Bar Leone Hong Kong Made a History by Being the First Bar in Asia to Win The World's 50 Best Bars

Words: Wariya Intreyonk, Photos: The Courtesy of 50 Best

The World's 50 Best Bars 2025, presented by Perrier, was revealed in Hong Kong. For the 17th consecutive year, this event gathered the international bar community to applaud the accomplishments of their colleagues.

This year's roster features establishments from 29 cities, with Hong Kong's Bar Leone earning both The World's Best Bar 2025 and The Best Bar in Asia 2025, presented by Perrier. This marks the first occasion that a bar from Asia has achieved the No. 1 ranking.

Situated in the Central district of Hong Kong, Bar Leone was established by bartender Lorenzo Antinori, who has gained experience in premier hotel bars across Europe and Asia, including London's American Bar at The Savoy and Dandelyan. With the theme of 'cocktails for everyone,' Bar Leone pays tribute to the local bars of Rome, where community members come together for coffee, drinks, and conversation. The bar's decor is inspired by the aesthetics of Rome during the 1980s and '90s, aiming to be inviting, straightforward, and reflective of Italian culture and hospitality.

Hailing from Rome, Antinori aimed to simplify cocktails, emphasising quality and approachable service. The bar's offerings are laid out in a rotating Google Docs file, refreshed monthly and available to the public with complete recipes. Bar Leone opened its doors in June 2023 and swiftly garnered acclaim, achieving No. 1 on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024 and No. 2 on The World's 50 Best Bars 2024. Earlier this year, it was again awarded the title of The Best Bar in Asia at Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025.

Emma Sleight, Head of Content for The World's 50 Best Bars, states: "It is truly wonderful to announce Bar Leone as The World's Best Bar 2025, sponsored by Perrier. This significant milestone is the first time a bar from Asia has reached the top position, representing a brilliant testament to the dedication of Lorenzo and the entire Bar Leone team in reimagining hospitality excellence. We are privileged to highlight the remarkable diversity of the global bar scene in 2025, and we toast to each bar that has secured its spot on this year's list. With greater representation from cocktail capitals than ever, this ranking continues to act as a lively guide for adventurous drinkers and enthusiastic explorers, inspiring wanderlust and elevating cocktail culture worldwide."

Among the 23 bars in Europe, London maintains its status as the top cocktail city, boasting four bars: Tayēr + Elementary at No.5, Connaught Bar at No.6, Satan's Whiskers at No.21, and Scarfes Bar at No.31. Edinburgh contributes to the list with Panda & Sons at No.34.

Barcelona's Sips at No.3 keeps the title of The Best Bar in Europe, sponsored by Monkey Shoulder, for the third consecutive year, and co-founder Simone Caporale receives the Roku Industry Icon Award. Paradiso in Barcelona ranks at No.4, while Madrid's Salmon Guru is at No.37. Athens continues to rise in prominence with Line at No.8, alongside Baba au Rum, honoured as this year's Rémy Martin Legend of the List at No.27, and the new entry The Bar in Front of the Bar at No.47.

Milan's Moebius Milano wins the Nikka Highest Climber Award, having soared an impressive 31 places to No.7. It is joined by 1930 in Milan at No.43, with Locale Firenze from Florence at No.22 and Drink Kong from Rome at No.40. Paris is featured with Bar Nouveau, which climbed 22 positions to No.17, The Cambridge Public House at No.20, and Danico at No.30.

For the first time, bars from Eastern Europe are included in The World's 50 Best Bars list, with new additions Mirror Bar in Bratislava at No.25 and Nouvelle Vague in Tirana at No.28. In Scandinavia, Oslo's Himkok at No.14 is accompanied by another newcomer, Svanen at No.32, along with Röda Huset in Stockholm at No.35.

New York remains the leader in the Americas, while Mexico City holds the title of Best Bar in North America. New York City reinforces its reputation as North America's cocktail hub, boasting four bars on this year's list: Superbueno, which climbed 15 spots to No.12, is joined by newcomer Sip & Guzzle at No.39, recognised as this year's Three Cents Best New Opening, along with Double Chicken Please at No.41 and Overstory at No.46. Jewel of the South from New Orleans is ranked at No.44.

In Mexico City, Handshake Speakeasy holds the title of The Best Bar in North America, sponsored by Amaro Lucano, at No.2, with Tlecān, a new entry for 2024, at No.23. Bar Mauro, which placed at No.54 on the extended list of bars ranked 51-100, is the recipient of the Campari One To Watch Award.

The esteemed title of The Best Bar in South America, sponsored by Torres Brandy, goes once more to Buenos Aires' Tres Monos, which ranks at No.10, followed closely by CoChinChina at No.26. Lady Bee in Lima holds the No.13 spot and is honored with this year's Michter's Art of Hospitality Award, along with the newly introduced Sastrería Martinez at No.33. Alquímico from Cartagena is positioned at No.11. At the same time, São Paulo's Tan Tan sits at No.24.

Tokyo stands out in Asia with three bars featured on the list, including the well-established Bar Benfiddich at No.18, alongside Virtù at No.45 and the new arrival The Bellwood at No.48. Host city Hong Kong celebrates two entries, one being Bar Leone at No.1, recognised as The Best Bar in Asia and also as The World's Best Bar for the first time on the continent, in addition to Coa at No.38.

Singapore's Jigger & Pony ranks at No.9, with its creative director and partner Uno Jang receiving this year's Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award, while Nutmeg & Clove is at No.50. In Bangkok, Bar Us has impressively climbed 26 spots to No.15, and BKK Social Club occupies No.49. Seoul's Zest ranks at No.16, with new entry Hope & Sesame from Guangzhou making its debut at No.29. The award for the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu goes to Backdoor Bodega in Penang.

For the first time, The Best Bar in Africa and The Best Bar in the Middle East have been recognised; an Australian venue has won the Best Bar Design Award. Mimi Kakushi in Dubai, ranked No. 36, is honoured as The Best Bar in the Middle East, sponsored by Les Vergers Boiron. At the same time, Nairobi's Hero Bar has been named The Best Bar in Africa, sponsored by Langjiu, after finishing at No. 69 on the extended list revealed two weeks ago. This marks the inaugural presentation of these awards, previously referred to as The Best Bar in the Middle East and Africa.

Caretaker's Cottage in Melbourne retains its distinction as The Best Bar in Australasia at No.19, while Sydney's Maybe Sammy is at No.42. The Best Bar Design Award has been awarded to Sydney's Tigra + Disco Pantera.

The event commenced with a tribute to Bar Mauro in Mexico City, which received the Campari One To Watch Award this year, ranking No.54 on the extended list of bars from 51-100 announced two weeks prior. This award honours a bar that the 50 Best team sees as having significant potential to be included in The World's 50 Best Bars in the future.

Tigra + Disco Pantera in Sydney has been named this year's winner of the Best Bar Design Award. This venue features two distinct yet complementary areas created by Scottish brothers Gordon and Ross Purnell. Tigra captures the lively laneway cultures of both Barcelona and Tokyo, influenced by Joan Miró's whimsical modernism. At the same time, Disco Pantera reflects the retro elegance of 1970s New York, showcasing vintage lighting, reclaimed materials, and standout features like a hand-sculpted teak bar front. Together, they provide a dynamic, two-level experience that demonstrates a devotion to creative reuse, cultural homage, and experiential design, offering visitors a multi-sensory exploration of art, cocktails, and atmosphere. An esteemed panel of hospitality design specialists judged the competition, inviting bars from around the globe to submit their venues for evaluation.

Backdoor Bodega in Penang has been honoured with the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award for The Backdoor Bodega Guide to Penang. Designed like an indie travel magazine, each cocktail is presented as a narrative entry that highlights the stories, flavours, and landmarks that characterise their island, intertwining personal stories with cultural heritage. The Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award is accessible to any bar worldwide and is assessed by the 29 Academy Chairs.

Simone Caporale has been recognised as a Roku Industry Icon. The acclaimed bartender and entrepreneur, known for his pioneering work at Artesian at The Langham, which has been awarded The World's Best Bar for four consecutive years, is based in Barcelona. He is celebrated for his unique style, careful attention to detail, and inventive hospitality approach; he co-founded Sips, which was also honoured as The World's Best Bar in 2023, and is a co-owner of Boadas, the oldest cocktail bar in Barcelona. In 2025, he and Lorenzo Antinori from Bar Leone opened Montana in Hong Kong, merging the heritage of the Club de los Cantineros with the lively essence of Miami's golden age. His other initiatives include co-founding the P(OUR) Symposium, developing the Muyu liqueur line with Alex Kratena and Monica Berg, and acting as Global Brand Ambassador for Amaro Santoni.

Entering the rankings for the first time at No.25, Bratislava's Mirror Bar receives the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award. This chic cocktail lounge combines nature-inspired design with sophisticated vintage elements, offering creative cocktails that fuse top-notch mixology with visual storytelling.

Sip & Guzzle in New York earns the Three Cents Best New Opening award for being the bar with the highest entry point on the list from those that opened during the voting period, debuting at No.39. This two-level cocktail bar in New York's Greenwich Village, co-founded by Shingo Gokan and Steve Schneider, merges Japanese sophistication with the energetic vibe of New York. Guests at Guzzle can enjoy vibrant, easily drinkable cocktails in a saloon-style atmosphere upstairs. At the same time, downstairs at Sip, the ambience shifts to a refined Tokyo-themed speakeasy, featuring complex drinks like the Whisky Nigiri.

Milan's Moebius Milano is the recipient of the Nikka Highest Climber Award, ascending 31 spots to reach No. 7. Moebius Milano is a vibrant gastronomic and cultural hub located in the centre of Milan, integrating a Tapa Bistrot, an experimental fine-dining restaurant, and a cocktail bar within a revamped textile warehouse. This concept fuses culinary creativity, live music, and design to deliver an engaging experience that embodies the venue's ethos of ongoing transformation.

The Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award has been granted to Baba au Rum, recognising a bar that has reliably excelled in the list since it began. Established in 2009 by Thanos Prunarus, Baba au Rum is a pioneering cocktail bar celebrated for its profound respect for rum and its influence on the contemporary bar culture in Greece.

The Cambridge Public House in Paris has been awarded the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award by the Sustainable Restaurant Association. As the first independent bar to receive B Corp certification, co-founders Hugo Gallou and Hyacinthe Lescoët have initiated lasting improvements beyond sustainable mixology through various innovative projects, including aligning with six United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to aid global communities through The Cambridge Community Plan and launching Shaken Leaf. This platform empowers bartenders worldwide to implement sustainable practices.

Additional special award recipients, revealed before the ceremony on 8 October, include Uno Jang, who won the Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award, and Lady Bee Lima, who was recognised as the recipient of the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award.