Spirits were soaring in Hong Kong last month, as the global cocktail community gathered for one of the industry’s most anticipated nights of the year—the unveiling of the 2025 World’s 50 Best Bars. Thousands of bartenders, tastemakers, and cocktail devotees from every corner of the world converged for the 17th edition of the prestigious awards, which celebrate excellence, creativity, and hospitality across the international bar scene. An academy of more than 800 independent experts—ranging from acclaimed mixologists to leading drinks journalists—casted their votes for the venues delivering the most exceptional and consistent experiences over the past 18 months.
Amid the glitz, one name rose above the rest: Hong Kong’s own Bar Leone, crowned the best bar in the world.
Led by award-winning bartender Lorenzo Antinori, this Italian-themed hideaway champions cocktail popolari—“cocktails for the people”—and was designed to capture the soul of Rome’s traditional neighborhood bars. Behind an unassuming door on Bridges Street lies a cozy, convivial space adorned with vintage décor and posters from Antinori’s grandmother, setting the stage for a menu of classic cocktails defined by craftsmanship, top-quality ingredients, and seasonality.
Can’t-miss libations include the Olive Oil Sour, Filthy Martini, and Il Carpaccio—the latter is a refreshing, caprese-inspired blend with bright vegetal and herbal notes, made with gin, bianco vermouth, mastika, cherry tomato, basil, and lemon.
In true Italian fashion, food shares the spotlight. Beloved bar bites include the signature smoked olives and a decadent stack of thinly sliced mortadella layered with ricotta-mascarpone cream, pickled green chilies, and olives—all nestled between warm, crispy focaccia.
Bar Leone is the first-ever venue in Asia to be crowned No. 1. “For us, it’s about working hard every day, focusing on quality, and trying to improve on a daily basis,” Antinori told Travel + Leisure. “I believe the secret to our success is really all the amazing people working with us—it’s our team, our family.”
From the start, the goal was to create a comfortable guest experience as a welcoming neighborhood bar. “We are living in a time when consumers are seeking comfort,” Antinori said. “Here you’ll get a curated, quality experience, but at the same time, it’s very approachable, very accessible … a lot of people connect to what we are doing on a personal and emotional level. Everything at Leone is intentional—from the lighting to the music to the branding on the coasters and napkins, and, of course, the quality of the service.”
Hong Kong continued to represent with COA clinching the No. 38 spot, as well as extended list winners: Argo (No. 56), new entry Gokan (No.70), and The Savory Project (No. 86). “The bar scene in Hong Kong reflects the city’s rich cultural tapestry and forward-thinking spirit, making it a must-visit destination for cocktail lovers worldwide,” added Dane Cheng, executive director for the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
Last year’s big winner, Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy—also North America’s best bar for the past two consecutive years—held strong, claiming the No. 2 spot. Rounding out the top 10: Barcelona bars Sips (No. 3) and Paradiso (No. 4), followed by London’s Tayēr + Elementary (No. 5) and The Connaught Bar (No. 6), Milan’s Moebius Milano (No. 7), Line (No. 8) in Athens, Singapore’s Jigger & Pony (No. 9), and Tres Monos (No. 10) in Buenos Aires.
Additional accolades were presented to several standout individuals and establishments for raising the bar (pun intended) within the international cocktail scene:
Uno Jang of Singapore’s Jigger & Pony (No. 9) won Altos Bartenders’ Bartender—the only peer-voted award in the 50 Best—for his innovative approach to cocktail programming and highly respected leadership within the beverage community. And Lima’s buzzy neighborhood bar, Lady Bee (No. 13), earned the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award for successfully championing sustainability and the use of local ingredients while executing outstanding drinks.
Cheers to all the 2025 winners! The full list can be seen at theworlds50best.com.
