Hong Kong’s Bar Leone takes the No.1 spot for The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025

Sponsored by Perrier, the annual list of the World’s 50 Best Bars was revealed tonight in Hong Kong for the first time

Bar Leone

Returning to Asia for its 17th annual edition, The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 made its highly anticipated debut in Hong Kong tonight on 8 October, bringing together an unparalleled gathering of elite figures to celebrate the achievements of the finest bars and bartenders around the world.

Revealed at the iconic Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, Hong Kong’s own Bar Leone was crowned the world’s best bar – the first bar in Asia to be awarded this prestigious accolade – rising up one place from last year’s ranking. Taking inspiration from the apertivo bars of Rome, the bar’s identity is grounded on the Italian concept of “cocktail popolari”, meaning “cocktails for the people”. Under the direction of its founder Lorenzo Antinori, Bar Leone delivers a beverage programme focused on classic, approachable cocktails, complemented by an eclectic soundtrack and classic Italian bar bites.

Taking the title of The Best Bar in North America, No.2 is Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy, a shrine of molecular mixology led by bar director and co-owner Eric Van Beek, where drinks often take 48 hours to craft from start to finish and entail the use of advanced culinary techniques and an on-site laboratory in prep. Barcelona claimed the next two spots with Sips at No.3 and Paradiso at 4, while London’s double concept cocktail bar Tayēr + Elementary came in at No.5.

The full list is as below:

1 – Bar Leone, Hong Kong (The Best Bar in Asia) 2 – Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City (The Best Bar in North America) 3 – Sips, Barcelona (The Best Bar in Europe) 4 – Paradiso, Barcelona 5 – Tayēr + Elementary, London 6 – Connaught Bar, London 7 – Moebius Milano, Milan 8 – Line, Athens 9 – Jigger & Pony, Singapore 10 – Tres Monos, Buenos Aires (The Best Bar in South America) 11 – Alquímico, Cartagena 12 – Superbueno, New York 13 – Lady Bee, Lima 14 – Himkok, Oslo 15 – Bar Us, Bangkok 16 – Zest, Seoul 17 – Bar Nouveau, Paris 18 – Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo 19 – Caretaker’s Cottage, Melbourne (The Best Bar in Australasia) 20 – The Cambridge Public House, Paris 21 – Satan’s Whiskers, London 22 – Locale Firenze, Florence 23 – Tlecān, Mexico City 24 – Tan Tan, São Paulo 25 – Mirror Bar, Bratislava 26 – Cochinchina, Buenos Aires 27 – Baba Au Rum, Athens 28 – Nouvelle Vague, Tirana* 29 – Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou* 30 – Danico, Paris 31 – Scarfes Bar, London 32 – Svanen, Oslo 33 – Sastrería Martinez, Lima* 34 – Panda & Sons, Edinburgh 35 – Röda Huset, Stockholm 36 – Mimi Kakushi, Dubai (The Best Bar in the Middle East) 37 – Salmon Guru, Madrid 38 – Coa, Hong Kong 39 – Sip & Guzzle, New York* 40 – Drink Kong, Rome 41 – Double Chicken Please, New York 42 – Maybe Sammy, Sydney 43 – 1930, Milan 44 – Jewel of the South, New Orleans 45 – Virtù, Tokyo 46 – Overstory, New York 47 – The Bar in Front of The Bar, Athens* 48 – The Bellwood, Tokyo* 49 – BKK Social Club, Bangkok 50 – Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore 51 – Angelita, Madrid 52 – Licorería Limantour, Mexico City 53 – Bar Cham, Seoul 54 – Bar Mauro, Mexico City* 55 – Bar Pompette, Toronto 56 – Argo, Hong Kong 57 – Wax On, Berlin 58 – Freni e Frizioni, Rome 59 – Schmuck, New York* 60 – LPM, Dubai 61 – Exímia, São Paulo* 62 – Barro Negro, Athens 63 – L’Antiquario, Naples 64 – True Laurel, San Francisco* 65 – The SG Club, Tokyo 66 – Bird, Copenhagen 67 – Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya 68 – La Sala de Laura, Bogotá 69 – Hero Bar, Nairobi (The Best Bar in Africa) 70 – Gokan, Hong Kong* 71 – El Gallo Altanero, Guadalajara 72 – Attaboy, New York 73 – A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London 74 – Vender, Taichung* 75 – Martiny’s, New York 76 – Tjoget, Stockholm** 77 – Arca, Tulum 78 – Baltra Bar, Mexico City 79 – Kwãnt Mayfair, London 80 – Three Sheets Soho, London* 81 – Mamba Negra, Medellín* 82 – Café La Trova, Miami 83 – Dr. Stravinsky, Barcelona** 84 – Native, Singapore 85 – Boadas, Barcelona** 86 – The Savory Project, Hong Kong 87 – Victor Audio Bar, Buenos Aires* 88 – Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, Bangkok* 89 – Foco, Barcelona* 90 – Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires 91 – Byrdi, Melbourne 92 – Opium, Bangkok* 93 – Mírate, Los Angeles* 94 – Bar Trench, Tokyo** 95 – Employees Only, New York 96 – Lair, New Delhi* 97 – Kumiko, Chicago** 98 – Jerry Thomas Speakeasy, Rome** 99 – Gucci Giardino, Florence* 100 – Bar Carmen, Medellín*

* New entry ** Re-entry

Individual Awards:

Campari One To Watch Award: Bar Mauro, Mexico City Three Cents Best New Opening Award: Sip & Guzzle, New York Best Bar Design Award: Tigra + Disco Pantera, Sydney Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award: Backdoor Bodega, Penang Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award: Baba Au Rum, Athens Dissarono Highest New Entry Award: Mirror Bar, Bratislava Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award: The Cambridge Public House, Paris Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award: Uno Jang Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award: Lady Bee, Lima Nikka Highest Climber Award: Moebius Milano, Milan Roku Industry Icon Award: Simone Caporale

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