Hong Kong's Bar Leone wins best in the world

Hong Kong bar wins best in the world - Bar Leone has won The World's 50 Best Bars 2025

A Hong Kong cocktail bar has struck gold, winning The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 this autumn. 

The results of the 17th edition of this annual event were revealed at a live awards ceremony held in Hong Kong in October. Venues from 29 cities globally were competing for the top trophy and this is the first time a bar in Asia has taken the number one spot.

In the end, it was Bar Leone, located in Hong Kong’s Central district, that walked away with the trophy. The venue pays tribute to the neighbourhood bars of Rome and is the brainchild of Roman bartender, Lorenzo Antinori. Antinori launched Bar Leone in 2023 based on the philosophy of ‘cocktail poplari’, or ‘cocktails for the people’. The bar is designed to be approachable, unpretentious and deeply rooted in Italian culture and hospitality. Drinks are served with warmth and precision with the cocktail menu listed as a Google Docs file which is updated monthly, ensuring the full recipe and method is accessible to everyone. 

“It’s such a delight to unveil Bar Leone as The World’s 50 Best Bar 2025,” said Emma Sleight, The World’s 50 Best Bars head of content. “Not only is this remarkable achievement the first time a bar from Asia has claimed the top spot but it is a dazzling testament to the commitment of Lorenzo and the entire Bar Leone team to redefining the hospitality experience.”

Sleight noted that this year’s awards saw more cocktail destinations represented than ever before.

Inside the top 20, Singapore came in at number nine with Jigger & Pony, Bangkok’s Bar Us stood at number 15 and Zest in Seoul came in at 16. Meanwhile, Hope & Sesame was the first bar from Guangzhou to feature on the list, scooping 29th place. Tokyo also featured for the first time with the city’s Bar Benfiddich coming in at number 18.

Bar Leone, 11-15 Bridges Street, Central, Hong Kong