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Bar Leone tops World’s 50 Best Bars 2025

Article (news)

Cyrene De La Rosa

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759982141778IMG_6110.JPG" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Bar Leone tops World’s 50 Best Bars 2025. Handout"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Bar Leone tops World’s 50 Best Bars 2025. <em>Handout</em></span></span></span></div><p>History was made in Hong Kong when one of its local favorites, Bar Leone, was named the World’s Best Bar and The Best Bar in Asia on this year’s World’s 50 Best Bars list at the live awards ceremony held in Hong Kong Wednesday night.</p><p>Bar Leone is the first-ever Asia-based bar to top the ranking in the award’s 17-year history.</p><p>The very cozy Italian-inspired cocktail bar known for its neighborhood vibe, led by bartender-owner Lorenzo Antinori, not only brings the top honor to Hong Kong but also in my opinion signals Asia’s growing dominance in the global bar scene.</p><p>Last year’s No. 1 bar, Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico came second and also claimed The Best Bar in North America title, followed by Barcelona’s Sips, also The Best Bar in Europe,coming in third.  </p><p>Check Asia’s growing presence across both the main (1 to 50) and extended (51-100) list here. </p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759982679001IMG_6209.JPG" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759983197543IMG_6211.JPG" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>Following the excitement in Hong Kong, the energy now shifts to Thailand for a weekend celebrating craftsmanship, creativity, and community.</p><p>Dubbed by many as the “unofficial  after-party” to the 50 Best awards, the Bangkok Bar Show returns from October 10-12  at the Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel.</p><p>This year’s edition promises to be its biggest yet as it will gather over 50 international bar experts, 40 bar brands, and 30 headline events across the city, and hold 7 panel discussions and seminars featuring some of the industry’s most influential voices, aside from the highly anticipated Bangkok Bar awards.</p><p>Over three days, attendees can look forward to an eclectic mix of guest shifts, brand pop-ups, tasting sessions, and seminars spotlighting Thailand’s evolving role in the world’s bar landscape. </p><div> </div><div><strong>BKK Bar Show highlights</strong></div><p>The celebration kicks off on October 10 at the opening party at Aqua Bar, where leading names in the cocktail industry will set the tone for an unforgettable week.</p><p>On October 13, the industry gathers for an evening of recognition and celebration at the Bangkok Bar Show Awards &amp; Thailand’s 20 Best Bars 2025.</p><p>Bar Sathorn will be the venue for the finale or closing party that will feature a stellar line-up of international bar stars behind the stick.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPjAn8sgd-x/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A9479078.7%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="925" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><p>For Bangkok, which is now considered as an emerging cocktail capital in its own right, the timing of the BKK Bar Show couldn’t be better. Specially with their local bars (like Bar US, BKK Social Club, Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, and Opium) strong showing on the 50 Best Bars lists.</p><p>For many in Asia’s cocktail scene, the BKK Bar Show is more than a trade event but more like the celebration of a year’s worth of craft, innovation and global recognition and has become one of Asia’s most anticipated gatherings for the global bartending community. </p><div> <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17599835370562-Composite (1) 19.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>BKK Bar Show founders Colin Chia and Niks Anuman. Handout</p><p>Co-founded in 2019 by Thailand&#x27;s cocktail bar veteran Niks Anuman of Asia Today, Independence Bar, Teens of Thailand and G.O.D./Genius on Drugs, together with Asia&#x27;s industry icon Colin Chia of #FindTheLockerRoom, #FindThePhotoBooth, Singapore&#x27;s Nutmeg &amp; Clove and Last Word, the Bangkok Bar Show is dedicated to showcasing the best of cocktails, spirits, and fine drinking culture.</p>

<p>Cheers to history in the making! Hong Kong’s Bar Leone has just been crowned The World’s Best Bar 2025, becoming the first-ever Asian bar to take the top spot on the World’s 50 Best Bars list. Following the celebration in Hong Kong, the spotlight now shifts to Thailand for the Bangkok Bar Show.</p>

Cheers to history in the making! Hong Kong’s Bar Leone has just been crowned The World’s Best Bar 2025, becoming the first-ever Asian bar to take the top spot on the World’s 50 Best Bars list. Following the celebration in Hong Kong, the spotlight now shifts to Thailand for the Bangkok Bar Show.

Toast to Asia: HK’s Bar Leone tops World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 ahead of Bangkok Bar Show

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Toast to Asia: HK’s Bar Leone tops World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 ahead of Bangkok Bar Show

Cyrene De La Rosa

Published Oct 09, 2025 12:57 PM PHT

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World's Best Bars

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