The world’s best bar just got a little closer, Australia’s finest cracks the top 20, and all the excitement from the coveted awards.
Hong Kong played host to the World’s 50 Best Bars awards this year, where we can only imagine the drinks were spectacular. With the hottest bar talent from around the globe converging on Hong Kong to celebrate, the city’s own Bar Leone took out the top title. This follows the venue’s impressive debut on the list at #2 last year, which came after only opening in 2023.
Bar Leone has nudged out last year’s winner – Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy – to #2, while Barcelona claimed the third and fourth spots with previous winners Sips and Paradiso respectively. London’s Tayer + Elementary rounds out the top five.
Melbourne’s Caretaker’s Cottage remains Australasia’s best bar, this year cracking the top 20 for the first time at number 19. The CBD bar from Rob Libecans and Matt Stirling (who also happens to be part of the dream team behind our brand-new The Dan’s Cocktail Book) jumped from #21 last year.
Sydney’s Maybe Sammy joins them at #42, making it seven consecutive years for the cocktail bar in The Rocks to feature on the list. For anyone not so close to the Harbour City, it’s possible to get a taste of their cocktails with their pre-mixed range in some stores.
Other Aussie achievements include Melbourne’s Byrdi landing at #91 on the long list, and Tigra + Disco Pantera in Sydney collecting the Best Bar Design Award.
This year’s World’s Best 50 Bars are a diverse mix of venues spread across 29 countries, with new entries coming from the likes of Guangzhou, Lima, Albania’s Tirana and Bratislava, where Mirror Bar claimed this year’s highest debut at #25. Meanwhile, the biggest mover this year was Italian bar Moebius Milano in Milan, jumping 31 spots to #7.
As for what to expect from Hong Kong’s Bar Leone, Italian bartender Lorenzo Antinori has created a venue that channels Rome’s traditional neighbourhood bars. The team serves up low-intervention, classic cocktails in a laidback setting, where the mortadella sandwiches are almost as popular as the quality drinks.
- Bar Leone, Hong Kong
- Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
- Sips, Barcelona
- Paradiso, Barcelona
- Tayēr + Elementary, London
- Connaught Bar, London
- Moebius Milano, Milan
- Line, Athens
- Jigger & Pony, Singapore
- Tres Monos, Buenos Aires
For all results, visit World’s 50 Best.
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