from natural-wine bars to Burgundy-focused bistros and rooftop wine rooms, and many stay open later than conventional restaurants.

In Singapore, Bistro Gaston (Michelin Selected) pairs Burgundian cooking with a Burgundy-led list, Le Clos in New Bahru has a cellar of 2,000-plus labels, and Le Bistrot du Sommelier serves house charcuterie with natural wines. La Cabane Wine Bistro in Hong Kong pours hundreds of low-intervention bottles. In Bangkok, Scarlett (Michelin Selected) is a rooftop wine bar with a Bordeaux-heavy list and Chez Papa is an apéro bar with charcuterie. CORK French Tavern in Sanur has a wine shop attached, and Brasserie Léon in Kuala Lumpur has a 16-page list and stays open until 1am.

Book for dinner at weekends; bar seats are often easier to get without a reservation. Ask about wines by the glass if you want to try several. Dress is smart casual. Bills depend heavily on what you drink.