Where to find the world’s best bar in 2025

History was made this week as Hong Kong’s Bar Leone claimed the coveted title of The World’s Best Bar 2025, marking the first time a venue from Asia has topped the global list. 

Since its inception in 2009, The World’s 50 Best Bars list has become the definitive guide to the planet’s premier drinking destinations. Compiled from the votes of more than 800 industry experts across 29 global regions, it remains one of the most anticipated events in the hospitality calendar, celebrating creativity, craftsmanship and community in the world of drinks.

This year, Hong Kong’s Bar Leone won World’s Best Bar 2025, sponsored by Perrier. This year’s list features bars from 29 cities worldwide, with eight new entries hailing from Bratislava, Tirana, Guangzhou, Oslo, Lima, New York, Athens and Tokyo.

Located in Hong Kong’s bustling Central district, Bar Leone is the creation of Lorenzo Antinori, a celebrated bartender whose career includes stints at London’s American Bar at The Savoy and the late Dandelyan. Opened in June 2023, Bar Leone has rapidly become a global sensation, known for its philosophy of ‘cocktail popolari’ – or ‘cocktails for the people’.

Drawing inspiration from Rome’s neighbourhood bars, Bar Leone offers a warm, unpretentious atmosphere that celebrates Italian culture and hospitality. The venue’s nostalgic interior pays homage to the Rome of the 1980s and ’90s, while its inventive cocktail menu hosted as a rotating Google Docs file makes every recipe publicly accessible, underscoring its commitment to inclusivity and creativity. 

Bar Leone’s triumph follows its impressive rise through the ranks: it debuted as Asia’s Best Bar in 2024 and placed second globally that same year. In 2025, it once again clinched the title of Best Bar in Asia.  

As for Australia, only two made the list: Caretaker’s Cottage in Melbourne, and Maybe Sammy in Sydney.  

Find the full World’s 50 Best Bars list here