Bar Leone in Hong Kong has once again been crowned The World’s Best Bar in the 2025 edition of The World’s 50 Best Bars, marking the first time a venue in Asia has held onto the global top spot for two consecutive years.
Located in the city’s buzzing Central district, Bar Leone is helmed by Italian bartender Lorenzo Antinori, who cut his teeth at legendary establishments such as The Savoy’s American Bar and Dandelyan in London. His Hong Kong flagship is a tribute to the casual neighbourhood bars of Rome, with a philosophy rooted in “cocktail popolari”, simple, elegant drinks made for everyone.
Antinori’s decision to share the recipes for his monthly rotating menu via an open Google Doc has become emblematic of Bar Leone’s democratic spirit, as has its warm, unpretentious approach to service. Its win underscores Hong Kong’s growing stature as a global cocktail hub — one that blends European precision with Asian flair.
Beyond Bar Leone, Asia performed spectacularly in this year’s rankings. Bangkok’s Bar Us climbed 26 spots to land at No.15, while BKK Social Club showed at No.49, reflecting the Thai capital’s rising mixology scene. Singapore continued its reign as a regional powerhouse, with Jigger & Pony at No.9 and Nutmeg & Clove at No.50, the former’s creative director, Uno Jang, taking home the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award.
Tokyo impressed with three entries — Bar Benfiddich (No.18), Virtù (No.45), and The Bellwood (No.48) — while Seoul’s Zest ranked No.16, and Hope & Sesame from Guangzhou became the first-ever mainland Chinese bar to make the list at No.29. The region also celebrated a surprise win for Backdoor Bodega in Penang, which took home the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award for its zine-style drinks guide blending island stories with local flavors.
With bars from 29 cities across the globe, this year’s list confirms Asia’s ascendancy in world cocktail culture. As The World’s 50 Best Bars Head of Content Emma Sleight put it, “This year’s ranking serves as a vibrant compass for curious drinkers and passionate explorers alike, igniting wanderlust and raising the bar for cocktail culture across the globe”