A Global Toast to Creativity and Diversity with the World’s 50 Best Bars 2025
Source: 50 Best Bars
Now in its 17th edition, The World’s 50 Best Bars remains the definitive guide to the places shaping the future of drinks culture. With entries spanning from Melbourne to Mexico City, Oslo to Osaka, and Athens to Hong Kong, the 2025 list reflects a global industry that continues to innovate, inspire, and elevate the art of the cocktail. From Hong Kong to Mexico City, the world’s best bars prove that creativity, hospitality, and identity continue to shape the global cocktail scene.
Announced live from Hong Kong, The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 has marked a defining moment for Asia’s cocktail culture. For the first time, a bar from the continent has claimed the number one spot, and with it, the world’s attention. And while Bar Leone has earned its place in history, the spirit of this year’s awards lies in the shared creativity that unites bars across continents. A reminder that great hospitality transcends borders, and that the best bars are, above all, about people.
Source: 50 Best Bars
1. Bar Leone, Hong Kong – The World’s Best Bar 2025
Source: 50 Best Bars
The night’s biggest triumph went to Bar Leone, crowned The World’s Best Bar 2025 and The Best Bar in Asia. Founded by Lorenzo Antinori, the bar reimagines the Italian cocktail popolari tradition (simple, social, and unpretentious) through an elegant, modern lens. Located in Hong Kong’s bustling Central district, Bar Leone blends the warmth of Roman hospitality with precision mixology, creating a space where locals and visitors gather around the timeless joy of a well-made Negroni.
Antinori’s philosophy, built on generosity and collaboration, resonates across the bar’s open-source cocktail list and approachable design. It’s a celebration of community and craft, and a sign of how Asian bar culture continues to evolve with both confidence and authenticity.
2. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
Source: 50 Best Bars
Holding strong at No.2, Handshake Speakeasy retains its title as The Best Bar in North America. Sleek and low-lit, this art deco-inspired speakeasy from Eric van Beek is known for its meticulous cocktails, blending science and artistry in equal measure. From perfectly balanced classics to cutting-edge liquid experiments, Handshake remains the benchmark for sophistication in Latin America’s vibrant drinks scene.
3. Sips, Barcelona
Source: 50 Best Bars
At No.3, Sips in Barcelona (last year’s winner) continues to impress with its forward-thinking creativity. Founded by Simone Caporale and Marc Álvarez, the bar is a temple of innovation where mixology meets design. Here, the boundaries between bar and laboratory blur: cocktails arrive as experiences, textures, and performances, each one redefining what a drink can be.
4. Paradiso, Barcelona
Source: 50 Best Bars
Barcelona makes a second appearance in the top five with Paradiso at No.4, a hidden gem behind a pastrami shop that opens into a world of surreal beauty and theatrical cocktails. Known for its imaginative presentations and sustainability-led philosophy, Paradiso remains one of Europe’s most recognisable and beloved bars. A proof that playfulness and purpose can coexist beautifully.
5. Tayēr + Elementary, London
Source: 50 Best Bars
Rounding out the top five is London’s Tayēr + Elementary, a dual-concept bar from Monica Berg and Alex Kratena that continues to set the global standard for creativity and collaboration. The Elementary side offers simplicity and accessibility, while Tayēr delivers high-concept, ever-evolving creations that reflect the artistry of its founders. Their focus on inclusivity, innovation, and honest hospitality has made the bar a London institution and a worldwide inspiration.
The 2025 list celebrates a new era of global cocktail culture. One where design, sustainability, and storytelling are as essential as the spirits themselves. From Hong Kong’s warm Italian spirit to London’s experimental flair, these top five bars embody the diversity and dynamism of an industry that never stops reimagining itself.
Discover the full list at www.theworlds50best.com/bars/list/1-50
