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Forbes
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Hong Kong's Bar Leone Is The Best Bar In Asia
Bar Leone is the best bar in Asia for the second year in a row. Bar Leone 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
South China Morning Post
20 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Debt linked to Hong Kong actor Jacky Heung fully repaid, Macau casino ends legal action
A gambling debt linked to Hong Kong actor Jacky Heung has been fully settled, Macau casino operator MGM China has said, saying legal proceedings have been terminated. The casino company made the statement on Wednesday, a day after the media reported that its subsidiary, MGM Grand Paradise, had issued a writ against Heung. The actor was sued for at least HK$1.4 million (HK$178,000) in gambling debts, according to the court document. 'The matter involving Mr. Jacky Heung Cho arose from a credit guarantee he provided for a third party. Due to overdue payments not being made, MGM China subsequently initiated standard legal procedures to address the related matters,' MGM China said. 'Recently, all payments have been fully settled and the corresponding legal procedures have been terminated,' it added. MGM China has said that all legal proceedings against the Hong Kong actor have been terminated. Photo: Yik Yeung-man Clarifying the situation, MGM China said that it was not its usual practice to engage with the media regarding internal gaming operational processes.
South China Morning Post
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Your Hong Kong weekend drinks guide for July 17-19
This year's list of Asia's 50 Best Bars was announced earlier this week, and bartenders have poured into Hong Kong and Macau from all over to celebrate the awards . However, a few stellar regional bars are still conducting guest shifts and keeping the party going – for this weekend at least! Three of Seoul's best bars will take over at Lobster Bar this Thursday, while Gossip hosts its first ever guest shift featuring a stellar bartender from Kumamoto in Japan. Avoca rounds off the weekend – as well as its own series of guest shifts – with a sky-high Sydney concept to really put a bow on this celebratory week of mixology. Thursday, July 17 Lobster Bar x Bar Cham, M+MS, Le Chamber Bar Cham in Seoul; they're visiting Hong Kong's Lobster Bar this week. Photo: Karen Tee What: The party continues at Lobster Bar with a triple header featuring Bar Cham, Le Chamber and M+MS, all from Seoul. Bar Cham and Le Chamber ranked No 6 and No 50 respectively in this year's edition of Asia's 50 Best Bars, and are known for their refined and contemporary takes on cocktails. M+MS stands for Malt + MixologySpace, and the bar takes an involved, scientific approach to its cocktails and beer brewing. A case in point? M+MS' Woo Suck (Korean rice soup in a glass), Basil Wheat Beer and Berry Milk Stout. Where: Island Shangri-La, 6/F, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Central When: M+MS at 6pm-8pm; Bar Cham at 8pm-10pm; Le Chamber at 10pm-12am Friday, July 18 Gossip x Yakoboku
Associated Press
21 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
MSIG Hong Kong's 2024 Claims Report announces multi-year growth in its claims settlement ratio and highlights award-winning claims processing innovation
94.5% claims settlement ratio was achieved amidst a difficult business environment First year that two categories – Employees' Compensation Hong Kong and Marine - saw settlement ratios of 100% Digital claims project Zero Touch wins 'Claims Initiative of the Year' award HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 16 July 2025 - MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited ('MSIG') today published its sixth annual MSIG Claims Report which presents the total claims honoured in Hong Kong and Macau during the year as well as the insurer's latest initiatives. In 2024, MSIG's claims settlement ratio reached 94.5% – rising for the third consecutive year, up from 92.4% in 2021. The insurer honoured claims totalling HK$347,983,977 in Hong Kong and Macau, while receiving just 9 complaints throughout the year (down from 13 in 2023 and 50 in 2020). 2024 was also the first year that two categories – Employees' Compensation Hong Kong and Marine – achieved 100% settlement ratios, a significant milestone that reinforces why the insurer has grown as a trusted partner. Helper (99.17%) and Personal Accident (96.85%) followed as the next highest categories. In 2024, MSIG put even more emphasis on quick response and rapid claims processing. This led to significant compliments from customers and wide-ranging examples of how the insurer responds to incidents with fast, intuitive processes that help those affected to move forward. Philip Kent, Chief Executive Officer of MSIG Hong Kong, said: 'Every year brings new challenges, and 2024 was no different. Our teams have worked exceptionally hard to ensure that our service to customers remains at the fore, because we know that every claim is personal. By making the claims process faster and easier, we aim to help each of our customers move forward with assurance that they will receive the financial compensation they are owed. Innovation is at the heart of this, and our teams should be proud of the industry recognition they have received for their efforts. I have every confidence that we will continue to go from strength to strength in providing sincere customer service backed by leading digital capabilities – all part of our commitment to supporting our customers at every phase of their lives.' MSIG's focus on claims excellence has led to notable industry recognition in 2024, including: Setting the service standard in digital claims Following the launch of Zero Touch, a digital solution for claims assessment that streamlines verification of customers' claims history, policy validity and claims payment amounts, in the second half of 2023, the project has reported exceptional gains in efficiency. For Helper Insurance claims specifically: Building on this success, MSIG intends to further extend Zero Touch to cover its medical products in the future. Innovating for the future In 2024 and early 2025, MSIG introduced a suite of new services to support customers at every step: Also reflecting MSIG's overarching emphasis on extraordinary customer service and claims management was its inaugural 'Serving with Heart, Putting You above All' branding campaign. Featuring videos of common insurance scenarios, the insurer partnered with Key Opinion Leaders to convey how a simple, intuitive claims experience can result in needed assurance during unexpected incidents. Hashtag: #MSIGHongKong The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited ('MSIG Hong Kong') MSIG Hong Kong is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co Ltd and a member of the MS&AD Insurance Group, Asia's leading general insurance brand with presence in 50 countries and regions globally. The Group is amongst the world's top 10 insurance groups based on gross revenue and one of Japan's leading insurers with A+ Stable credit rating. With over 40,000 employees world-wide, MSIG is represented in all ASEAN markets as well as in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Korea, India and Taiwan. MSIG Hong Kong offers a wide range of solutions and services through an extensive distribution network including agents, brokers, and bancassurance alliances with leading banks. It has been providing general insurance solutions to customers in Hong Kong for more than 170 years, dating as far back as 1855.
CNA
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025: 5 Singapore bars make the list led by Jigger & Pony at No 3
Asia's 50 Best Bars list was announced at an award ceremony in Macau on Jul 15, with five Singapore bars making the list. Jigger & Pony, located at Amara Hotel, is the city's highest-ranked entrant at No 3, retaining its spot from 2024. Hong Kong's Bar Leone once again takes the crown as Asia's Best Bar, followed by Zest in Seoul at No 2. Four other bars in Singapore that made the list: Offtrack (No 23), Nutmeg & Clove (No 24), Cat Bite Club (No 44) and Native (No 55). Several Singapore bars that featured on the top 50 list in 2024 fell into the extended 51-100 list, which was announced on Jul 3. These include Sago House (No 56), Origin Bar (No 60), Night Hawk (No 77), Employees Only (No 89) and Fura (No 95). Side Door (No 53) was a new entrant to the list. Bangkok is the city with the most number of bars in the top 50 list with seven entrants – Bar Us (No 4), Dry Wave Cocktail Studio (No 5), BKK Social Club (No 19), G.O.D (No 26), Vesper (No 29), Opium (No 43) and Bar Sathorn (No 48). Malaysia secured four spots led by Penrose in Kuala Lumpur (No 10), Three X Co (No 15), Bar Trigona (No 39) and Reka (No 47). Special awards were also given out. Workshop14 in Hanoi, Vietnam (No 83 on the 51-100 list) won the Campari One to Watch Award, which recognises a rising star bar with the potential to break into the 1-50 list in the future. Bartender, bar owner and agave spirits advocate Jay Khan, the founder of Coa Hong Kong, was named Roku Industry Icon. Bangkok's Vesper (No 29), was honoured with the Remy Martin Legend of the List Award, an accolade for bars that have consistently excelled in the rankings since the list began in 2016. Messenger Service (No 90), also in Bangkok, took home the Best Bar Design Award for its distinctly minimalist interiors with moody, intimate lighting and bottle-lined walls akin to a cocktail apothecary. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @messengerservicebar Sora in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (No 65 on the extended 51-100 list) was awarded the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award for its zero-waste beverage initiatives. Organised by UK-based media group William Reed, the Asia's 50 Best Bars is the regional edition of The World's 50 Best Bars, launched in 2016 to celebrate innovation and excellence in the region's drinks industry. The annual rankings are determined by votes from the Asia's 50 Best Bars Academy. Here is the Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 list: *new entry **re-entry Bar Leone, Hong Kong (Best Bar in Hong Kong) Zest, Seoul (Best Bar in Korea) Jigger & Pony, Singapore (Best Bar in Singapore) Bar Us, Bangkok (Best Bar in Thailand) Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, Bangkok* (Highest New Entry) Bar Cham, Seoul Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou (Best Bar in Mainland China) Lair, New Delhi Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo Penrose, Kuala Lumpur (Best Bar in Malaysia) Argo, Hong Kong Modernhaus, Jakarta* (Best New Opening Award, Best Bar in Indonesia) Alice, Seoul (Highest Climber Award) Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya (Best Bar in Sri Lanka) Three X Co, Kuala Lumpur** CMYK, Changsha Coa, Hong Kong Virtu, Tokyo BKK Social Club, Bangkok Vender, Taichung (Best Bar in Taiwan) MO Bar Shenzhen, Shenzhen* The St. Regis Bar, Jakarta* Offtrack, Singapore Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore Yakoboku, Kumamoto* G.O.D, Bangkok* Penicillin, Hong Kong Soka, Bengaluru* Vesper, Bangkok Boilermaker, Goa* ZLB23, Bengaluru The Savory Project, Hong Kong Gokan, Hong Kong* Carrot Bar, Jakarta* Barc, Kathmandu (Best Bar in Nepal) Punch Room Tokyo, Tokyo* Bar Spirit Forward, Bengaluru* Cosmo Pony, Jakarta* Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur The Public House, Taipei To Infinity & Beyond, Taipei* Moonrock, Tainan* Opium, Bangkok* Cat Bite Club, Singapore* Native, Singapore Lamp Bar, Nara** Reka, Kuala Lumpur Bar Sathorn, Bangkok* Bar Libre, Tokyo* Le Chamber, Seoul
