For connoisseurs of craft drinks, the bucket list of go-to bars around the world just became longer. In an awards ceremony that took place in Hong Kong on October 8, the World’s 50 Best Bars list was unveiled - putting Asia in the top with Bar Leone topping the list, from the host city. The year-old bar, which debuted at second position in the 2024 list, moved up a rank as the reigning champion. Joining the five cities from which previous winners have hailed, Leone was credited with bringing a refreshing, simplistic style and concept to drinking experiences. The current list, which is said to be the widest spread over the last eight years - covers bars from 29 different cities globally, with first time entries from Tirana in Albania, Bratislava in Slovakia and Guangzhou in China.
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Considered to be one of the most credible rankings across the world, The World’s 50 Best Bars list also included Handshake Speakeasy from Mexico City on the second rank, Sips from Barcelona on the third, Paradiso and Tayer Elementary from Barcelona and London on ranks four and five respectively. In comparison to the rankings released last year, the same set of bars have claimed the top three spots this year, making them the hottest destinations for mixological experiences. Other bars from the top ten list include the Connaught Bar in London ranking sixth - known for its martini trolley, Moebius Milano from Milan ranking seventh, Line in Athens at eight, Singapore’s Jigger & Pony at nine and Tres Monos from Buenos Aires closing off at ten. You can also view the detailed list of the top 50 bars by clicking here.
Although there was a notable absence of cocktail bars from India within the top 50, New Delhi’s Lair made the cut on the extended list - ranking at the 96th position. The elongated list, which was announced prior to the awards ceremony, was a compilation of votes from over 800 industry experts consisting of world-renowned bartenders, drinks writers, cocktail specialists and educators. The winning bar - Bar Leone - opened in June 2023, was spearheaded by the celebrated Italian bartender Lorenzo Antinori - who honed his skills at some of the top rated bars in London, Seoul and Hong Kong. Bar Leone is his expression of a space that showcases cocktail history, his Italian roots and love for football and pop culture. The menu primarily focusses on high-quality ingredients, seasonal touches and craftsmanship, while also being well-known for their mortadella sandwiches.