:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TAL-header-cocktail-bar-leone-hong-kong-BESTCOCKTAILBAR1025-5be68a06d8d943549ff7eeaa18c06303.jpg "This bar was named number one in the world and this is what you should order when you visit")
Spirits soared in Hong Kong last month as the global cocktail community gathered for one of the industry’s most anticipated nights of the year: the 2025 unveiling. The 50 best bars in the world. Thousands of bartenders, tastemakers and cocktail devotees from all corners of the world gathered for the 17th edition of these prestigious awards, celebrating excellence, creativity and hospitality across the international bar scene. An academy of more than 800 independent experts, from acclaimed mixologists to leading drinks journalists, voted for the venues that offered the most exceptional and consistent experiences over the past 18 months.
Amid the ostentation, one name stood out above the rest: Hong Kong lioness barcrowned the best bar in the world.
Run by award-winning bartender Lorenzo Antinori, this Italian-themed hideaway champions popolari cocktail—“cocktails for the people”—and was designed to capture the soul of Rome’s traditional neighborhood bars. Behind a simple door on Bridges Street lies a welcoming, friendly space adorned with vintage decor and posters of Antinori’s grandmother, setting the stage for a menu of classic cocktails defined by craftsmanship, premium ingredients and seasonality.
Not-to-be-missed libations include 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 style, food shares the spotlight. Favorite bar bites include the signature smoked olives and a delicious stack of thinly sliced mortadella layered with ricotta and mascarpone cream, pickled green chiles and olives, all sandwiched between warm, crispy focaccia.
Bar Leone is the first place in Asia to be crowned No. 1. “For us, it’s about working hard every day, focusing on quality and trying to improve day by day,” Antinori said. Travel + Leisure. “I think the secret to our success is really all the amazing people who work with us – it’s our team, it’s our family.”
From the beginning, the goal was to create a comfortable experience for guests like a cozy neighborhood bar. “We live in a time where consumers are looking for convenience,” Antinori said. “Here you’ll get a curated, quality experience, but at the same time, it’s very approachable, very approachable… a lot of people connect with what we’re doing on a personal and emotional level. Everything at Leone is intentional: from the lighting to the music, the branding on the coasters and napkins, and of course the quality of the service.”
Hong Kong continued to represent COA achieving 38th place, as well as the expanded list of winners: argo (no. 56), new entry gokan (No. 70), and The tasty project (No. 86). “Hong Kong’s bar scene reflects the city’s rich cultural fabric and avant-garde spirit, making it a must-visit destination for cocktail lovers around the world,” added Dane Cheng, CEO of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
Last year’s big winner, the one from Mexico City Clandestine handshake— also the best bar in North America for the last two years in a row — held strong and took second place. Completing the top 10: bars in Barcelona sips (No. 3) and paradise (No. 4), followed by London Tayēr + Primary (no. 5) and The Connaught Bar (No. 6), Milan Moebius Milano (no. 7), Line (No. 8) in Athens, Singapore Jigger and pony (no. 9), and Three Monkeys (No. 10) in Buenos Aires.
Additional praise was presented to several notable individuals and establishments for raising the bar (pun intended) within the international cocktail scene:
Uno Jang from Singapore Jigger and pony (No. 9) won Altos Bartenders Waiter—the only peer-voted award among the 50 Best—for its innovative approach to cocktail programming and highly respected leadership within the beverage community. And the lively bar in the Lima neighborhood, lady bee (No. 13), obtained the Michter Award for the Art of Hospitality for successfully championing sustainability and the use of local ingredients while crafting exceptional beverages.
Greetings to all the 2025 winners! The full list can be seen at theworlds50best.com.
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