Asia’s bar scene reached a new high as Bar Leone in Hong Kong was named the World’s Best Bar at the 2025 edition of The World’s 50 Best Bars, unveiled on October 8 in Hong Kong. It marks the first time in the award’s history that an Asian bar has claimed the global No. 1 title.
This year’s list features bars from 29 cities worldwide, with Asia performing particularly strongly. Since opening in 2023, Bar Leone has repeatedly made history — debuting at No. 2 globally last year and taking the No. 1 spot in Asia’s 50 Best Bars in both 2024 and 2025. It became the first bar to debut at the top of the regional ranking when it entered in 2024.
Co-founded by Italian bartender Lorenzo Antinori, Bar Leone has become known for its distinct Italian spirit and its focus on simplicity and hospitality. Speaking on stage, Antinori said:
“Today is a special day. Getting this recognition here in Hong Kong — our home — and sharing it with friends means so much. There are so many bars around the world that deserve to be on this list. We are truly honoured.”
“We will need a few days to process it,” he added. “What a day.”
Bar Leone channels a timeless Roman charm — its wooden-paneled walls are lined with portraits of Italian icons and AS Roma football jerseys. Its menu reimagines classic cocktails with a minimalist philosophy and a “low-intervention” approach focused on craft rather than complexity.
Its vodka martini, for instance, gains a smoky, briny twist from smoked olive brine, while its white negroni is brightened with yuzu sake. Instead of chasing trends or relying on elaborate presentation, the team prioritises authenticity, technique, and warmth — a formula that has made it one of the most talked-about bars in the world.
“It’s about working day by day and putting our heart and soul into it,” Antinori said. “Bar Leone was born to be a neighbourhood cocktail bar. That ethos will never change.”
Hospitality is at the heart of Bar Leone’s philosophy. The bar does not take reservations, and its welcoming energy means queues are a nightly fixture.
“I want to believe there’s a human and personal element that makes Bar Leone special,” Antinori said. “It’s a space we call home — we’re family.”
Even its approach to cocktail recipes reflects that openness. The bar publishes all its recipes online for anyone to recreate at home, rejecting the culture of “secret formulas.” Its signature focaccia mortadella — a traditional Italian sandwich filled with ham — is another cult favourite. Antinori jokes that he has become one of the “mortadella ambassadors of the world.”
Asia’s Bars on the Rise
The World’s 50 Best Bars celebrates excellence in the global drinks industry. Since its launch in 2009, the list has been compiled annually based on votes from more than 800 drinks professionals worldwide.
After a decade of hosting its award ceremony in London, the event moved to Barcelona in 2022, then to Singapore in 2023, and returned to Asia again this year, hosted for the first time in Hong Kong.
Asia’s performance this year was particularly strong. Beyond Bar Leone’s win, Hong Kong’s Coa ranked No. 38, while Hope & Sesame — also known as Miao Qian Bing Shi in Guangzhou — was ranked No. 29, making it the only bar from mainland China to enter the global list. Renowned for its inventive cocktails, Hope & Sesame has been a fixture on Asia’s 50 Best Bars since 2019 and now celebrates its global debut.Tokyo led all Asian cities with three bars on the list: Bar Benfiddich (No. 18), Virtù (No. 45), and The Bellwood (No. 48). Singapore placed two — Jigger & Pony (No. 9) and Nutmeg & Clove (No. 50). Bangkok was represented by Bar Us (No. 15) and BKK Social Club (No. 49), while Seoul’s Zest ranked No. 16.
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