Bar Leone crowned World’s Best Bar 2025, a historic first for Hong Kong and Asia

The world raised a Negroni to Hong Kong tonight.

At the 2025 ceremony of The World’s 50 Best Bars, held in Hong Kong for the first time, Bar Leone was named The World’s Best Bar, marking the first-ever Asian winner in the ranking’s 17-year history.

Led by Lorenzo Antinori, the Roman-born bartender known for his work at Argo, Dandelyan and The American Bar, Bar Leone opened just two years ago and debuted at #2 in 2024 before taking the top spot this year. The neighbourhood-style bar channels cocktail popolari, simple Italian-accented classics, mortadella sandwiches, and generous hospitality inspired by Rome’s everyday bars.

Antinori’s win also marks his third time at #1, following earlier triumphs with The American Bar (2017) and Dandelyan (2018). “It’s a dream come true. Proof that simplicity, community and joy still matter most,” he said on stage as Hong Kong’s bar community erupted in applause.

In case you missed it: World’s 50 Best Bars reveals 51-100 List for 2025

Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City, #2 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 and winner of The Best Bar in North America

Asia achieved its strongest performance yet with 12 bars in the global Top 50, led by Bar Leone (Hong Kong #1), Jigger & Pony (Singapore #9), Bar Us (Bangkok #15), Zest (Seoul #16), Bar Benfiddich (Tokyo #18) and Hope & Sesame (Guangzhou #29).

They are joined by Coa (Hong Kong #38), Virtù (Tokyo #45), The Bellwood (Tokyo #48), BKK Social Club (Bangkok #49) and Nutmeg & Clove (Singapore #50), while Backdoor Bodega (Penang) earned this year’s Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award.

Bratislava’s Mirror Bar makes a stunning debut at #25 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025, claiming the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award and spotlighting Eastern Europe’s growing cocktail scene

The 2025 list spans 29 cities across five continents. Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City) placed #2 and retained the title of Best Bar in North America, sponsored by Amaro Lucano, while Sips (Barcelona) ranked #3 and was once again named Best Bar in Europe, sponsored by Monkey Shoulder.

Paradiso (Barcelona #4), Tayēr + Elementary (London #5) and Connaught Bar (London #6) continued their long reign among the world’s elite. Moebius Milano (#7) earned the Nikka Highest Climber Award after leaping 31 places, and Mirror Bar (Bratislava #25) became the first bar from Slovakia to join the list, also taking the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award. Sip & Guzzle (New York #39) was named Three Cents Best New Opening.

Europe remains the most represented region with 23 bars, followed by Asia with 12, North America with 7, South America with 6, and Australasia with 2, the broadest geographic reach in eight years.

Moebius Milano, a dynamic culinary and cocktail hub in the heart of Milan, soars to #7 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025, claiming the Nikka Highest Climber Award

Among the special awards, The Cambridge Public House (Paris) earned the Sustainable Bar Award, while Lady Bee (Lima #13) received The Art of Hospitality Award.

Jigger & Pony’s Uno Jang was recognised as Altos Bartenders’ Bartender 2025, and Sips’ Simone Caporale received the Roku Industry Icon Award.

The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025

1 – Bar Leone, Hong Kong2 – Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City3 – Sips, Barcelona4 – Paradiso, Barcelona5 – Tayēr + Elementary, London6 – Connaught Bar, London7 – Moebius Milano, Milan8 – Line, Athens9 – Jigger & Pony, Singapore10 – Tres Monos, Buenos Aires11 – Alquímico, Cartagena12 – Superbueno, New York13 – Lady Bee, Lima14 – Himkok, Oslo15 – Bar Us, Bangkok16 – Zest, Seoul17 – Bar Nouveau, Paris18 – Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo19 – Caretaker’s Cottage, Melbourne20 – The Cambridge Public House, Paris21 – Satan’s Whiskers, London22 – Locale Firenze, Florence23 – Tlecān, Mexico City24 – Tan Tan, São Paulo25 – Mirror Bar, Bratislava26 – CoChinChina, Buenos Aires27 – Baba au Rum, Athens28 – Nouvelle Vague, Tirana29 – Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou30 – Danico, Paris31 – Scarfes Bar, London32 – Svanen, Oslo33 – Sastrería Martinez, Lima34 – Panda & Sons, Edinburgh35 – Röda Huset, Stockholm36 – Mimi Kakushi, Dubai37 – Salmon Guru, Madrid38 – Coa, Hong Kong39 – Sip & Guzzle, New York40 – Drink Kong, Rome41 – Double Chicken Please, New York42 – Maybe Sammy, Sydney43 – 1930, Milan44 – Jewel of the South, New Orleans45 – Virtù, Tokyo46 – Overstory, New York47 – The Bar in Front of the Bar, Athens48 – The Bellwood, Tokyo49 – BKK Social Club, Bangkok50 – Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore