The list of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 has been revealed at a live awards ceremony in Hong Kong.
The annual event once again united the global bar community for its 17th edition in recognition of the outstanding achievements of their peers.
The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 features venues from 29 cities globally, with Hong Kong’s Bar Leone named The World’s Best Bar 2025 and The Best Bar in Asia 2025. The achievement marks the first time a bar in Asia has taken the No.1 position.
Nestled in Hong Kong’s vibrant Central district, Bar Leone is the brainchild of bartender Lorenzo Antinori, whose storied resume encompasses some of Europe and Asia’s most beloved hotel bars, including London’s American Bar at The Savoy and Dandelyan (now defunct).
Built on the philosophy of ‘cocktail popolari’ – or ‘cocktails for the people’ – Bar Leone pays tribute to the neighbourhood bars of Rome, where locals gather for coffee, aperitivi and casual conversation.
The interior is a love letter to the city in the 1980s and ’90s and is designed to be approachable, unpretentious and deeply rooted in Italian culture and hospitality.
A Roman by birth, Antinori’s goal was to strip away the complexity of modern mixology and return to simple, high-quality drinks, served with warmth and precision.
As such, the cocktail menu comes in the form of a rotating Google Docs file, updated monthly and including the full recipe and method to ensure each drink is fully accessible to everyone.
Bar Leone opened in June 2023 and quickly rose to fame, making its debut on the world stage the following year at No.1 on the list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 and No.2 in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024, both unrivalled feats. Earlier this year, it was once again named The Best Bar in Asia at Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025.
“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 hospitality excellence,” says Emma Sleight, Head of Content for The World’s 50 Best Bars.
“We are deeply honoured to spotlight the extraordinary diversity of the global bar landscape in 2025 and we raise a glass to every bar that has earned their place in this year’s list.
“With more cocktail capitals represented than ever before, this ranking continues to serve as a vibrant compass for curious drinkers and passionate explorers alike – igniting wanderlust and raising the bar for cocktail culture across the globe.”
More stand-outs
The title of The Best Bar in Europe is retained for the third time by Barcelona’s Sips at No.3, with co-founder Simone Caporale also awarded the Roku Industry Icon Award.
The Best Bar in North America is Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy at No.2, with Tlecān; and The Best Bar in South America is once again Buenos Aires’ Tres Monos, at No.10.
Mimi Kakushi in Dubai (No.36) is named The Best Bar in the Middle East; while Nairobi’s Hero Bar has been crowned The Best Bar in Africa, after ranking at No.69 in the extended list announced a fortnight ago. This is the first time either accolade has been awarded as part of The World’s 50 Best Bars, having previously been presented as The Best Bar in the Middle East and Africa.
At No.19, Melbourne’s Caretaker’s Cottage retains its title as The Best Bar in Australasia; and The Best Bar Design Award is bestowed upon Sydney’s Tigra + Disco Pantera.
Backdoor Bodega in Penang is awarded the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award for The Backdoor Bodega Guide to Penang.
Joining the list for the first time at No.25, Bratislava’s Mirror Bar is awarded the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award. A sleek cocktail lounge blending nature-inspired design with elegant vintage touches, Mirror Bar serves inventive cocktails that blend world class mixology with visual storytelling.
Sip & Guzzle in New York is named Three Cents Best New Opening as the bar that enters the list in the highest position of any that have opened during the voting period, joining the list at No.39.
Milan’s Moebius Milano wins the Nikka Highest Climber Award, rising 31 places to No.7.
The honour of the Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award has been bestowed upon Baba au Rum, an award given to a bar that has performed most consistently in the list since its inception. Founded by Thanos Prunarus in 2009, Baba au Rum is a visionary cocktail bar known for its deep appreciation of rum and its role in shaping Greece’s modern bar scene.
The Cambridge Public House in Paris has won the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award, based on adjudication by the Sustainable Restaurant Association.
Other special award winners, announced in the run-up to the awards on 8 October, include Uno Jang, winner of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award, and Lady Bee, Lima, named the winner of the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award.
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