Hong Kong's Bar Leone Is The Best Bar In Asia
Each year, World's 50 Best Bars recognizes the world's top bars, with offshoot lists to honor the best bars in North America and Asia. On July 15, the group announced Asia's 50 Best Bars at a live awards ceremony in Macau, and once again, Bar Leone in Hong Kong took the top spot. Zest (Seoul), Jigger & Pony (Singapore), Bar Us (Bangkok) and Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, also in Bangkok, rounded out the top five.
Bar Leone opened in summer 2023 and—impressively—this is the status quo for the Italian-inspired neighborhood bar. Last year, it made history, becoming the first-ever bar to debut on the list in the no.1 position. Bar Leone also entered the World's 50 Best Bars list in the no. 2 position, so it's found success quickly.
Bar Leone is run by Lorenzo Antinori, who previously worked at top bars including Argo in Hong Kong (currently no. 11 on Asia's list) and Dandelyan in London. The bar team also includes Justin Shun Wah and Wing Lo.
It's known for serving 'cocktail popolari,' or cocktails for the people, and Italian sandwiches. The menu features classics like the Negroni alongside creative takes on classics, like a Yuzu Negroni featuring gin, gentian aperitif, bianco vermouth and yuzu liqueur. The Filthy Martini is made with vodka and smoked olive brine.
'Last year, we said we're speechless, and we continue to be speechless,' said Shun Wah while holding the award on stage. He was born in Hong Kong and his mother is from Macau, so the recognition is especially meaningful to him. 'This is, for me, something that I'd never have imagined. We could not be more happy. We could not be more surprised.'
Bangkok leads the way with seven bars in the top 50. (The city is on a tear lately, as it also leads the current World's 50 Best Restaurants lineup with six restaurants in the top 50.) It's followed by Hong Kong with six bars and Singapore with five. Tokyo, Seoul and Kuala Lumpur each features four bars in the top 50.
Sustainability-focused Zest is the second best bar in Asia for the second year in a row. Kevin Gray
There were lots of newcomers this year. Twenty venues made their debut on Asia's 50 Best Bars list, led by Bangkok's Dry Wave Cocktail Studio at no. 5.
Zest in Seoul and Jigger & Pony in Singapore both maintained their positions from last year, so there were no changes among the top three bars. After that, the list saw a lot of movement. Bar Us in Bangkok jumped 17 places to take the title of the Best Bar in Thailand, and Bar Cham in Seoul upped its placement from no. 20 to no. 6. Alice in Seoul was the highest climber of all, leaping 33 spots from last year to no.13 on the list.
Here are the 50 best bars in Asia. Use this list as your drinking roadmap the next time you find yourself in one of these cities. Asia's 50 Best Bars — 2025
1. Bar Leone, Hong Kong
2. Zest, Seoul
3. Jigger & Pony, Singapore
4. Bar Us, Bangkok
5. Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, Bangkok
6. Bar Cham, Seoul
7. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou
8. Lair, New Delhi
9. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
10. Penrose, Kuala Lumpur
11. Argo, Hong Kong
12. Modernhaus, Jakarta
13. Alice, Seoul
14. Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya
15. Three X Co, Kuala Lumpur
16. CMYK, Changsha
17. Coa, Hong Kong
18. Virtu, Tokyo
19. BKK Social Club, Bangkok
20. Vender, Taichung
21. MO Bar Shenzhen, Shenzhen
22. The St. Regis Bar, Jakarta
23. Offtrack, Singapore
24. Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore
25. Yakoboku, Kumamoto
26. G.O.D in Bangkok
27. Penicillin, Hong Kong
28. Soka, Bengaluru
29. Vesper, Bangkok
30. Boilermaker, Goa
31. ZLB23, Bengaluru
32. The Savory Project, Hong Kong
33. Gokan, Hong Kong
34. Carrot Bar, Jakarta
35. Barc, Kathmandu
36. Punch Room, Tokyo
37. Bar Spirit Forward, Bengaluru
38. Cosmo Pony, Jakarta
39. Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur
40. The Public House, Taipei
41. To Infinity & Beyond, Taipei
42. Moonrock, Tainan
43. Opium, Bangkok
44. Cat Bite Club, Singapore
45. Native, Singapore
46. Lamp Bar, Nara
47. Reka, Kuala Lumpur
48. Bar Sathorn, Bangkok
49. Bar Libre, Tokyo
50. Le Chamber, Seoul
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